Global | Washington Strategy December 4, 2025 US-China Tech Rivalry – Energy for Industrialization & Compute | Recap Continuing our work on US-China tech rivalry, we discussed how China has and continues to address rising power demand with Alan Lau (Chinese Power & Solar analyst). KTs; 1) China has managed to meet high power demand growth for 2 decades – installed capacity has increased c.7x since '05 vs 40% in the US; 2) Growing electrification & renewable penetration will present unique ESS opportunities; ...

Core Insights - Nvidia has introduced an 800VDC external solution to address the increasing power density issues in cabinets, effectively reducing power loss [1] - The report emphasizes the benefits for terminal manufacturers, the significance of transformers, the growth potential for Delta Electronics as a PCB supplier, and the importance of changes within cabinets [1] Group 1: Nvidia's Proposal - Nvidia's high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system is proposed as a future power supply reference, with medium-voltage rectifiers and solid-state transformers (SST) as ultimate solutions [1][2] - The hardware technology direction of Nvidia is evolving towards efficiency and speed, with the HVDC system addressing the exponential growth in GPU computing power and power density [1] Group 2: Efficiency and Market Trends - Medium-voltage rectifiers convert medium-voltage AC (typically 1kV to 35kV) directly to DC, achieving over 98% efficiency and reduced footprint compared to traditional UPS and HVDC solutions [2] - Major companies, both domestically and internationally, are advancing HVDC technology commercialization, with notable initiatives from Alibaba, Tencent, Meta, and Google [3] Group 3: Industry Chain Dynamics - The core distinction in the industry chain lies in the transformers used, with medium-voltage rectifiers utilizing phase-shifting transformers and solid-state transformers employing high-frequency transformers [4]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q3 2025 was $463 million, up 24% year-over-year and 5% sequentially, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth [14][20] - Earnings per share (EPS) reached $1.74, a 78% increase from the previous year and the highest level since 2022 [13][17] - Gross margin improved to 39.1%, up 280 basis points year-over-year and 100 basis points sequentially, driven by cost savings from the China factory closure and lower tariff costs [16][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Semiconductor revenue was $197 million, flat year-over-year but down 6% sequentially, with expectations for growth in 2025 [15][21] - Data center computing revenue surged to $172 million, up 113% year-over-year and 21% quarter-over-quarter, driven by strong demand and market share gains [15][21] - Industrial medical revenue was $71 million, down 7% year-over-year but up 4% sequentially, with positive trends in bookings and backlog [15][21] - Telecom and networking revenue increased to $24 million, up 24% year-over-year and slightly quarter-over-quarter [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The semiconductor market is expected to see demand accelerate in the second half of 2026, with the company positioned for growth due to new product introductions [7][21] - Data center demand is anticipated to remain robust, driven by AI-related programs, with projected revenue growth of 25% to 30% in 2026 [9][21] - Industrial medical and telecom markets are expected to show steady revenue improvement, with ongoing recovery in the macro environment [10][19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company emphasizes a market diversification strategy, leveraging its power technologies across various high-end markets to generate consistent profits and cash flow [4][20] - A new factory in Thailand is expected to generate over $1 billion in incremental yearly revenue, with production set to begin soon [6][20] - The company is focused on improving manufacturing efficiency and achieving long-term gross margin goals, with plans for strategic acquisitions to enhance growth [12][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the future, expecting overall revenue growth of approximately 20% for 2025, driven by strong demand in data centers and semiconductor markets [11][20] - The company anticipates continued growth in data center revenue, with expectations for more than double the revenue levels of 2024 [20][21] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining operational flexibility to respond to dynamic market conditions and customer demands [32][60] Other Important Information - The company has increased capital investments to capture demand, with full-year capital investments expected to be at the high end of 5%-6% of sales [18][20] - The non-GAAP tax rate for Q3 was 16.6%, benefiting from a favorable mix of earnings [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: What constraints were alleviated to double data center revenue growth? - Management indicated that capacity-oriented constraints were removed through increased capital expenditures, allowing for market share gains and meeting customer demand [24][25] Question: When will the Thailand facility begin shipping products? - The Thailand factory is ready to start production within months, with plans to onboard new customers in the latter part of 2026 [25][26] Question: What growth is anticipated in the data center business for 2026? - Management expects data center revenue to grow by 25%-30% in 2026, driven by AI-related demand and new design engagements [30][21] Question: How is the semiconductor business expected to perform? - Management remains optimistic about the semiconductor market, anticipating significant upside in 2026 due to new product introductions and positive market signals [35][36] Question: What is the strategy regarding M&A? - The company remains focused on opportunities in the industrial medical sector, despite strong performance in the data center business [52][54]

Core Insights - TurnOnGreen, Inc. and its subsidiary Digital Power Corporation announced a significant expansion in their telecommunications power product line, highlighted by a major order from a global leader in network connectivity infrastructure [1][3] - The new power systems are designed for broadband, cable TV networks, and data center applications, showcasing DPC's growing presence in the telecommunications and data center power sector [1][5] Company Developments - Digital Power Corporation's portfolio now includes high-efficiency power conversion systems tailored for broadband access nodes, fiber networks, and data center infrastructure, utilizing proprietary digital signal processing and adaptive power management technology [2][5] - The recent order reflects the company's engineering capabilities and commitment to delivering innovative power platforms that support global connectivity evolution [3][6] Product Features - The new systems are engineered to meet SCTE specifications and integrate intelligent monitoring, adaptive energy control, and ultra-low-emission performance, ensuring mission-critical uptime in telecommunications networks and cable TV data center environments [5][6] - These systems aim to enable network operators to achieve higher data throughput and enhanced reliability [5] Market Position - The expansion into telecommunications follows a series of production achievements at Digital Power Corporation, transitioning several programs from engineering development to full production in both defense and commercial markets [7] - This move further diversifies TurnOnGreen's market presence across power electronics and broadband infrastructure segments [7][8]

Group 1: Consumption and Economic Policies - The "Two New" policy has effectively stimulated consumption, with industrial enterprises' machinery equipment purchases increasing by 9.4% year-on-year in the first three quarters [1] - Retail sales of household appliances, such as refrigerators, surged by 48.3%, while sales of home audio-visual equipment rose by 26.8% during the same period [1] - The issuance of 1.3 trillion yuan in long-term special bonds, with 300 billion yuan allocated for consumer upgrades and 200 billion yuan for equipment updates, has fully supported the "Two New" policy [1] Group 2: Mergers and Acquisitions - Shenzhen has released an action plan to promote high-quality development of mergers and acquisitions from 2025 to 2027, encouraging enterprises to engage in M&A in future industries such as synthetic biology and quantum information [2] Group 3: Dividend Announcements - During the third quarter, at least 18 A-share listed companies announced cash dividend plans totaling over 3.4 billion yuan, enhancing investor confidence in dividend-related assets [3] - Analysts suggest that the dividend sector may serve as a safe haven for funds, with a focus on sectors like banking, coal, electricity, and transportation [3] Group 4: Foreign Exchange and International Trade - China's foreign exchange receipts and payments reached a record high of 11.6 trillion USD in the first three quarters of the year, with a net inflow of 119.7 billion USD [4] - The banking sector reported a surplus of 63.2 billion USD in foreign exchange transactions, indicating a robust international trade environment [4] Group 5: New Regulations for Unprofitable Companies - New regulations for unprofitable companies in the Sci-Tech Innovation Board have been implemented, allowing A1 and A2 class institutional investors to receive significantly higher allocation ratios compared to B class investors [5] Group 6: Innovations in Power Technology - NVIDIA's introduction of the 800V direct current architecture is expected to become a mainstream technology for AI data centers, creating opportunities in power electronics and renewable energy sectors [6] - Companies like InnoSky and Megmeet are gaining market attention due to their involvement in high-voltage direct current technology [6] Group 7: Sensor Market Growth - The rise of embodied intelligence robots is driving growth in the domestic sensor market, which is projected to reach a value of hundreds of billions [7] - The demand for sensors is expanding beyond traditional consumer electronics and automotive applications, spurred by advancements in robotics [7] Group 8: Foreign Investment in A-shares - Foreign institutions, including Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, remain optimistic about A-share investments, suggesting a shift in investor strategy from selling at highs to buying at lows [8] Group 9: Social Security Fund Movements - The Social Security Fund has made notable changes in its holdings, with new investments in 7 stocks and increased stakes in 10 stocks during the third quarter [9] - The fund's total holdings reached 625 million shares, valued at approximately 13.07 billion yuan [9] Group 10: QFII Investments - Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (QFII) have significantly increased their investments in the Chinese market, with new heavy positions in 18 stocks during the third quarter [10] - The total market value of QFII holdings reached 6.271 billion yuan, with notable investments in companies like Siyuan Electric and China Western Power [10] Group 11: Margin Trading Trends - The margin trading balance in the A-share market is approaching 2.5 trillion yuan, indicating increased market leverage and active trading [11] - Brokerages are focusing on expanding their scale while managing risks effectively in response to the growing demand for margin trading [11] Group 12: Public Fund Investments in Private Placements - Public funds have invested over 30.2 billion yuan in private placement projects this year, marking a 28.5% increase from the previous year [12][13] - The participation of public funds in private placements reflects strong interest in sectors like electronics and pharmaceuticals [12][13] Group 13: Huawei's HarmonyOS Development - Huawei has launched HarmonyOS 6, marking a significant milestone in the development of China's first homegrown mobile operating system [14] - The number of devices running the previous version, HarmonyOS 5, has surpassed 23 million, indicating strong adoption [14]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Vicor recorded product revenues and licensing income for Q3 2025 of $110.4 million, down 21.7% sequentially from Q2 2025, which was $141 million, but up 18.5% from Q3 2024, which was $93.2 million [5] - Gross profit margin for Q3 was 57.5%, a decrease of 780 basis points from the prior quarter, primarily due to a $45 million patent litigation settlement in Q2 [6] - Net income for Q3 totaled $28.3 million, with GAAP-diluted income per share at $0.63 based on a fully diluted share count of 44,930,000 shares [8] - Cash and cash equivalents increased to $362.4 million at Q3, up $23.8 million sequentially [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Advanced product revenue increased 8.2% sequentially to $65.5 million, while brick product revenue increased 26.6% sequentially to $44.9 million [5] - Advanced product share of total revenue decreased to 59.3% compared to 63.1% in Q2 2025, with brick product share increasing to 40.7% [5] - Book-to-bill ratio for Q3 was 0.98, and one-year backlog increased 1.5% from the prior quarter, closing at $152.8 million [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Shipments to stocking distributors increased 39% sequentially and 46% year over year [5] - Exports as a percentage of total revenue decreased to approximately 42.8% from 51.9% in the prior quarter [5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Vicor aims to substantially expand its licensing business over the next two years, particularly in AI applications, with a licensing revenue run rate of nearly $90 million per year [10] - The company is focused on innovation and customer engagement, particularly in the AI and data center markets, where power delivery networks are critical [12][17] - The second-generation vertical power delivery (VPD) solution is expected to meet the specifications of major customers and is progressing towards production launch in Q1 2026 [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving record results in 2025, despite uncertainties in the timing of additional license deals [11] - The company highlighted the challenges faced by conventional power distribution technologies and the need for innovative solutions to meet the demands of AI processors [13][14] - Management noted that the current economic environment presents both uncertainty and opportunity for growth [10] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate for Q3 was negative 21.4%, positively impacted by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, allowing for immediate expensing of domestic R&D investments [8] - Total operating expenses decreased 8.9% sequentially to $42.6 million, primarily due to a reduction in selling, general, and administrative expenses [6] Q&A Session Summary Question: What drove the increase in IP licensing revenue? - Management indicated that the increase was due to a compromise with an existing licensee who took an additional license for two years, including catch-up payments for previous months [20] Question: Are there other licensees contributing to the sequential jump in revenue? - Management confirmed that there were multiple factors, including a substantial hyperscaler signed in January and a settlement with a respondent in the ITC case [27] Question: How many customers are currently licensed, and what are the expectations for future licenses? - Management expects to sign up each OEM and hyperscaler in the AI and data center space over the next couple of years, leveraging their comprehensive patent portfolio [34] Question: What is the expected tax rate for Q4 and next year? - Management indicated that the fourth quarter would have a low single-digit tax rate expectation [64] Question: Are there concerns about not having a second source for production? - Management acknowledged the issue but stated they are prepared to address it through flexible licensing arrangements and potential shared ownership of fabs [56]

Summary of Hillcrest Energy Technologies Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Hillcrest Energy Technologies (OTCPK:HLRT.F) - **Focus**: Transition from oil and gas to clean energy and technology, specifically zero voltage switching (ZVS) technology for power conversion systems [1][2] Industry Insights - **Market Potential**: The total addressable market for stationary applications is projected to reach **$180 billion** by **2030** [4][25] - **Key Applications**: The technology is applicable across various sectors including data centers, energy storage, remote microgrids, and electric vehicles (EVs) [3][5] Technology Highlights - **Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS)**: Hillcrest claims to be the only company with ZVS technology at their power level, which significantly reduces switching losses and electromagnetic interference (EMI) [2][30] - **Efficiency**: The inverter efficiency has reached **99.7%**, which is the highest in the industry, leading to lower heat generation and smaller component sizes [14][19] - **Cost Savings**: The technology is expected to provide substantial cost savings for automotive manufacturers, estimated at **$140 million** for a production run of **100,000 vehicles** [32] Strategic Partnerships - **BorgWarner**: A significant partnership with BorgWarner, a multibillion-dollar supplier for the EV market, to integrate ZVS technology into their inverter platform [10][12] - **Indigenous Partnerships**: Collaboration with Pasco First Nations and Appurin Resources to access government funding and enhance community involvement in technology deployment [13][42][46] Commercialization and Revenue Expectations - **Revenue Timeline**: Expected to begin generating revenue in early **2026**, with a ramp-up that could resemble a "hockey stick" growth pattern once customer contracts are secured [62][63] - **Licensing Opportunities**: Exploring exclusive licensing arrangements with tier one suppliers and automotive manufacturers to leverage their manufacturing capabilities [36][37] Competitive Landscape - **Lack of Competition**: Hillcrest asserts that there is currently no competition in the ZVS space, which provides them with a unique market advantage [67] Future Outlook - **Focus on Stationary Sector**: While the automotive sector is important, the company is prioritizing stationary applications due to immediate market demand [69][71] - **Government Support**: The company is actively seeking government grants and funding to support its technology development and deployment [45][46] Additional Insights - **IP Portfolio**: Hillcrest owns 100% of its intellectual property, which is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge [15][48] - **Market Cap**: Currently valued at approximately **$10 million**, with expectations for significant growth as the company executes its strategy [54][55] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the conference call, highlighting Hillcrest Energy Technologies' strategic direction, technological advancements, and market opportunities.

Group 1 - The company, Pairui Co., Ltd. (300831.SZ), has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Xi'an Power Electronics Research Institute (referred to as "Xi'an Institute") [1] - The collaboration aims to jointly develop and manufacture power devices represented by medium and high voltage IGBTs [1] - Xi'an Institute will be responsible for independent research and design, as well as chip production, while Pairui will handle device packaging and testing [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Vicor recorded product revenues, licensing income, and a patent litigation settlement for Q2 of $141 million, up 50.1% sequentially from $94 million in Q1 2025 and up 64.3% from $85.9 million in Q2 2024 [8] - The gross profit margin for Q2 was 65.3%, an increase of 1810 basis points from the prior quarter, primarily due to the patent litigation settlement [8] - Net income for Q2 totaled $41.2 million, with GAAP diluted income per share at 91 cents based on a fully diluted share count of 45,077,000 shares [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Advanced products revenue increased 1.2% sequentially to $60.6 million, while Brick Products revenue increased 4% sequentially to $35.5 million [8] - Advanced Products' share of total revenue decreased to 63.1% from 63.7% in Q1 2025, with Brick Products' share increasing to 36.9% [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Shipments to stocking distributors increased 18.9% sequentially but decreased 14.3% year over year [8] - Exports as a percentage of total revenue decreased to approximately 51.9% from 60.8% in the prior quarter [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on its top 100 customers and enabling high-performance modular power delivery networks, showcasing next-generation products with significant advances in power and current density [14][15] - The Gen five vertical power delivery solution is expected to engage with hyperscalers and AI processor companies, with a market SAM for these solutions expected to exceed $5 billion by 2027 [16][17] - The automotive market is seen as a high growth opportunity, with ongoing audits and collaborations with tier one OEMs [18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management indicated that 2025 is a year of uncertainty and opportunity, with a wide range of possible outcomes for quarterly and annual results [11] - The company expects 2025 to be a record year for revenue, despite uncertainties around tariffs and licensing [58] Other Important Information - The company undertook share repurchases totaling approximately $17.5 million during the quarter, with around 200,000 shares repurchased [83] - The book-to-bill ratio came in below one due to order cancellations from customers in China and hesitancy around tariffs [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry about the patent litigation settlement and its implications - Management confirmed that the approximate return from the ITC case includes the patent litigation settlement and extends through 2026 [21][23] Question: Book-to-bill ratio and future bookings trend - Management believes the hesitancy around tariffs is now behind them, and customers are adapting to the new expectations [26] Question: Cancellations in end markets - Cancellations were primarily from the industrial market in China, affecting both older and advanced products [30] Question: Future of royalty streams - Management is actively pursuing infringers and expects to see continued growth in licensing streams, although challenges remain [31][63] Question: Dynamics of the new license settlement - Management could not disclose specifics but indicated that there are no ongoing royalties from the recent settlement [36] Question: Automotive market engagement - The company is in the audit phase with several customers, indicating a long-term strategy to establish itself as a supplier in the automotive market [68] Question: Future product delivery timelines - Management confirmed that they are on target with the delivery timelines for the Gen five vertical power delivery solution [46] Question: Operating expenses outlook - Management indicated that operating expenses may fluctuate but are currently balanced with revenue [75]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Vicor recorded product revenues, licensing income, and a patent litigation settlement for Q2 of $141 million, up 50.1% sequentially from $94 million in Q1 2025 and up 64.3% from $85.9 million in Q2 2024 [7] - The gross profit margin for Q2 was 65.3%, an increase of 1810 basis points from the prior quarter, primarily due to the patent litigation settlement [7] - Net income for Q2 totaled $41.2 million, with GAAP diluted income per share at 91 cents based on a fully diluted share count of 45,077,000 shares [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Advanced products revenue increased 1.2% sequentially to $60.6 million, while Brick Products revenue increased 4% sequentially to $35.5 million [7] - Advanced Products' share of total revenue decreased to 63.1% from 63.7% in Q1 2025, with Brick Products' share increasing to 36.9% [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Shipments to stocking distributors increased 18.9% sequentially but decreased 14.3% year over year [7] - Exports as a percentage of total revenue decreased sequentially to approximately 51.9% from 60.8% in the prior quarter [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on its top 100 customers and enabling high-performance modular power delivery networks, with next-generation products being sampled to lead customers across four target markets [14] - The strategy includes pursuing additional actions against companies infringing on its intellectual property while continuing to innovate and expand customer engagements [16][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management indicated that 2025 is a year of uncertainty and opportunity, with a wide range of possible outcomes for quarterly and annual results [11] - The company expects 2025 to be a record year for revenue, despite uncertainties related to tariffs and market conditions [56][58] Other Important Information - The company reported a cash and cash equivalents total of $338.5 million in Q2, an increase of $42.4 million sequentially [10] - The one-year backlog decreased by 9.6% from the prior quarter, closing at $155.2 million [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on the patent litigation settlement and its financial implications - The settlement amount is part of the expected return through 2026, which includes royalties from OEM and hyperscaler licenses [22][24] Question: Book to bill ratio and future bookings trends - Management believes the hesitancy around tariffs is now behind them, and they expect improvements in bookings moving forward [27] Question: Details on order cancellations and affected markets - Cancellations were primarily from the industrial market in China, affecting both older and advanced products [31] Question: Future royalty streams and licensing growth - The company is actively pursuing infringers and expects to see growth in royalty streams as they enforce existing licenses [32] Question: Dynamics of the new licensing settlement - The settlement does not include ongoing royalties, and the company is focused on enforcing its intellectual property rights [39] Question: Progress on Gen five vertical power delivery solutions - The company is on target with the delivery timeline for Gen five solutions to lead customers, with significant progress reported [46][48] Question: Expectations for operating expenses going forward - Operating expenses are expected to remain balanced, with potential lumpiness due to ongoing legal actions [77]