TTM Technologies (TTMI) 2025 Conference September 04, 2025 04:10 PM ET Company ParticipantsStephen Volkmann - Managing DirectorDaniel Boehle - EVP & CFOStephen VolkmannThank you, everyone. We appreciate you joining us here for TTM Technologies and for attending the Jefferies twenty twenty five industrial conference. I am joined by Dan Bailey, CFO at TTM. And without further ado, I will pass the mic and the presentation to him to share some thoughts and then we can open up to questions at the end. Thanks.Dan ...

Core Viewpoint - TTM Technologies (TTMI) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook driven by rising earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][2]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Movement - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the importance of earnings estimate revisions, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [3][5]. - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of stocks, leading to buying or selling actions that affect stock prices [3]. Company Performance and Outlook - The upgrade for TTM suggests an improvement in the company's underlying business, which is expected to be reflected in higher stock prices as investors respond positively [4]. - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, TTM is projected to earn $2.32 per share, with a 5.9% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [7]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [6]. - TTM's upgrade places it in the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [9].

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes that going global is a crucial direction for many companies seeking new growth opportunities amid the deep adjustments in the global economic landscape [1]. Group 1: Trends and Market Analysis - The "Going Global" trend is highlighted, with a projected 5.9% growth in China's exports in the first half of 2025, although different industries experience varying levels of success [8]. - Traditional industries like textiles and toys face significant challenges, while emerging sectors such as integrated circuits and agricultural products show rapid export growth [9]. - The shift in global trade patterns indicates a decline in exports to the U.S. and an increase in exports to markets like Thailand, Vietnam, and India post-2023 [10][11]. Group 2: Strategic Considerations for Going Global - Companies must adapt to local market conditions, trade rules, and cultural differences, emphasizing the need for localized strategies [12]. - The transition from an order-focused mindset to a customer-centric approach is essential for sustainable growth, even for industrial intermediate goods [12]. Group 3: Cross-Cultural Management - The process of going global is described in three stages: "watching the sea," "rushing to the sea," and "truly going global," with most companies currently in the first three stages [15]. - Effective human resource management is crucial, involving expatriates, local employees, and international talent to ensure successful market integration [17][18]. - Cultural differences should be viewed as opportunities for innovation rather than obstacles [19]. Group 4: Case Studies and Practical Insights - Cool-Vita's approach in Southeast Asia emphasizes deep localization and long-term brand commitment, adapting products to local consumer habits [27][28]. - The company has achieved significant market penetration in Indonesia, demonstrating the importance of understanding local culture and consumer behavior [29]. Group 5: Educational Initiatives - The "Going Global Navigator Class" aims to provide a comprehensive framework for companies to navigate the complexities of international expansion, featuring insights from experienced mentors [30][31].

Company Performance - TTM Technologies reported quarterly earnings of $0.58 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.52 per share, and up from $0.39 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of +11.54% [1] - The company posted revenues of $730.62 million for the quarter ended June 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 9.38%, compared to year-ago revenues of $605.14 million [2] - TTM has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times over the last four quarters and topped consensus revenue estimates four times during the same period [2] Stock Performance - TTM shares have increased approximately 96% since the beginning of the year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 8.3% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.55 on revenues of $667.99 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $2.19 on revenues of $2.67 billion [7] Industry Outlook - The Electronics - Miscellaneous Components industry, to which TTM belongs, is currently ranked in the top 26% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook [8] - Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, suggesting that the industry outlook can materially impact stock performance [5][8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - TTM Technologies achieved revenue of $730.6 million in Q2 2025, a 21% increase from $605.1 million in Q2 2024, driven by strong demand in various end markets [25][26] - Non-GAAP EPS reached a record $0.58, compared to $0.39 in the same quarter last year, reflecting strong operational performance [31] - Non-GAAP operating margins improved to 11.1%, up 210 basis points year on year, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit operating margin performance [6][29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Aerospace and Defense segment accounted for 45% of total revenues, with net sales of $327.6 million, up from $274.5 million in Q2 2024 [26][17] - Data Center Computing segment represented 21% of total sales, achieving 20% year-on-year growth, driven by demand for generative AI applications [18][19] - Medical Industrial Instrumentation segment contributed 15% of total sales, with a 28% year-on-year growth due to increased demand in robotics and automated test equipment [18][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The automotive market saw a slight decline, contributing 11% of total sales, down from 14% in the previous year, primarily due to inventory adjustments [19] - Networking segment grew significantly, accounting for 8% of revenue with a 52% year-on-year increase, driven by demand from networking customers [20] - The company maintains a solid backlog in the Aerospace and Defense market, amounting to approximately $1.46 billion, indicating strong future revenue visibility [17][22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - TTM is focusing on expanding its manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. to support defense and generative AI markets, including a new facility in Eau Claire, Wisconsin [9][10] - The company is diversifying its production footprint and end markets, having divested lower-margin facilities in China and invested in new capabilities in the U.S. and Malaysia [7][8] - TTM plans to establish a second production site in Malaysia to meet increasing customer demand and supply chain diversification needs [14][15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the defense market due to increased government spending, with a $150 billion increase in defense budgets expected to drive growth [11][12] - The geopolitical environment is being monitored, but TTM does not anticipate significant short-term impacts from tariffs due to its diversified operations [8] - Management remains optimistic about future growth, particularly in the aerospace and defense sectors, and expects continued strong demand in data center computing [5][6] Other Important Information - The company announced a change in its reportable segments to better reflect its operations, now categorizing into Aerospace and Defense, Commercial, and RF and Specialty Components [26] - TTM's cash flow from operations was 13.4% of revenues, with a net leverage ratio of 1.2 times, indicating a healthy financial position [6][32] - The CEO announced plans to retire, with a search for a successor already underway [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Timeline for new capacity in Wisconsin and customer requests - Management indicated that the Eau Claire facility is prepared for customer engagement and infrastructure is ready for equipment installation as demand increases [39][40] Question: Concerns about slippage in Malaysia's breakeven timeline - Management stated that while the ramp-up in Penang is slower than anticipated, it does not impact competitive positioning, and customer interest remains strong [46][48] Question: Update on capacity expansion in China - Management confirmed that capacity in China is being expanded, particularly in Dongguan and Guangzhou, to meet data center demands [54][56] Question: Customer diversification in the data center segment - Management reported good diversification in the data center space, with ongoing efforts to balance capacity for core customers while adding new ones [58] Question: Cost competitiveness of the Eau Claire facility - Management acknowledged that initial costs in Eau Claire would be higher than in China, but there is customer appetite for U.S.-sourced capacity [84][85] Question: Margin drag in Penang - Management noted that the margin drag in Penang has worsened slightly, now at about 210 basis points [86]

Core Insights - TTM Technologies (TTMI) is expected to report second-quarter fiscal 2025 results on July 30, with projected revenues of $650-$690 million, indicating a 10.39% year-over-year increase [1][9] - The company anticipates non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) between 49 cents and 55 cents, reflecting a 33.33% year-over-year growth [2][9] - TTMI has consistently surpassed earnings estimates in the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 17.65% [2] Revenue and Earnings Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TTMI's revenues is $667.99 million, which aligns with the company's guidance [1] - The consensus mark for earnings is set at 52 cents per share, unchanged over the past 30 days [2] Segment Performance - The aerospace and defense segment is experiencing strong growth, supported by a $1.55 billion backlog and increased visibility in radar, surveillance, and missile systems [3] - Data center computing and networking are key growth drivers, with AI infrastructure demands likely boosting the need for advanced Printed Circuit Boards [4] Challenges and Risks - Tariff-related uncertainties and weakness in the automotive market may limit revenue growth, with ongoing inventory corrections expected to keep automotive volumes subdued [5] - Start-up costs from the Penang facility are anticipated to compress near-term margins, alongside tariff exposure on imported materials [5] Earnings Model Insights - According to the Zacks model, TTMI has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a lower likelihood of an earnings beat [6]

Core Viewpoint - Investors are increasingly seeking growth stocks that demonstrate above-average growth potential, with TTM Technologies (TTMI) currently highlighted as a strong candidate due to its favorable growth metrics and Zacks Rank [2][10]. Group 1: Earnings Growth - TTM Technologies has a historical EPS growth rate of 21.3%, with projected EPS growth of 27.1% for the current year, significantly outperforming the industry average of 14.3% [5]. Group 2: Asset Utilization - The company has an asset utilization ratio (sales-to-total-assets ratio) of 0.74, indicating it generates $0.74 in sales for every dollar in assets, which is higher than the industry average of 0.73 [6]. Group 3: Sales Growth - TTM's sales are expected to grow by 8.5% this year, contrasting with the industry average of 0%, showcasing its strong sales growth potential [7]. Group 4: Earnings Estimate Revisions - There has been an upward revision in current-year earnings estimates for TTM, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by 8.3% over the past month, indicating positive momentum [9]. Group 5: Overall Assessment - TTM has achieved a Growth Score of B and a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), suggesting it is a potential outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors [10][11].

Financial Performance - Q1 2025 revenue was $648.7 million, exceeding the guided range of $600 million to $640 million[12] - Non-GAAP EPS for Q1 2025 was $0.50, surpassing the guided range of $0.37 to $0.43 and marking a record for a first quarter[12] - The company anticipates Q2 2025 revenues to be between $650 million and $690 million, with a non-GAAP EPS of $0.49 to $0.55[12] - Q1 2025 Non-GAAP gross margin was 20.8%, compared to 18.8% in Q1 2024[21] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2025 was $99.481 million, resulting in an adjusted EBITDA margin of 15.3%, compared to $70.512 million and 12.4% respectively in Q1 2024[23] Backlog and Book-to-Bill - The book-to-bill ratio for Q1 2025 was 1.10[12] - Aerospace & Defense (A&D) program backlog reached $1.55 billion[12] - Total backlog was $517.5 million in Q1 2025[14] End Market Performance - Aerospace & Defense accounted for 47% of Q1 2025 revenues, with a year-on-year growth of 15%[13] - Data Center Computing represented 21% of Q1 2025 revenues, also with a year-on-year growth of 15%[13] - Networking saw a significant year-on-year growth of 53%, accounting for 8% of Q1 2025 revenues[13]