Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted diluted EPS excluding 45X was $1.84, up 50% year-over-year, marking a company record for the third fiscal quarter [4][18] - Net sales increased by 1% to $919 million, driven by a 3% benefit from price mix and a 2% benefit from foreign currency translation, partially offset by a 4% decrease in organic volumes [15][18] - Adjusted operating earnings rose by 34% to $142 million, with an adjusted operating margin of 15.5% [16][17] - Free cash flow was strong at $171 million, an increase of $114 million year-over-year, with a free cash flow conversion rate of 190% [22][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Energy Systems revenue increased by 3% to $400 million, with adjusted operating earnings up 67% to $42 million and an adjusted operating margin of 10.5% [19] - Motive Power revenue decreased by 2% to $352 million, with adjusted operating earnings flat at $53 million and adjusted operating margins of 14.9% [20][21] - Specialty revenue increased by 8% to $168 million, with adjusted operating earnings more than doubling to $20 million and an adjusted operating margin of 11.8% [21][22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Data center sales were up 28% year-over-year, indicating strong demand in that segment [12][13] - Motive Power experienced a 40% increase in forklift orders in December, signaling potential pent-up demand [10][37] - The communications segment is expected to see mid-single-digit growth, while data centers are projected to grow in the high teens year-over-year [66][67] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on optimizing its core operations, invigorating its operating model, and accelerating growth through strategic initiatives [6][7] - Plans for a lithium cell factory are progressing, with alignment to current administration priorities, indicating a strong focus on domestic supply chains and energy security [8][50] - The company aims to leverage its strengths in data centers and defense technologies to drive future growth [13][58] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about long-term growth driven by durable demand trends, particularly in energy security and high-performance energy storage solutions [14][27] - The company anticipates continued softness in motive power and transportation markets but expects to benefit from pent-up demand as fleets age [11][37] - Management highlighted the importance of operational efficiencies and disciplined cost management in navigating the current economic environment [24][27] Other Important Information - The company repurchased 672,000 shares for $84 million and paid $9.6 million in dividends during the quarter [25] - The company expects fourth-quarter net sales in the range of $960 million to $1 billion, with adjusted diluted EPS of $2.95 to $3.05 per share [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the data center pipeline and its scaling in the quarters ahead? - Management highlighted strong market share in data centers and the potential for growth with upcoming lithium battery products, emphasizing the importance of customer service and support [30][32] Question: What does "normalized" margin improvement look like for Energy Systems? - Management indicated that while there may be some variability, the overall trajectory for Energy Systems remains positive, with expectations for continued improvement in margins [34] Question: When do you expect to see inflection in Motive order rates? - Management noted that there is pent-up demand in the market, with evidence of increased orders, but cautioned that recovery may take a couple of quarters [36][38] Question: Can you provide updates on the lithium factory strategy? - Management expressed optimism about discussions with the Department of Energy and indicated that the grant for the factory remains intact, with positive developments expected [49][50] Question: How do you view the competitive landscape for lithium UPS systems? - Management acknowledged the risks associated with lithium technology but noted that there are only a few credible providers in the space, indicating a significant growth opportunity [84]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales increased by 8% year over year, reaching a record high of $951 million for the second quarter [4][15] - Adjusted diluted EPS rose by 21% to $2.56 per share, marking a record high for the fiscal second quarter [16] - Adjusted operating earnings increased by 13%, with adjusted EBITDA also up by 13% [4][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Energy systems revenue grew by 14% year over year to $435 million, with adjusted operating earnings up 38% [17] - Motive power revenue decreased by 2% to $360 million, with adjusted operating earnings down by $10 million [18] - Specialty revenue increased by 16% to $157 million, driven by organic volume growth and the Bren-Tronics acquisition [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Data center market revenue grew by 29% year over year, indicating strong demand [35] - Communications sector showed signs of recovery, with increased spending on network refreshes rather than expansions [11][39] - A&D (Aerospace and Defense) demand remained robust, with expectations for increasing sales in upcoming quarters [12][40] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on its Energize strategic framework to optimize core operations and accelerate growth [5][6] - Three centers of excellence have been launched to enhance innovation and reduce costs [6][7] - The company is evaluating its lithium cell supply options and plans to provide updates on a new lithium factory [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in offsetting tariff impacts through proactive supply chain actions [10] - The order book reflects dynamic market conditions, with expectations for improving macro conditions to stabilize demand [11] - The company anticipates continued earnings growth, with adjusted operating earnings growth expected to outpace revenue growth [25][46] Other Important Information - Free cash flow for the quarter was strong at $197 million, with a conversion rate of 288% [21] - The company repurchased 636,000 shares for $68 million during the quarter, demonstrating a commitment to returning value to shareholders [23] - The next Investor Day is scheduled for June 11, 2026, in New York City [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: What end markets are most impacted by demand pull-ins and customer spending shifts? - Management noted that the communication sector was significantly impacted, with customers front-loading their orders due to large acquisitions [27][28] Question: How are elevated lithium costs affecting margins? - Management explained that higher costs are due to sourcing from China and that margins will be pressured until production ramps up [30] Question: What is the outlook for gross margins? - Management indicated that gross margins are expected to improve, driven by price mix improvements and ongoing cost reduction initiatives [32][34] Question: Can you provide an update on the data center revenue? - Data center revenue was up 29% year over year, with strong opportunities for growth in lead-acid and UPS systems [35][36] Question: What is the impact of the government shutdown on A&D demand? - Management reported that while there were some impacts, overall A&D demand remains strong, particularly in advanced defense applications [40]

Summary of Data Center Power Supply Trends Industry Overview - The data center power supply is transitioning from traditional AC UPS systems to high voltage direct current (HVDC) and solid-state transformer (SST) solutions, aimed at improving efficiency and accommodating renewable energy integration. Currently, AC power supply remains mainstream, but HVDC is a clear trend [1][2][4]. Key Points and Arguments - **Efficiency Improvements**: HVDC architecture reduces AC-DC conversion stages, lowering energy loss and enhancing overall conversion efficiency. It also saves cabinet space, making it more suitable for integrating renewable energy sources like photovoltaics [1][6]. - **Adoption by Major Companies**: Overseas data centers are rapidly adopting HVDC solutions, while domestic companies like Alibaba and Tencent are using 240V/336V DC systems. Domestic firms are actively developing HVDC and SST technologies to meet market demand [1][2][7]. - **Market Growth Projections**: The data center power supply market is expected to grow rapidly, particularly in high-computing scenarios where HVDC demand is clear. The penetration rate of HVDC solutions is anticipated to continue increasing, significantly expanding market space [1][8]. - **Technological Advancements**: The future of data center power supply is focused on HVDC and SST applications. Companies like Google and Microsoft are already proposing SST-based future solutions, indicating a shift towards HVDC [4][11]. - **Component Demand Increase**: The development of data center power systems will drive demand for components such as circuit breakers, relays, and fuses. Domestic companies are likely to benefit from the HVDC trend, enhancing product pricing and market space [2][11][12]. Additional Important Insights - **Domestic vs. Overseas Market Dynamics**: While overseas data centers are rapidly upgrading their power supply systems, domestic companies are catching up. The domestic market primarily uses low-voltage DC systems, but there is a growing trend towards HVDC and SST technologies [7][10]. - **Competitive Landscape**: The UPS supply chain, previously dominated by foreign and Taiwanese companies, is undergoing transformation. Domestic companies are closing the technological gap and leveraging their innovation and responsiveness to enter overseas supply chains [10][13]. - **Focus Areas for Future Development**: In addition to the overall power supply system, attention should be given to key components like circuit breakers and the "source-network-load-storage" segment, which are crucial for future development [14]. This summary encapsulates the key trends and insights regarding the evolution of data center power supply systems, highlighting the shift towards HVDC and SST technologies and the implications for market dynamics and competitive positioning.