CSP (CSPI) - 2024 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q4 2024, the company reported revenue of $13 million, a decrease from$15.3 million in Q4 2023, with revenue remaining relatively flat compared to the previous quarters of fiscal 2024 [22] - The company reported a net loss of $1.7 million or$0.18 loss per share for Q4 2024, compared to a net income of $1.4 million or$0.15 per diluted share in Q4 2023 [24] - Cash and cash equivalents increased to $30.6 million from$25.2 million at the end of fiscal 2023, indicating a robust balance sheet [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Technology Solutions (TS) business generated approximately $12.7 million in sales in Q4 2024, with recurring revenue increasing to 17$0.4 million, primarily from ARIA-based customers [12] - Engineering and development expenses rose to $793,000 from$705,000, attributed to outside consulting and stock compensation [25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted a pickup in business from cruise ship customers towards the end of Q4 2024, including a large order expected to be executed in the next fiscal year [10] - Demand for cloud services is increasing, with a dozen active cloud-based projects underway to accommodate growth [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on growing its recurring revenue, particularly in cloud services and managed services, with a goal of doubling recurring revenue in the next 24 months [61] - The partnership with Rockwell Automation is emphasized as a key strategy to penetrate the operational technology (OT) market, with significant leads generated from recent trade shows [20][73] - The company is also investing in building relationships with distributors to enhance market presence and sales [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about growth opportunities in the upcoming fiscal year, particularly in the TS sales and recurring revenue segments [20] - The company is experiencing increased interest and momentum in the market, particularly for the AZT PROTECT product offering [108] Other Important Information - The company repurchased 2,800 shares at a total cost of $34,000 and announced a quarterly dividend of$0.03 per share [24] - The company is actively participating in trade shows to generate leads and increase awareness of its products [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on accounting points regarding employment retention credit - The CFO confirmed that the previous year's credit of $2.1 million was not included in the current year's comparison [33] Question: Status of proof-of-concepts (POCs) from recent trade shows - Management indicated that multiple POCs are ongoing, with new ones starting soon, and emphasized the importance of follow-ups in the new year [38][41] Question: Earnings potential without AZT division - Management stated that the TS division would be profitable without the losses from the AZT division, with potential earnings exceeding$1 per share [60] Question: Updates on partnerships and POCs in Australia and the Middle East - Management confirmed ongoing POCs with partners in Australia and mentioned that progress is being made with other partnerships, albeit at varying paces [72][73] Question: Size of AZT contracts with Fortune 500 companies - Management refrained from disclosing exact figures but indicated that one contract is in the millions, with thousands of endpoints involved [82] Question: Conversations with NVIDIA regarding AZT - Management confirmed ongoing discussions with NVIDIA, focusing on their robotic area, although progress has been slow [89] Question: Legacy E2D program and UCaaS contracts - Management indicated that there will be one more E2D program next year and that the UCaaS business is growing steadily with new clients being added [97][100]