
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 3% year-over-year increase in revenue and a 44% sequential revenue growth for the quarter, with a 2% increase in earnings as industry conditions improved [3][4] - Gross margin increased to 79% from 76% due to a more profitable product mix and a larger portion of direct sales [5] - Net income for the fourth quarter increased 2% to $3,890,000 or $0.80 per diluted share compared to $3,810,000 or $0.79 per diluted share for the prior year quarter [5][6] - For the fiscal year, revenue decreased 13% due to declines in the first three quarters, but gross margin increased to 84% from 77% [6][7] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Contract R&D revenue increased by $270,000 or 558%, while product sales decreased by 1% year-over-year [4] - Sequentially, total revenue increased 44% driven by a 40% increase in product sales and a 210% increase in contract R&D [4] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that it has ample raw material and work-in-process inventories, which provide a buffer against supply disruptions [9][13] - The company has been paying 25% tariffs on raw material imports from China since 2018, but this has not significantly impacted costs [12][13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to invest $2 to $3 million in capital expenditures for fiscal 2026, significantly above the previous year's spending [8][30] - The focus is on expanding capacity and capabilities, with new equipment scheduled to arrive next quarter [8][16] - The company aims to lead the industry in performance, accuracy, size, and power consumption of sensors [27] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about future revenues due to investments in R&D and new product development, with a focus on markets such as medical devices and industrial control [20][26] - The company is confident in earning a return on capital expenditures based on positive customer feedback on prototype devices [32] Other Important Information - The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1 per share and has paid over $200 million in dividends since inception [10] - The company has executed an extension of its supplier agreement with Abbott Laboratories, a key customer [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Revenue improvement and channel inventory - Management indicated that the revenue improvement was a combination of channel replenishment and new business, with high-quality revenues reported for the past quarter [25] Question: New product introduction and market expansion - The new products introduced focus on traditional strengths in medical devices and industrial control, providing flexibility and higher quality data [26][27] Question: CapEx plans and confidence in returns - Management confirmed significant capital expenditures planned for fiscal 2026, with confidence based on excellent customer feedback on new devices [30][32]