Flex(US:FLEX)2025-10-29 13:32Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for the second quarter was $6.8 billion, representing a 4% year-over-year growth [5][12] - Operating margin was 6%, maintaining this level for four consecutive quarters, with adjusted EPS of $0.79, up 23% year-over-year [6][12] - Gross profit totaled $632 million, with a gross margin improvement to 9.3%, up 80 basis points [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the Reliability Solutions segment, revenue was $3 billion, up 3% year-over-year, driven by strong growth in power and moderate growth in health solutions [12] - Agility Solutions revenue totaled $3.8 billion, an increase of 4% year-over-year, primarily due to robust cloud demand [12][13] - Operating income for Reliability Solutions improved to $197 million, with a segment margin expansion to 6.5% [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The data center business is expected to grow at least 35% this year, reflecting strong demand in cloud and power sectors [7][8] - Medical device demand is steady, with anticipated improvements in medical equipment later this year [10] - The automotive market is stabilizing compared to prior quarters, with new compute deals validating investments in software-defined vehicles [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is strategically shifting its portfolio towards higher-margin, technology-driven businesses, particularly in AI and data center infrastructure [8][9] - Flex unveiled a new AI infrastructure platform aimed at enhancing data center deployment efficiency [9] - The company is committed to rebuilding operations in Ukraine following facility damage, emphasizing resilience and support for employees [5] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to navigate a dynamic tariff landscape and raised full-year revenue guidance to between $26.7 billion and $27.3 billion [15][16] - The company anticipates strong cash generation and maintains an 80%+ free cash flow conversion target for FY2026 [16] - Management highlighted the importance of partnerships with leading technology companies to support growth in the data center space [46] Other Important Information - Free cash flow for the quarter increased to $305 million, with net CapEx totaling $148 million [13][14] - The company repurchased $297 million of stock, approximately 5.6 million shares [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Why was there no upside to data center revenues despite strong performance? - Management clarified that data center growth is not updated quarterly, but they expect at least 35% growth for the year, which is strong compared to industry standards [20][22] Question: How does the mix of custom silicon versus merchant silicon impact the cloud business? - Management indicated that they benefit significantly from hyperscale growth and will provide updated guidance in May regarding the mix of custom versus merchant silicon [25][27] Question: What is driving margin improvements in the second half? - Management noted that growth in higher-margin businesses, particularly products and services, is expected to drive margin improvements [33][34] Question: How does the company view the automotive market's growth potential? - Management stated that they are cautiously optimistic about stabilizing growth in the automotive sector, with opportunities across various platforms [55][56] Question: What is the outlook for data center capacity and potential supply constraints? - Management expressed confidence in capacity and capability across regions, with plans for significant CapEx investments to support growth [70][71] Question: How is AI and automation being utilized in operations? - Management highlighted ongoing efforts to deploy AI and robotics to enhance productivity and efficiency in manufacturing and logistics [72][76]