Vishay Intertechnology(VSH) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q3 2025 was $791 million, a sequential increase of 4% and 2% above the midpoint of guidance, with many market segments showing growth [5][19] - Year-over-year revenue increased by 8%, reflecting an 8% increase in volume and a 2% positive foreign currency impact [19] - Gross profit was $154 million, resulting in a gross margin of 19.5%, slightly below the midpoint of guidance and flat compared to Q2 [20] - Adjusted earnings per share for Q3 2025 was $0.04, compared to a net loss per share of $0.07 in Q2 2025 [22][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Automotive revenue increased by 7% versus Q2, driven by higher volume in the Americas and Europe [9] - Industrial segment revenue grew by 2%, primarily due to shipments of capacitors for smart grid infrastructure projects [10] - Aerospace defense revenue decreased by 2% quarter-over-quarter due to slow funding releases from the U.S. Department of Defense [12] - Medical market revenue grew by 2%, supported by increased activity from longstanding customers [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Asia achieved the greatest growth in Q3, particularly from automotive customers and sales to distributors [5][6] - Distribution revenue increased by 4%, with nearly all growth coming from Asia [16] - Book-to-bill ratio for the quarter was 0.97, with a run rate of 1.15 for October, indicating improving order conditions [19][6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is executing its five-year strategic plan, Vishay 3.0, focusing on capacity investments and expanding product offerings [5][28] - Investments in capacity expansion are expected to be between $300 million and $350 million for the year, with a significant portion allocated to high-growth products [28] - The company aims to enhance customer engagement and cross-sell products across its portfolio [33] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that market signals remain directionally positive, with increasing demand from automotive, AI servers, smart grid infrastructure, and medical sectors [31] - The company expects revenue growth in 2026, driven by five key market segments showing positive signs [42] - Management is focused on improving gross margins and operational efficiencies, with plans to achieve margin neutrality at the Newport facility by the end of Q1 2026 [43] Other Important Information - The company generated $28 million in operating cash for Q3, with total CapEx for the quarter at $52 million [24] - Free cash flow for the quarter was negative $24 million, but improved from negative $73 million in Q2 [24] - The company plans to maintain its dividend policy while managing liquidity and capital needs [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Did Vishay see any benefit from the export restrictions on Nexperia in the automotive segment? - Management indicated ongoing discussions with OEMs and tier ones, noting opportunities arising from the situation, but did not include it in Q4 revenue guidance due to the dynamic nature of the market [34] Question: What factors impacted gross margin in Q3? - Management cited elevated metals prices and operational issues as key factors affecting gross margin, with plans to pass costs onto customers [35][36] Question: What is the outlook for revenue growth and margin expansion in 2026? - Management expressed confidence in achieving revenue growth aligned with consensus estimates, supported by positive market drivers and customer engagements [42] Question: How is the capital return strategy prioritized? - Management emphasized the importance of maintaining dividends while managing liquidity, indicating no current plans for share buybacks [45]