Vishay Intertechnology(US:VSH)2026-02-04 15:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported Q4 revenue of $801 million, slightly above the midpoint of guidance and a 1.3% increase from Q3 [4] - Revenue increased by 12% compared to Q4 2024, driven by an 11% increase in volume and a favorable foreign currency impact of 3% [18] - Gross profit was $157 million, resulting in a gross margin of 19.6%, which is modestly above both the midpoint of guidance and Q3 [18][19] - GAAP earnings per share was $0.01, compared to a loss of $0.06 in Q3 and a loss of $0.49 in Q4 2024 [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Automotive revenue decreased by 3.4% versus Q3, while Asia automotive revenue grew in a seasonally strong quarter [9] - Industrial power revenue increased by 3.2%, driven by shipments of high voltage DC power capacitors and inventory replenishment [10] - Aerospace and defense revenue was slightly down by 1.2%, reflecting U.S. government shutdown impacts [12] - Healthcare revenue was flat compared to Q3, with Europe experiencing its strongest quarter in three years [13] - Other category revenue grew by 10.6%, primarily due to AI power management applications [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue growth for the quarter came entirely from Asia, which grew by 3.6%, while the Americas and Europe were flat due to year-end holiday slowdowns [16] - Book-to-bill ratio was 1.2, indicating strong order growth across all regions and channels [7] - Backlog at quarter end was $1.3 billion, representing 4.9 months of supply [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is executing a five-year strategic plan aimed at driving faster revenue growth and enhancing capital returns [28] - Significant investments are being made in capacity expansion, particularly at the 12-inch fab, with expected CapEx of $400 million to $440 million in 2026 [28][29] - The company is focusing on innovation, including the release of new products and solutions, particularly in silicon carbide technology for automotive applications [30][31] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in maintaining competitive lead times and securing customer trust, positioning the company for revenue growth in 2026 [32] - The company anticipates continued demand in key growth segments, with customer program visibility improving [32] - Management expects revenue for Q1 2026 to be between $800 million and $830 million, with sequential increases in all key growth segments [25] Other Important Information - The company generated $149 million in operating cash for Q4, with total CapEx for the quarter at $95 million [22] - The cash conversion cycle improved to 125 days, down from 130 days in Q3 [22] - The company plans to maintain its dividend policy, returning at least 70% of free cash flow to shareholders [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the current view on industry growth expectations? - Management maintains a view of mid to high single-digit growth across key segments, including industrial power and automotive [35][36] Question: How are gross margins expected to trend? - Management indicated that annual contractual negotiations have resulted in less historical ASP decline, with price increases implemented due to higher material costs [38][39] Question: What is the outlook for automotive demand? - Management noted gains in market share and increasing volumes, particularly in technology areas such as electrification and ADAS [44][45] Question: Can you elaborate on CapEx and OpEx plans? - Management outlined a CapEx plan of $400 million to $440 million for 2026, focusing on capacity expansion and targeted projects [54][55] Question: Is M&A being considered? - Management confirmed that M&A is always on the table, with a focus on optimizing the company's footprint and exploring opportunities in both passive and active segments [62]