Kraft Heinz(KHC) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-02-11 12:02
The Kraft Heinz Company (NasdaqGS:KHC) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 11, 2026 06:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsAndre Maciel - CGFOAnne-Marie Megela - Head of Global Investor RelationsSteve Cahillane - CEOAnne-Marie MegelaHello, this is Anne-Marie Megela, Head of Global Investor Relations at The Kraft Heinz Company. I'd like to welcome you to our fourth quarter and full-year 2025 business update. During the following remarks, we will make forward-looking statements regarding our expectations for the future, ...
Kraft Heinz(KHC) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-02-11 12:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2025, Kraft Heinz experienced a significant year-over-year decline in both top-line and bottom-line results, with organic net sales pressured by market share losses, particularly in the U.S. retail sector [4][5] - Adjusted EPS for 2025 was $2.60, reflecting a 15% decline compared to 2024, driven by a higher effective tax rate and increased investments in marketing [5][26] - Free Cash Flow improved nearly 16% year-over-year, totaling $3.7 billion, with a Free Cash Flow conversion rate of 119% [5][26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Organic net sales in North America retail declined by 5.2%, primarily due to share loss in Lunchables, Spoonables, and frozen meals and snacks [5][6] - Global away-from-home organic net sales decreased by 1.5%, impacted by lower traffic trends in the U.S., although international markets showed growth [6][7] - Emerging markets saw organic net sales increase by 4.6%, driven by double-digit growth in LATAM and East regions, despite a decline in Indonesia [7][8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America organic net sales declined by 5.4%, with significant losses in the U.S. cold cuts and away-from-home segments [23] - International developed markets experienced a 2.4% decline in organic net sales, primarily due to softness in the U.K. meals categories [24] - Emerging markets' organic net sales increased by 2.2%, with growth in LATAM and East regions offset by a decline in Indonesia [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to return to organic, profitable growth by contemporizing brands, differentiating products, and improving commercial execution [3][4] - A significant investment of approximately $600 million is planned for 2026 to support the operating plan and drive recovery [9][10] - The focus will be on enhancing brand alignment with consumer preferences, improving marketing and sales capabilities, and refining pricing strategies [12][18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management acknowledged a challenging operating environment with worsening consumer sentiment and industry trends [10][11] - There is a commitment to prioritize resources for executing the operating plan while pausing work related to the company's separation [11][12] - The outlook for 2026 anticipates organic net sales to decline by 3.5%-1.5%, with expectations for gradual recovery in the second half of the year [30][32] Other Important Information - The company plans to increase R&D investments by approximately 20% in 2026 to drive innovation and product superiority [13] - Marketing investments will be raised to approximately 5.5% of net sales, targeting major growth opportunities [16] - The company aims to improve its promotional spend ROI and focus on providing affordable choices to consumers [18][29] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expectations for the 2026 outlook? - The company expects organic net sales to decline by 3.5%-1.5%, with a gradual recovery anticipated in the second half of the year [30] Question: How will the company address the challenges in the North American market? - The focus will be on executing the operating plan, enhancing brand alignment with consumer preferences, and improving marketing and sales capabilities [12][18]
Youdao(DAO) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-02-11 11:02
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, net revenues reached RMB 1.6 billion, a 16.8% year-over-year increase, driven by growth in learning services and online marketing services [4][15] - Operating profit for Q4 was RMB 60.2 million, marking a 113% quarter-over-quarter increase but a 28.5% decrease year-over-year [4] - For the full year 2025, total net revenues were RMB 5.9 billion, a 5% increase year-over-year, with operating profit growing to RMB 221.3 million, up 48.7% year-over-year [5][20] - Net cash flow from operating activities for 2025 was RMB 55.2 million, a significant improvement from a net outflow of RMB 67.9 million in 2024 [6][20] Business Line Performance Changes - Learning services in Q4 generated net revenues of RMB 727.2 million, a 17.7% year-over-year increase, with digital content services contributing RMB 436.1 million, up 12.2% year-over-year [6][15] - Online marketing services saw Q4 net revenues of RMB 660.9 million, a 37.2% increase year-over-year, driven by demand from the NetEase Group and overseas markets [9][16] - Smart devices segment reported Q4 net revenues of RMB 176.5 million, down 26.6% year-over-year, primarily due to decreased demand for smart learning devices [11][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The online marketing segment's gross margin was 27.8% in Q4, reflecting a 2 percentage point sequential improvement despite a year-over-year decline [11] - International KOL revenues increased by over 50% year-over-year in Q4, with successful campaigns executed in over 50 countries [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to continue its AI-native strategy, focusing on innovative product development and competitive positioning in learning services and advertising [13][24] - Plans for 2026 include leveraging AI capabilities to enhance online marketing services and learning services, with expectations of double-digit growth in learning services [25][26] - The company is committed to improving the operational health of its smart devices segment while focusing on key products like the dictionary pen and tutoring pen [29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving sustainable growth through AI-driven innovations and strategic investments [48][49] - The company anticipates strong momentum in its core business units, particularly in AI-driven subscription services and advertising [48] Other Important Information - Youdao Lingshi's revenue surged over 40% year-over-year, with retention rates exceeding 75% [7] - The company plans to introduce new AI applications and agents to enhance user engagement and expand service offerings [28][56] Q&A Session Summary Question: 2026 outlook across different business lines - Management aims to grow sustainably while enhancing innovative product offerings, supported by the AI-native strategy [24] Question: Plans for Youdao Lingshi in 2026 - Management is confident in Youdao Lingshi's growth, focusing on product refinement and efficient customer acquisition [33][34] Question: Outlook for overseas advertisement growth in 2026 - The company plans to deepen its international KOL business and explore overseas programmatic advertising to drive growth [41][42] Question: Goal for total cash flow in 2026 - The focus will be on improving operating cash flow while maintaining a balanced approach to strategic investments [49][50] Question: Deployment of AI agents in Youdao's business - AI agents will be applied in advertising and learning applications, enhancing user experience and operational efficiency [55][56]
Youdao(DAO) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-02-11 11:02
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, net revenues reached RMB 1.6 billion, a 16.8% year-over-year increase, driven by growth in learning services and online marketing services [4][15] - Full year 2025 total net revenues were RMB 5.9 billion, a 5% increase year-over-year, with operating profit growing to RMB 221.3 million, up 48.7% year-over-year [5][20] - Net cash flow from operating activities for Q4 was RMB 184.2 million, up 16.4% year-over-year, marking the first full year of net cash inflow from operating activities at RMB 55.2 million [4][5][20] Business Line Performance Changes - Learning services in Q4 generated net revenues of RMB 727.2 million, a 17.7% year-over-year increase, with digital content services contributing RMB 436.1 million, up 12.2% year-over-year [6][15] - Online marketing services saw Q4 net revenues of RMB 660.9 million, a 37.2% increase year-over-year, driven by demand from the NetEase Group and overseas markets [9][16] - Smart devices segment reported Q4 net revenues of RMB 176.5 million, down 26.6% year-over-year, primarily due to decreased demand for smart learning devices [11][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The online marketing segment's gross margin was 27.8% in Q4, reflecting a 2 percentage point sequential improvement despite a year-over-year decline [11][17] - International KOL revenues increased by over 50% year-over-year in Q4, with successful campaigns executed in over 50 countries [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to continue its AI-native strategy, focusing on innovative product development and competitive positioning in learning services and advertising [13][24] - Plans for 2026 include leveraging AI capabilities to enhance online marketing services and learning services, with expectations of double-digit growth in learning services [25][27] - The company is committed to improving operational health in the smart devices segment while enhancing user engagement through AI-driven features [29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving sustainable growth through innovation and competitive products, with a focus on AI-driven solutions [24][29] - The company anticipates strong momentum in marketing demands across sectors such as AI applications and gaming, aiming to improve targeting precision and conversion efficiency [25][26] Other Important Information - The company launched new AI applications, including ScholarAI and Youdao AnyDub, which contributed to record high revenue in AI-driven subscription services [8][28] - The Youdao Lingshi business is expected to continue its growth trajectory, with plans for product refinement and efficient customer acquisition strategies [33][34] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the management's thoughts on the 2026 outlook across different business lines? - Management aims to grow sustainably while enhancing innovative product offerings, supported by their AI-native strategy [24] Question: What is the plan for the Youdao Lingshi business in 2026? - The strategy includes product refinement and efficient customer acquisition, with confidence in future growth due to improved AI features [33][34] Question: How does management view the outlook for overseas advertisement growth in 2026? - The company plans to deepen its international KOL business and explore programmatic advertising to drive long-term growth [41][42] Question: Is the goal for 2026 to achieve a net inflow for total cash flow? - The focus will remain on enhancing operating cash flow while balancing strategic investments and cost discipline [49][50] Question: In what areas will AI agents be deployed, and what is the potential impact? - AI agents will be applied in advertising and learning applications, with significant potential to enhance user experience and operational efficiency [55][56]
Youdao(DAO) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-02-11 11:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, net revenues reached RMB 1.6 billion, a 16.8% year-over-year increase, driven by growth in learning services and online marketing services [4][15] - Full year 2025 total net revenues were RMB 5.9 billion, a 5% increase year-over-year, with operating profit growing to RMB 221.3 million, up 48.7% year-over-year [5][20] - Net cash flow from operating activities for Q4 was RMB 184.2 million, up 16.4% year-over-year, marking the first full year of net cash inflow from operating activities at RMB 55.2 million [4][20] Business Line Performance Changes - Learning services in Q4 generated net revenues of RMB 727.2 million, a 17.7% year-over-year increase, with digital content services contributing RMB 436.1 million, up 12.2% year-over-year [5][15] - Online marketing services saw Q4 net revenues of RMB 660.9 million, a 37.2% increase year-over-year, driven by demand from the NetEase Group and overseas markets [10][16] - Smart devices segment reported Q4 net revenues of RMB 176.5 million, down 26.6% year-over-year, primarily due to decreased demand for smart learning devices [11][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The online marketing segment's gross margin was 27.8% in Q4, reflecting a 2 percentage point sequential improvement despite a year-over-year decline [11] - International KOL revenues increased by over 50% year-over-year in Q4, with successful campaigns executed in over 50 countries [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains committed to its AI-native strategy, focusing on advancing learning services and advertising businesses while developing high-performance vertical large language models [14][26] - Plans for 2026 include returning learning services to double-digit growth, leveraging AI capabilities for product innovation, and enhancing user engagement [24][25] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the growth of Youdao Lingshi, citing improved retention rates and plans for product refinement and efficient customer acquisition [27][28] - The advertising business aims to deepen international KOL operations and explore programmatic advertising to drive long-term growth [31][32] Other Important Information - The company achieved its first full year of positive net operating cash flow in 2025, with a focus on enhancing profitability and preparing for substantial operating cash flow growth in 2026 [20][34] - New AI agent products, such as Youdao Lobster AI, are being introduced to enhance user experience and engagement [41] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the management's thoughts on the 2026 outlook across different business lines? - Management aims to continue serving users with innovative products while growing sustainably, supported by the AI-native strategy [22] Question: What is the outlook for the Youdao Lingshi business in 2026? - Management is confident in Youdao Lingshi's growth due to improved customer outcomes and plans for product refinement and efficient customer acquisition [27][28] Question: How does management view the strong overseas advertisement growth in 2025? - Management plans to deepen international KOL business and explore programmatic advertising to drive tech-led long-term growth [31][32] Question: Is the goal for 2026 to achieve a net inflow for total cash flow? - Management prioritizes continuous improvement of operating cash flow while maintaining a balanced approach to strategic investments [33][35] Question: In what areas will AI agents be deployed, and what is the potential impact? - AI agents will be applied in advertising and learning applications, with significant potential for creating value through enhanced user experiences [37][40]
SMIC(00981) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-02-11 01:32
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, revenue was $2,489 million, up 4.5% sequentially; gross margin was 19.2%, down 2.8 percentage points sequentially; profit from operations was $299 million; EBITDA was $1,405 million with an EBITDA margin of 56.5%; profit attributable to the company was $173 million [7] - For the full year 2025, revenue was $9,327 million, up 16.2% year over year; gross margin was 21%, up 3 percentage points year over year; profit from operations was $1,110 million; EBITDA was $5,256 million with an EBITDA margin of 56.4%; profit attributable to the company was $685 million; capital expenditures were $8.1 billion [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, wafer revenue increased by 1.5% sequentially, while other revenue surged by 64% sequentially, mainly due to bulk shipments of MAX [16] - The overall 12-inch wafer utilization rate was nearly fully loaded, while the 8-inch utilization rate exceeded 100% [16] - For 2025, wafer revenue from 12-inch and 8-inch accounted for 77% and 23% respectively, with both segments increasing by 17% and 18% year over year [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from Chinese customers increased by 18% year over year, while revenue from overseas customers rose by 9% year over year [18] - By application, wafer revenue percentages were 23% for smartphones, 15% for computers and tablets, 43% for consumer electronics, 8% for connectivity and IoT, and 11% for industrial and automotive [19] - Absolute wafer revenue from industrial and automotive increased by more than 60% year over year, while consumer electronics revenue grew by more than 30% year over year [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage technological reserves and advantages in segmented markets such as BCD, analog, memory, MCU, and mid to high-end display drivers to drive revenue growth [23] - The company plans to maintain high levels of investment to seize local manufacturing opportunities, which has driven rapid revenue growth but also increased depreciation pressure on gross margins [27] - The company is focused on optimizing internal operations to maintain high utilization and improve cost efficiency [27] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management noted that the semiconductor industry is shifting towards localization, with domestic fabless companies gaining market share [17] - For Q1 2026, revenue is expected to be flat sequentially, with gross margin projected to be in the range of 18% to 20% [11] - The company anticipates that revenue growth in 2026 will be higher than the industry average, with capital expenditures expected to remain roughly flat compared to 2025 [24] Other Important Information - The company had total assets of $52.3 billion at the end of 2025, with total cash on hand of $11.9 billion and total liabilities of $17.3 billion [9] - The net cash generated from operating activities in 2025 was $3,194 million, while net cash used in investing activities was $6,495 million [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on AI and supply chain challenges - Management discussed the impact of AI on memory chip demand and the resulting supply constraints affecting mid to low-end markets [31] Question: Capital expenditure plans for 2026 - Management confirmed that capital expenditures for 2026 are expected to be around $8 billion, with a focus on maintaining high capacity utilization [33]
SMIC(00981) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-02-11 01:32
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, the company's revenue was $2,489 million, representing a sequential increase of 4.5% [8] - For the full year 2025, revenue reached $9,327 million, up 16.2% year over year, with a gross margin of 21%, an increase of 3 percentage points year over year [9][19] - The profit from operations for Q4 2025 was $299 million, while EBITDA was $1,405 million with an EBITDA margin of 56.5% [8] - The company reported a profit attributable to the company of $173 million in Q4 2025 [8] - Total assets at the end of 2025 were $52.3 billion, with total cash on hand of $11.9 billion and total liabilities of $17.3 billion [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Wafer revenue in Q4 2025 increased by 1.5% sequentially, with overall wafer shipments and blended ASP slightly increasing [17] - Other revenue surged by 64% sequentially, primarily due to bulk shipments of MAX at the end of the year [17] - The company maintained a utilization rate of 95.7% for 12-inch wafers, with the overall 8-inch utilization rate exceeding 100% [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from Chinese customers increased by 18% year over year, while revenue from overseas customers rose by 9% year over year [19] - By application, wafer revenue percentages were 23% for smartphones, 15% for computers and tablets, 43% for consumer electronics, 8% for connectivity and IoT, and 11% for industrial and automotive [20] - The absolute wafer revenue from industrial and automotive increased by more than 60% year over year, driven by the reshuffling of the automotive supply chain [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on local manufacturing opportunities and has maintained high levels of investment to drive rapid revenue growth [28] - The strategy includes addressing urgent market demands and leveraging technological reserves in segmented markets such as BCD, analog, memory, and MCU [24] - The company aims to optimize internal operations to maintain high utilization and improve cost efficiency amidst rising depreciation pressures [28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the semiconductor industry is shifting towards localization, with domestic fabless companies gaining market share [18] - The company expects sustained incremental growth opportunities in 2026, despite challenges from the memory macro cycle affecting the foundry sector [23] - For Q1 2026, revenue is expected to be flat sequentially, with gross margin guidance in the range of 18% to 20% [12][25] Other Important Information - Capital expenditures for 2025 were $8.1 billion, higher than initially projected, driven by robust customer demand and changes in the external environment [22] - The company added around 50,000 12-inch capacity in 2025 and continues to expand capacity in 2026 [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on AI and supply chain bottlenecks - Management discussed the impact of AI on memory chip demand and the resulting supply constraints in mid to low-end markets [32] Question: Future capital expenditure plans - Management indicated that capital expenditures for 2026 are expected to be roughly flat compared to 2025, with ongoing investments to seize local manufacturing opportunities [34] Question: Utilization rates and production capacity - Management confirmed that the utilization rates remain high, with expectations for continued capacity expansion despite external challenges [35] Question: Market demand and pricing pressures - Management acknowledged the pressure from rising prices for memory chips and the potential decline in demand for end products as a result [24]
SMIC(00981) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-02-11 01:30
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, revenue was $2,489 million, up 4.5% sequentially; gross margin was 19.2%, down 2.8 percentage points sequentially; profit from operations was $299 million; EBITDA was $1,405 million, with an EBITDA margin of 56.5%; profit attributable to the company was $173 million [6][15] - For the full year 2025, revenue was $9,327 million, up 16.2% year over year; gross margin was 21%, up 3 percentage points year over year; profit from operations was $1,110 million; EBITDA was $5,256 million, with an EBITDA margin of 56.4%; profit attributable to the company was $685 million [8][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, wafer revenue increased by 1.5% sequentially, while overall wafer shipments and blended ASP slightly increased; other revenue surged by 64% sequentially due to bulk shipments of MAX [15] - For 2025, wafer revenue from 12-inch and 8-inch accounted for 77% and 23% respectively, with both segments increasing by 17% and 18% year over year [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from Chinese customers increased by 18% year over year, while revenue from overseas customers rose by 9% year over year; revenue percentages from China, America, and Eurasia were 85%, 12%, and 3% respectively, remaining flat compared to the previous year [18] - The overall 8-inch utilization rate exceeded 100%, and the overall 12-inch was nearly fully loaded, reflecting strong demand and industry reshuffling [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on local manufacturing opportunities and maintaining high levels of investment to drive revenue growth, while also addressing high depreciation pressure on gross margins due to new fabs ramping up [21][23] - The company aims to leverage its technological reserves and advantages in segmented markets such as BCD, analog, memory, and MCU to navigate the current industry development cycle [21] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the semiconductor industry is experiencing a shift towards localization, with domestic fabless companies gaining market share; the company expects sustained incremental growth opportunities in 2026 [17][21] - The guidance for Q1 2026 indicates flat revenue sequentially, with gross margin expected to be in the range of 18% to 20% [11][22] Other Important Information - Capital expenditures for 2025 were $8.1 billion, driven by robust customer demand and changes in the external environment; monthly capacity reached 1,059,000 standard Logic 8-inch equivalent wafers by year-end [19] - The company’s total assets at the end of 2025 were $52.3 billion, with total cash on hand of $11.9 billion and total liabilities of $17.3 billion [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expectations for the AI and memory chip markets? - Management discussed the robust demand for memory chips driven by AI, which has created supply constraints in other application sectors, particularly affecting mid to low-end markets [21] Question: How is the company addressing the depreciation pressure on gross margins? - The company plans to focus on internal optimization to maintain high utilization and improve cost efficiency through operational enhancements [23] Question: What is the outlook for capital expenditures in 2026? - Capital expenditures are expected to be roughly flat compared to 2025, with continued capacity expansion planned [22]
Upexi(UPXI) - 2026 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-02-10 23:32
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the second quarter, total revenue was approximately $8.1 million, an increase of approximately $4 million or just over 100% compared to $4 million in the prior year quarter [15] - The net loss for the quarter was approximately $178.9 million or approximately $2.94 per share, primarily driven by $164.5 million of unrealized losses on digital assets [15][16] - The company had approximately $1.6 million in cash and 2.17 million Solana tokens as of December 31st [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Digital asset revenue for the six months ended December 31st, 2025, was approximately $11.2 million, reflecting the addition of the digital asset treasury business [14][15] - The treasury had an unrealized loss on digital assets of approximately $86.4 million, reflective of the Solana price per token of $124.48 at December 31st, 2025 [14][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The price of Solana fell 40% during the quarter and has fallen a further 31% since the quarter end [4][5] - The spot Solana ETFs launched and have seen over $850 million of net inflows since [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to increase yield, hedge positions using a maturing options market, and capitalize on top opportunities created by market volatility [8] - The strategic plan includes raising capital above NAV to increase digital assets per share and issuing in-kind convertible notes at a premium to NAV [18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains optimistic about the future despite challenges, citing improving fundamentals for Solana and the potential for price appreciation [5][6] - The company believes that the subsector will work through oversupply through M&A or asset sales, and anticipates multiple expansion in a bull market [7][8] Other Important Information - The company became shelf-eligible during the quarter and filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC [12] - A $50 million share repurchase program was announced, adding another tool for capital management [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Any change in terms of capital raising strategy given the pressure on Solana? - Management stated there has been no change in perspective and they continue to aim to raise capital above NAV [22] Question: How to weigh buying SOL versus keeping a reserve? - Management emphasized the importance of maintaining cash reserves during volatile periods and mentioned the potential for hedging positions as the options market matures [24][25] Question: Any updates on generating additional yield outside of staking? - Management is exploring a strategy that can generate high yield in a low-risk way, with a focus on recurring and low-risk opportunities [35]
Upexi(UPXI) - 2026 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-02-10 23:32
Upexi (NasdaqCM:UPXI) Q2 2026 Earnings call February 10, 2026 05:30 PM ET Company ParticipantsAllan Marshall - CEOAndrew Norstrud - CFOBrett Knoblauch - Managing DirectorBrian Rudick - Chief Strategy OfficerValter Pinto - Managing DirectorConference Call ParticipantsBrian Kinstlinger - Senior Technology AnalystOperatorOkay, welcome to Upexi Incorporated's fiscal second quarter 2026 financial results conference call. Please note, this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to V ...