Sign in

    Chris Grenga

    Research Analyst at Needham & Company

    Chris Grenga is an Equity Research Analyst at Needham & Company, specializing in industrial technology and automation, where he covers companies such as Zebra Technologies and iRobot and participates in earnings calls and sector analysis. He joined Needham & Company in September 2021 after serving as an Analyst at Deutsche Bank and an Associate at Irving Place Capital, focusing on the industrial sector and financial modeling for M&A transactions. Grenga holds a B.S. in Commerce from the University of Virginia and is registered with FINRA as a broker. His professional background includes hands-on experience in private equity and investment banking, giving him strong credentials in equity research and analytical rigor.

    Chris Grenga's questions to Montrose Environmental Group (MEG) leadership

    Chris Grenga's questions to Montrose Environmental Group (MEG) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Chris Grenga, on for Jim Ricchiuti, asked for more detail on the drivers of expected margin expansion for the remainder of 2025 and inquired about which business areas are most affected by potential tariff impacts during client discussions.

    Answer

    Vijay Manthripragada, President and CEO, responded that margin expansion is driven by a combination of sustained, strong demand across all business segments as regulatory clarity improves, alongside continued operating effectiveness from cross-selling, pricing optimization, and operating leverage. Regarding tariffs, he clarified that the impact on Montrose is expected to be de minimis and is already factored into guidance. He added that clients have been constructive, understanding that Montrose may need to pass through costs if necessary.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Chris Grenga's questions to ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES (ZBRA) leadership

    Chris Grenga's questions to ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES (ZBRA) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Chris Grenga, on for Jim Ricchiuti, asked about the deployment progress of the Zebra Companion AI offering and whether supply chain disruptions for customers could become a tailwind for Zebra's technology adoption.

    Answer

    CEO William Burns confirmed that the AI suite is released and the Zebra Companion assistant is on track in proof-of-concepts with customers. He agreed that customer supply chain modernization, driven by production moves and the need for visibility, creates a significant opportunity for Zebra's solutions, which provide the real-time data essential for AI-driven actions.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Chris Grenga's questions to ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES (ZBRA) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Chris Grenga of Needham & Company, on for Jim Ricchiuti, asked if the Zebra Companion AI feature set would be exclusive to the retail customer showcased at NRF. He also inquired about the potential for these AI features to be expanded beyond retail into manufacturing and logistics.

    Answer

    CEO William Burns clarified the AI suite is not exclusive and is designed for partners and ISVs to build upon. CFO Nathan Winters added that the technology is applicable to other verticals, providing an example of its use for knowledge management and training in Zebra's own distribution centers, demonstrating its broader potential.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Chris Grenga's questions to ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES (ZBRA) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Chris Grenga, on for James Ricchiuti, asked about emerging RFID applications in grocery and the broader growth opportunities for RFID over the next year, including its potential as a meaningful use case in that vertical.

    Answer

    CEO William Burns confirmed strong Q3 growth and a robust pipeline for RFID. He highlighted the broadening of applications beyond apparel into areas like fresh goods in grocery, which represents a significant opportunity. He noted Zebra is well-positioned with a comprehensive portfolio and that growth in item tagging continues to drive demand for readers and software.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Chris Grenga's questions to ADVANCED ENERGY INDUSTRIES (AEIS) leadership

    Chris Grenga's questions to ADVANCED ENERGY INDUSTRIES (AEIS) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    On behalf of Jim Ricchiuti, Chris Grenga asked if the new tariff regime has altered plans for the Thailand facility. He also inquired about the expected impact of the new distributor microsites, like the one with Mouser, on sales or inventory.

    Answer

    CEO Stephen Kelley confirmed that plans for the Thailand facility are unchanged, with a 2026 opening still tied to demand justification, noting the initial products are for the less tariff-sensitive plasma power business. Regarding the microsites, he expects them to 'turbocharge' the Industrial & Medical business by leveraging the distributors' broad reach to convert more opportunities into design wins, similar to the success seen on AE's own website.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Chris Grenga's questions to PLEXUS (PLXS) leadership

    Chris Grenga's questions to PLEXUS (PLXS) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Chris Grenga asked about potential gross margin headwinds from the new Penang facility ramp and questioned the slight sequential dip in the healthcare funnel despite positive commentary on underlying demand.

    Answer

    CFO Pat Jermain assured that any margin headwind from the new Penang site would be minimal, citing the region's strong track record of ramping to profitability quickly. He also explained that the funnel can fluctuate quarterly and that underlying metrics like year-over-year wins remain strong, with expectations that rising demand will lead to future wins.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Chris Grenga's questions to PLEXUS (PLXS) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Chris Grenga, on behalf of Jim Ricchiuti, asked for specific drivers of the broad-based demand pull-in during the quarter. He also questioned how much longer the inventory correction is expected to persist in the Healthcare/Life Sciences sector.

    Answer

    President and CEO Todd Kelsey attributed the nearly $40 million pull-in to a broad range of customer-specific factors, including new program success and end-market demand upticks, which impacted all sectors. EVP and COO Oliver Mihm noted that 85-90% of the healthcare inventory correction is likely complete, citing strong engineering solutions revenue as a positive leading indicator for the sector's recovery.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Chris Grenga's questions to CECO ENVIRONMENTAL (CECO) leadership

    Chris Grenga's questions to CECO ENVIRONMENTAL (CECO) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Chris Grenga, on behalf of Jim Ricchiuti at Needham & Company, asked for a comparison of activity in the short-cycle versus long-cycle businesses and inquired about the outlook and customer urgency in the LNG end market.

    Answer

    Todd Gleason, CEO, described the short-cycle business as stable and consistently growing, noting it was a reliable area in 2024. Regarding LNG, he confirmed a significant increase in customer dialogue and activity, with projects previously on pause now being re-bid and moving forward. Peter Johansson, CFO, expanded on this, framing it within a broader 'energy super cycle' with high investment across all energy sectors, driven by demand for power, AI, and reshoring.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Chris Grenga's questions to CLEAN HARBORS (CLH) leadership

    Chris Grenga's questions to CLEAN HARBORS (CLH) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Chris Grenga of Needham & Company inquired about the first major fleet customer win for the Castrol partnership, asking if it includes a collection arrangement and about the pipeline for similar opportunities. He also asked if the company is evaluating other geographic expansions for the semiconductor vertical beyond Phoenix.

    Answer

    Co-CEO Mike Battles confirmed the Castrol 'more circular' offering involves collecting used oil from the customer and selling them base oil at a premium. He noted the sales pipeline is strong, with another large customer close to signing, but acknowledged the long lead times for large fleets. Co-CEO Eric Gerstenberg affirmed that the company is evaluating other geographies with strong semiconductor opportunities, building on the growth seen in the Phoenix area.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Chris Grenga's questions to TTM TECHNOLOGIES (TTMI) leadership

    Chris Grenga's questions to TTM TECHNOLOGIES (TTMI) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Chris Grenga, on behalf of James Ricchiuti, asked for more detail on the revenue pull-ins from the Data Center market and how TTM is approaching conversations with customers regarding potential tariff impacts.

    Answer

    CEO Thomas Edman clarified that the expected sequential decline in Q1 Data Center revenue is a function of both the Q4 pull-ins and the production impact of Chinese New Year. Regarding tariffs, Edman stated that customers have built supply chain resiliency by cross-qualifying multiple assembly locations, allowing them to redirect shipments to non-tariffed geographies. He noted this primarily affects a small portion, about 3% of last year's revenue, of direct PCB imports from China to the U.S.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Chris Grenga's questions to TTM TECHNOLOGIES (TTMI) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Chris Grenga, on behalf of Needham & Company, asked about any potential impact from ongoing strikes in the commercial aerospace industry. He also sought clarification on whether the announced CapEx for the Syracuse expansion was net of government contributions.

    Answer

    CEO Thomas Edman stated that TTM's exposure to commercial aerospace is minimal (less than 2% of total revenue) and is concentrated in the 787 program, which has not been affected by the strikes. He also clarified that the $100 million to $130 million CapEx range for the Syracuse facility is the gross figure, before the application of federal and state support.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Chris Grenga's questions to MKS (MKSI) leadership

    Chris Grenga's questions to MKS (MKSI) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Chris Grenga, on for Jim Ricchiuti, asked for an update on demand trends in industrial end markets, particularly automotive, and the revenue share from EV applications. He also inquired about MKS's direct and indirect business exposure to WFE spending in China.

    Answer

    President and CEO John Lee noted that while the automotive market is muted, MKS's revenue has been stable, and EVs offer slightly better opportunities, though he did not break out the revenue share. Regarding China, Lee stated that the previously disclosed $200 million risk from 2022 restrictions is now out of their results, and current exposure is indirect and aligned with the broader market, not specific to MKS.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Chris Grenga's questions to FARO TECHNOLOGIES (FARO) leadership

    Chris Grenga's questions to FARO TECHNOLOGIES (FARO) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Inquired about trends in the construction end market across different regions and property types, and asked about customer activity and conversations surrounding the Sphere software offering.

    Answer

    Executives noted that construction trends vary geographically, with China being a drag, while healthcare and infrastructure construction are stronger than commercial. A reduction in interest rates would be a tailwind. The Sphere XG software offering is a tailwind for the company, with regular adoption from customers both as a standalone solution and attached to hardware sales, and they are bullish on its future.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI

    Chris Grenga's questions to IROBOT (IRBT) leadership

    Chris Grenga's questions to IROBOT (IRBT) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Chris Grenga of Needham & Company asked about the expected growth of the 'Essentials' product line's share of the mix, its potential impact on gross margins, and the progress of conversations with retail customers who had previously curtailed purchases.

    Answer

    Executive Gary Cohen explained that the entire 2025 product lineup, including the Essentials line, will be margin accretive compared to the products they are replacing, contributing to overall gross margin improvement. Regarding retail partners, Cohen confirmed that discussions are ongoing and positive, with the goal of restoring distribution. He noted that upcoming line reviews will be critical in determining the full breadth of retail placement for the new product line.

    Ask Fintool Equity Research AI