Jim Schneider

Jim Schneider asked if there's a clear path for the domestic business to return to 4%-5% growth and international to grow even faster, bringing the entire business back to a 5% range, and the potential timing for this. He also asked if Verizon's focus on finishing C-band deployments and adding small cells aligns with SBA's current business trends from them.

Answer

Brendan Cavanagh, President and CEO, affirmed that SBA can return to the 5% growth range, partially in 2027 and more fully in 2028-2029, as remaining churn items subside and international markets mature. He noted that Verizon's C-band upgrades are largely complete, and while small cells are not SBA's focus, the company expects significant network expansion through new colocations and Massive MIMO upgrades on existing AWS and PCS spectrum from Verizon.

Jim Schneider asked about the clear path for the entire business to return to a 5% growth range (domestic 4%-5%, international better) and the expected timing, specifically whether it could happen as early as 2027 or later. He also asked if Verizon's focus on C-band deployments and small cells aligns with the business trends SBA is observing from them.

Answer

Brendan Cavanagh, President and CEO, affirmed that the business can return to the 5% growth range, with partial recovery in 2027 and a fuller return in 2028-2029 due to lingering churn items. He expects international growth to be faster due to less mature markets. Regarding Verizon, he confirmed consistency with their C-band upgrades but noted SBA's limited involvement in small cells. He emphasized that SBA's agreement with Verizon anticipates network expansion through new colocations and amendment activity from Massive MIMO upgrades on existing AWS and PCS deployments.

Jim Schneider (Goldman Sachs Group) asked about potential OpEx cost savings SBA contemplates to offset future interest expense headwinds. He also sought an update on the organic growth outlook for the Millicom acquisition, comparing current expectations to the initial underwriting at the time of diligence.

Answer

Brendan Cavanagh, President and CEO of SBA, acknowledged interest expense as a headwind due to refinancing low-cost debt. He stated SBA continuously seeks OpEx efficiencies, maintaining high margins through technology and minimal overhead additions for growth, citing the Millicom deal as an example. For Millicom, Mr. Cavanagh noted it's very early, but initial interest from other carriers suggests the acquisition might exceed initial growth models, with a clearer picture expected in a year.

Jim Schneider asked about the specific requirements and confidence level for Globant to reach the upper end of its $100 million run rate ARR target for the AI Pods business, including necessary bookings and pipeline support. He also inquired about the expected gross margin profile for the overall business throughout the year, specifically if Q4 2025 represented a trough and if acceleration is anticipated.

Answer

CEO Martín Migoya indicated that reaching the upper end of the AI Pods ARR target could be achieved with a few large customers transitioning to the model, citing current engagements of $15M-$20M. He expressed optimism, supported by encouraging pipeline behavior and top clients' willingness to pilot and scale. CFO Juan Urthiague explained that Q4 2025 gross margins were impacted by USD weakness against LATAM currencies and statutory cost increases. He believes the dollar is at a low point and emphasized that increasing the share of higher-margin AI Pods will be key to maintaining or improving overall gross margins as the business scales.

Jim Schneider asked about the specific path to achieve the upper end of the $100 million run rate ARR for the AI Pods business, including the required bookings and pipeline support, and the confidence level in reaching that high end. He also inquired about the gross margin profile for the overall business throughout the year, specifically if Q4 represented a trough and if acceleration is expected.

Answer

CEO Martín Migoya stated that the higher end of the AI Pods ARR range could be achieved with a few large customers transitioning to the model, noting encouraging $15M-$20M engagements already. CRO Fernando Matzkin added that the AI Pods pipeline shows accelerated growth and top customer openness. CFO Juan Urthiague explained that Q4 gross margins were impacted by USD weakness against LATAM currencies and statutory cost increases, but the focus on increasing AI Pods' share, with their higher margins, is expected to maintain or improve overall gross margins as the business scales.

Jim Schneider inquired about the expected growth trajectory of the Interconnect Solutions (ICS) segment in 2026, potential headwinds from memory pricing or consumer electronics demand destruction in China, and Qnity's China sales performance and outlook.

Answer

CEO Jon Kemp addressed memory market dynamics, noting Qnity's 20% Semi portfolio exposure to memory is primarily unit-driven and focused on resilient premium devices. Interim CFO Mike Goss stated ICS is expected to continue its strong momentum and outperform Semi growth in 2026. CEO Jon Kemp added that China grew high single digits in 2025, accounting for over 30% of sales, with faster growth seen in other geographies, and expects similar dynamics in 2026.

Jim Schneider asked about NVIDIA's previously outlined potential for $3 trillion-$4 trillion in data center CapEx by 2030, inquiring about the key application areas (e.g., physical AI, agentic AI) driving this growth and confidence in achieving that envelope.

Answer

CEO Jensen Huang reiterated confidence in the CapEx projection, explaining that future software is token-driven, requiring 1,000 times more computation than classical methods. He emphasized that 'compute equals revenues' for AI factories, driven by the agentic AI inflection seen in the last few months, where agents solve real problems and generate exponential token demand. He also highlighted physical AI as the next major inflection point.

Jim Schneider questioned NVIDIA's projection of $3 trillion-$4 trillion in data center CapEx by 2030, asking about the key application areas driving this acceleration (e.g., physical AI, agentic AI) and the company's confidence in this long-term outlook.

Answer

Jensen Huang, President and CEO of NVIDIA, reaffirmed confidence in the CapEx projection, explaining that future software is token-driven, requiring exponentially higher compute than classical computing. He highlighted agentic AI's inflection point and the emerging physical AI as key drivers, transforming data centers into 'AI factories' where compute directly translates to revenue.

Jim Schneider asked about the expected percentage of NVIDIA's shipments tied to AI inference in the next year and details on the upcoming Rubin CPX product, including its target market and TAM.

Answer

Jensen Huang, President and CEO, NVIDIA, explained that Rubin CPX is designed for long-context workloads, offering excellent performance per dollar and per watt. He noted that all three scaling laws (pre-training, post-training, inference) are scaling exponentially, making precise inference percentages hard to predict, but highlighted Grace Blackwell's significant inference leadership.

Jim Schneider asked about the expected percentage of NVIDIA's shipments tied to AI Inference in the coming year (previously ~40%) and sought context on the Rubin CPX product, its total addressable market (TAM), and target applications.

Answer

Jensen Huang, President and CEO, NVIDIA, explained that the Rubin CPX is designed for long-context workloads, offering excellent performance per dollar and per watt. Regarding Inference, he stated that while the exact percentage is hard to predict, he hopes it becomes a very large part of the market, highlighting Grace Blackwell's 10-15x higher Inference performance over H200, securing multi-year leadership.

Jim Schneider of Goldman Sachs asked for context on the upcoming Rubin product transition. He inquired about the incremental capabilities it will offer and whether the performance step-up will be larger, smaller, or similar to the leap seen with Blackwell.

Answer

Founder, President, CEO & Director Jensen Huang explained that NVIDIA's annual product cadence is designed to maximize customer revenue and reduce costs by consistently improving performance-per-watt. He noted Blackwell offered an order-of-magnitude leap for reasoning AI. While he deferred specific details on Rubin's capabilities to a future GTC event, he confirmed it contains 'a lot of great ideas' and that the company will continue its annual rhythm to drive customer success. He expects next year to be another record-breaking year.

Jim Schneider asked about EPAM's capital allocation strategy, specifically the board's thoughts on pursuing more inorganic actions versus being more aggressive with share buybacks, given the pressure on software and services stocks. He also inquired about the directional correctness of an estimated 80% increase in the run rate of AI-native revenues exiting Q4 and how EPAM's AI-native revenue definition differs from peers.

Answer

Balazs Fejes, CEO and President, stated that EPAM plans to continue share buybacks, as previously announced, and will pursue small tuck-in acquisitions, especially in the first half of the year, while stabilizing previous acquisitions. Jason Peterson, CFO, clarified that the near-term focus remains on share repurchases, with a longer-term openness to scaled M&A. Regarding AI-native revenues, Mr. Peterson confirmed the directional correctness of very high growth rates and expected strong sequential growth. Mr. Fejes emphasized that EPAM's AI-native definition is 'super tight,' including only new AI-centric solutions and enterprise AI 360 transformations, explicitly excluding AI-assisted work and foundational data/AI elements, which are a much larger revenue base for the company.

Jim Schneider asked about EPAM's capital allocation strategy, specifically how the company and its board are balancing inorganic actions (M&A) versus potentially more aggressive share buybacks. He also inquired about the directional correctness of an 80% increase in the AI-native revenue run rate exiting Q4 and how EPAM's definition of AI-native revenue differs from its peers.

Answer

CEO Balazs Fejes stated that EPAM will continue share buybacks, particularly in the first half of the year, and pursue small 'token' acquisitions. CFO Jason Peterson clarified a near-term focus on share repurchases, with openness to scaled M&A over time. Mr. Peterson confirmed the high growth rates for AI-native revenues. Mr. Fejes emphasized EPAM's 'super tight' definition of AI-native revenue, which includes new solutions where AI is the core and enterprise-wide AI 360 transformations, but explicitly excludes AI-assisted work and foundational data/AI elements, which represent much larger revenue streams for the company.

Jim Schneider inquired about the expectation for continued above-seasonal performance in the industrial segment over the next couple of quarters and whether there are any signs of OEM customer restocking.

Answer

Richard Puccio, EVP and CFO, indicated an outlook for significantly above-seasonal growth in Q2, with industrial expected to be up 20% sequentially and 50% year-over-year, aided by cyclical recovery and strength in ATE and Aerospace & Defense. Vincent Roche, CEO and Chairman, added that there is no evidence of restocking at this point in the cycle.

Jim Schneider asked about the expected above-seasonal performance in the industrial segment for the next one to two quarters and any signs of OEM customer restocking.

Answer

Richard Puccio, EVP and CFO, detailed the Q2 outlook, expecting industrial to be up 20% sequentially and 50% year-over-year, driven by cyclical recovery and strength in ATE and Aerospace and Defense. Vincent Roche, CEO and Chairman, added that there is no evidence of restocking at this point in the cycle.

Jim Schneider requested more detail on the automotive market, asking about the previously mentioned order pull-ins, their regional source, and the drivers behind the expected sequential decline in Q4.

Answer

EVP & CFO Richard Puccio confirmed that order acceleration occurred in Q2 (North America/Europe) and Q3 (China), likely driven by tariff concerns and expiring EV credits. He stated this pull-in is expected to unwind in Q4, causing the projected decline, but reiterated confidence in long-term growth from content and share gains.

Jim Schneider (Goldman Sachs) asked for clarification on Camtek's double-digit growth outlook for the year relative to broader WFE forecasts, and the expected gross margin trajectory throughout the year.

Answer

Ramy Langer (COO, Camtek) stated that Camtek expects double-digit growth in 2026 and historically outperforms WFE due to focus on fast-growing segments, with much better visibility for the second half. Moshe Eisenberg (CFO, Camtek) added that gross margins are expected to improve throughout the year, with the first half remaining around 50.5%-51.5%, driven by revenue growth and supply chain optimization.

Jim Schneider, Senior Equity Analyst at Goldman Sachs, asked Camtek to contextualize its double-digit growth outlook for the year against broader WFE forecasts of 15%-20% for 2026, inquiring if the inspection market is expected to undergrow WFE or if the weaker first half is a timing issue. He also sought insight into the expected gross margin trajectory throughout the year, particularly whether it would expand due to improving ASPs from products like Hawk.

Answer

COO Ramy Langer reiterated the double-digit growth expectation for 2026, noting that Camtek historically outperforms WFE due to its focus on fast-growing segments. He highlighted significantly improved visibility, pipeline, and confidence for the second half of 2026. CFO Moshe Eisenberg confirmed expectations for improved gross margins throughout the year, especially in the second half, attributing this to revenue growth, bill of material improvements, and supply chain optimization.

Jim Schneider inquired about Cadence's AI workflows, seeking quantification of customer benefits like time to market or productivity, and details on how Cadence monetizes these solutions across its portfolio.

Answer

President and CEO Anirudh Devgan highlighted remarkable and real results from AI in chip design, citing 4x productivity for Samsung and 7-10x for Altera in RTL writing, and 7-12% PPA improvement in physical design. He explained that AI acts as a force multiplier because formal languages and existing verification tools ensure correctness. Devgan noted strong customer demand for AI deployment and confirmed monetization is occurring, reflected in results and backlog. He detailed a monetization strategy involving charging for agentic flows (like virtual engineers) and increased usage of base tools due to expanded design exploration. Senior Vice President and CFO John Wall added that AI amplifies demand and accelerates adoption, with subscriptions remaining core, supplemented by usage-based pricing for incremental capacity and optimization.

Jim Schneider inquired about quantifying the benefits customers are receiving from Cadence's AI workflows (e.g., time to market, productivity), the company's monetization strategy for these solutions, and their breadth across the portfolio.

Answer

President and CEO Anirudh Devgan highlighted remarkable AI benefits in chip design, citing customer examples like Samsung achieving 4x productivity and Altera 7-10x in RTL writing, and 7-12% PPA improvement in physical design. He confirmed strong customer demand for AI deployment and stated that monetization is now occurring, reflected in results and backlog. Devgan explained that agentic AI, a new tool category, will be priced as a 'virtual engineer' for tasks like RTL writing, driving extra business and increased usage of base tools through expanded exploration.

Jim Schneider asked about the expected tailwinds from integrating AI features into core EDA products over the next few years, seeking specific productivity metrics and how these translate into revenue or adoption rates.

Answer

President and CEO Anirudh Devgan detailed Cadence's 'AI for design' strategy, citing examples like SimAI delivering 5-10x improvement in logic simulation efficiency and Cerebras AI Studio achieving 4x productivity and 22% PPA improvement. He noted that AI tool adoption is becoming standard, and while monetization takes time (typically two contract cycles), AI is crucial for the next 10x automation needed to manage exponential chip design complexity.

Jim Schneider asked about the expected tailwinds from integrating AI features into core EDA products over the next few years, seeking productivity metrics and how these translate into revenue or adoption rates.

Answer

President and CEO Anirudh Devgan highlighted Cadence's 'AI for design' strategy, citing SimAI's 5x-10x improvement in logic simulation efficiency and Cerebrus AI Studio's 4x productivity improvement and 22% PPA enhancement. He emphasized that AI is the next 10x automation for chip design, crucial for exponential workload growth, and adoption is strong, with monetization expected over two contract cycles.

Jim Schneider asked for a rank order of the relative growth rates expected for foundry logic and DRAM in calendar 2026 and 2027, and if one is expected to be sustainably higher. He followed up on gross margin expectations for the back half of calendar 2026, asking if modest step-ups are still expected without China's help, and what it would take to reach gross margins at or above 15%.

Answer

CFO Brice Hill stated that it's difficult to differentiate between foundry logic and DRAM growth rates due to factory availability, but categorized them as 'fast lane' businesses driven by AI, alongside advanced packaging. He indicated that modest improvements in gross margin are expected, with the faster growth in the semi business being a tailwind, partially offset by a headwind from the customer mix as China's contribution recedes.

Jim Schneider asked for a rank order of the relative growth rates expected for foundry logic and DRAM in calendar 2026 and 2027, and if one is expected to be sustainably higher. He also inquired if gross margins are still expected to step up in the second half of 2026 without help from China and what it would take to reach 15% gross margin.

Answer

CFO Brice Hill stated that it's difficult to rank order foundry logic and DRAM growth due to factory availability metering requests, but highlighted leading-edge, DRAM, and advanced packaging as the much faster-growing segments. He expects modest improvements in overall gross margin, with the tailwind of faster Semi business growth partially offset by the headwind of a flattish China mix.

Jim Schneider asked about the specific synergies between SiTime's oscillator products and Renesas' clocking business within the data center, and whether the combined entity could offer a more holistic timing solution that would disadvantage other suppliers. He also inquired about the duration of the 1.5x book-to-bill backlog for the 2026 model and the expected growth rate for the mobile and consumer business, specifically if it could match 2025's performance.

Answer

Rajesh Vashist, CEO, clarified that the acquisition is solely focused on Renesas' timing products. He explained that the combined engineering teams would enable the delivery of superior, integrated solutions addressing density, power, resilience, throughput, and lower latencies across various segments, emphasizing value differentiation over market share. Beth Howe, CFO, noted that the backlog is typically within 12 months, weighted towards Q1 and Q2, with some customers booking into the second half. She added that the consumer business expects meaningful ramp-ups from design wins in 2026.

Jim Schneider asked about the level of confidence in the Health Sciences segment's growth for 2026 relative to the full-year guidance, considering cost benefits outweighing regulatory pressures, particularly in the payer space. He also inquired about the line of sight to gross margin inflection on a year-over-year basis during 2026, taking into account factors like outcome-based pricing, fixed pricing, and pyramid changes.

Answer

Ravi Kumar, CEO, expressed confidence in Health Sciences, noting its +6% growth, market leadership, and the differentiated TriZetto platform. He explained that regulatory uncertainty in the payer side drives transformation around TriZetto, shifting administrative costs to care, creating new spend areas through partnerships (Palantir, Microsoft, AWS, Google Cloud) and agentifying labor. He sees this as a tailwind, also mentioning applying agentic AI to bedside care and patient lifecycles. Jatin Dalal, CFO, stated that while they guide for overall operating margin, they will strive for gross margin improvement. He clarified that 2025 gross margin dilution was primarily due to Belcan's more onsite-centric work and higher bonus payouts, not core margin erosion. Ravi Kumar added that pyramid broadening, productivity sharing, and operating discipline are tailwinds for expansive margins.

Jim Schneider from Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. asked about the Health Sciences segment, specifically Cognizant's confidence in its relative growth for 2026, considering cost benefits outweighing regulatory pressures and the debate around additional regulatory burdens in the payer space. He also followed up on gross margin inflection, asking when Cognizant expects to see year-over-year gross margin improvement, given factors like outcome-based pricing, fixed pricing, and pyramid changes.

Answer

CEO Ravi Kumar stated that the Health Sciences business grew over 6%, higher than the company average, benefiting from its market position and the TriZetto platform. He sees regulatory uncertainty in the payer side as an opportunity for transformation, shifting administrative costs to care through agentic applications around TriZetto, and views this as a tailwind. CFO Jatin Dalal clarified that while he doesn't guide gross margins specifically, the company aims for improvement. He attributed 2025's gross margin dilution primarily to the Belcan acquisition (due to its onsite-centric work) and higher bonus payouts, asserting that core margins remained protected. CEO Ravi Kumar added that broadening the pyramid and productivity sharing would provide tailwinds for expansive margins.

Jim Schneider asked about the new business pipeline for smaller deals, inquiring if there's a significant uptick, and whether there are any pull-ins or extensions in the commencement dates for large deal new bookings.

Answer

CEO Ravi Singisetti explained that large deals are balanced between consolidation/productivity-led and AI innovation-led. He noted growth in digital engineering (8%), infrastructure-led AI (10%), and BPO (10%). He also observed discretionary small projects returning in financial services and healthcare, driven by AI-led spend, and a healthy pipeline for both large and small deals.

Jim Schneider asked about the new business pipeline for smaller deals, inquiring if there's a significant uptick, and whether there are any pull-ins or extensions in the commencement dates for large deal new bookings.

Answer

CEO Ravi Singisetti explained that large deals are balanced between consolidation/productivity-led and AI innovation-led. He noted growth in digital engineering (8%), infrastructure-led AI (10%), and BPO (10%). He also observed discretionary small projects returning in financial services and healthcare, driven by AI-led spend, and a healthy pipeline for both large and small deals.

Jim Schneider asked about potential bottlenecks or supply constraints for the rack-scale systems ramp in the second half of the year, specifically whether supply is expected to meet growth from Q3 to Q4. He also inquired about the largest OpEx investment areas in 2025 and the incremental areas for 2026.

Answer

Dr. Lisa Su, Chairman and CEO, stated that AMD is planning at every component level and does not anticipate being supply-limited for the data center AI ramp, which is aggressive but achievable, with a priority on ensuring successful data center ramps for both GPU and CPU. Jean Hu, EVP, CFO, and Treasurer, detailed 2025 OpEx investments in data center AI (hardware roadmap, software, ZT Systems acquisition) and go-to-market expansion. For 2026, aggressive investment will continue, but OpEx is expected to grow slower than revenue to drive EPS expansion.

Jim Schneider asked about potential supply constraints for AMD's rack-scale systems ramp in the second half of 2026, specifically whether supply would meet the expected growth from Q3 to Q4.

Answer

Dr. Lisa Su, Chairman and CEO, AMD, stated that AMD is planning at every component level and does not believe it will be supply-limited for the data center AI ramp. She described the ramp as aggressive but very doable, emphasizing that ensuring data center ramps (both GPU and CPU) go well is a priority.

Jim Schneider asked about the potential operational impact of a seasonally more muted business cycle or product launch cycle on Skyworks, specifically concerning production, factory loadings, and gross margins. He also inquired about any idiosyncratic product areas expected to drive outsized market growth in broad markets this year.

Answer

CEO and President Philip Brace acknowledged that swings in demand from the largest customer are impactful but noted that Skyworks is currently constrained and effectively managing demand. He stated that peaks and valleys are not unusual for that customer. For broad markets, he highlighted Wi-Fi, the automotive segment, and data center (timing and power products) as key drivers, with satellite communications also showing long-term potential, all contributing to better-than-corporate-average performance.

Jim Schneider asked about the operational impact (production, factory loadings, gross margins) of a seasonally more muted business cycle or product launch cycle from the largest customer, and any idiosyncratic product areas driving outsized market growth in broad markets this year.

Answer

CEO Philip Brace acknowledged that swings in demand from the largest customer are impactful but stated that Skyworks is currently constrained and managing demand effectively. He reiterated Wi-Fi, automotive, data center (power and timing products), and satellite communications as key idiosyncratic product areas driving outsized growth in broad markets, noting that these segments are growing faster than the corporate average.

Jim Schneider inquired about the dynamics in Skyworks' broad markets business, including the ongoing recovery, and sought clarification on the long-term structural growth rate, asking if a mid-teens or double-digit growth rate was achievable. He also asked about the expected OpEx growth rate.

Answer

Phil Brace, CEO and President of Skyworks, projected the broad markets business as a long-term 'double-digit grower,' driven by Wi-Fi 7 and 8 adoption, automotive connectivity and entertainment, and infrastructure/cloud opportunities in timing and power. He emphasized the company's focus on high-growth segments with longer revenue cycles. Regarding OpEx, Philip Carter, SVP and CFO, noted that the prior quarter's OpEx included an extra week ($7 million) and stated that while targeted investments would continue, they do not anticipate anything above normal inflation, maintaining spending discipline.

Jim Schneider asked about the dynamics in the broad markets business, specifically the long-term structural growth rate, and whether a mid-teens or double-digit growth rate is achievable. He also inquired about the expected OpEx growth rate, asking if the December run rate can be maintained into the first half of the next calendar year or if step-ups are anticipated.

Answer

Phil Brace, CEO and President, projected a long-term double-digit growth rate for the broad markets business, driven by Wi-Fi 7 and 8 adoption, automotive connectivity, and infrastructure/cloud opportunities in timing and power. Philip Carter, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, noted that the fourth quarter included an extra week, adding $7 million to OpEx. For the upcoming quarter, he anticipates targeted investments but no significant increases beyond normal inflation, maintaining spending discipline.

Jim Schneider sought clarification on the Q2 2026 revenue outlook relative to Q1, asking if a flattish sequential trend is reasonable, and for an estimated range for the 2026 ATE TAM. He also asked if the new target model represents a mid-cycle model that incorporates cyclical ups and downs beyond the current explosive growth period.

Answer

CFO Michelle Turner stated that Teradyne would not provide a Q2 guide but expects 2026 sales to be 60% weighted to the first half, inverse of 2025. CEO Greg Smith indicated a wide 2026 ATE TAM growth range of 20%-40% due to second-half uncertainty. Greg Smith clarified that the evergreen target model aims to illustrate Teradyne's profile at $6 billion revenue, requiring a $12-$14 billion ATE TAM, and its achievement timeline depends on the persistence of data center build-out rates, which saw 60% silicon revenue growth from 2024 to 2025 and over 100% for 2026.

Jim Schneider sought guidance on the expected sequential revenue trend for Q2 2026 relative to Q1, and a broad estimate for the 2026 ATE TAM. He also asked if the new target model, with $6 billion revenue and a $12-$14 billion ATE TAM, should be considered a mid-cycle model for the coming years.

Answer

CFO Michelle Turner declined to provide a specific Q2 guide but reiterated that 2026 sales are expected to be 60% weighted to the first half, inverse of 2025. CEO Greg Smith indicated a wide 2026 ATE TAM growth range of 20%-40% due to second-half uncertainty. He clarified that the new evergreen model aims to illustrate Teradyne's P&L at $6 billion revenue within a $12-$14 billion ATE TAM, independent of a specific year, emphasizing market growth speed as the primary determinant of when this is achieved.

Jim Schneider asked about expectations for Mobile SoC heading into 2026, specifically regarding directional improvement and the anticipated test time or content increase for the N2 generation. He also inquired about the expected OPEX leverage in the model for 2026, asking for the ratio of OPEX growth to revenue growth.

Answer

CEO Greg Smith stated that Mobile SoC has been at a low level, and the magnitude of 2026 improvement is uncertain. He identified three factors: complexity (N2 and WMCM driving double-digit test intensity increases), yield (not expected to be a tailwind), and unit volume (the biggest 'X factor'). CFO Sanjay Mehta clarified that the operating principle for OPEX leverage is roughly 50% OPEX growth for every dollar of revenue growth, a target they expect to meet in 2026.

Jim Schneider asked about expectations for Mobile SOC heading into next year, including directional improvement and the expected test time or content increase when moving to the N2 generation. He also inquired about the OPEX leverage expected in the model for 2026, specifically asking for the expected OPEX increase for every dollar or 10% of revenue increase.

Answer

CEO Greg Smith expressed optimism for Mobile SOC to be bigger in 2026 but noted uncertainty regarding magnitude, citing N2 complexity (double-digit test intensity increase), yield (not a tailwind), and unit volume (a big X factor for handset sales inflection). CFO Sanjay Mehta stated that the operating principle for 2026 is roughly 50% OPEX growth for every dollar of revenue growth, targeting this leverage.

Jim Schneider asked if, excluding divestitures, NXP expects its automotive and industrial IoT segments to operate at the upper end of their long-term target model for the year. He also inquired about NXP's capital allocation strategy, specifically if there's a clear path to increasing the buyback component given recent fab investments.

Answer

Jeff Palmer, VP of Investor Relations, declined to provide specific guidance for 2026. Bill Betz, CFO, affirmed that NXP's capital allocation policy remains unchanged, with comfort in buying back stock as long as the net leverage ratio is below 2x (which was 1.9x in Q4). He reiterated commitment to returning 100% of excess free cash flow to shareholders, with potential for increased dividends as the company performs better.

Jim Schneider followed up on NXP's capital allocation strategy, inquiring if the company foresees increasing the buyback component given its fab investments.

Answer

Bill Betz, CFO, stated that NXP's capital allocation policy remains unchanged. The company is comfortable buying back stock as long as its net leverage ratio is below 2x (currently 1.9x). He emphasized flexibility, commitment to returning 100% of excess free cash flow, and hopes to increase dividends as the company performs better.

Jim Schneider asked for more precision on whether Foundry Logic growth would substantially expand into the second half of 2026, potentially matching DRAM growth rates, and how this impacts process control intensity. He also inquired about the competitive landscape in China, specifically if KLA has observed incremental interest from customers or the government in promoting more onshore solutions.

Answer

CFO Bren Higgins expects KLA's foundry logic business to be stronger in the second half, with consistent growth expectations across both segments. CEO Rick Wallace noted that foundry logic customers are facility-constrained, with significant setup for 2027. Rick Wallace stated that KLA competes by offering desired capabilities, with the main challenge being when non-US companies are permitted to sell where KLA is not. He believes more progress has been made in process tools than in lithography or process control by Chinese competitors, and KLA feels good about competing globally. Bren Higgins emphasized wanting a level playing field regarding government actions.

Jim Schneider inquired about the competitive landscape in China, asking if KLA has observed incremental interest from customers or the government in promoting more onshore solutions, given KLA's strong portfolio.

Answer

Rick Wallace (CEO) stated KLA continues to offer desired capabilities where permitted, highlighting challenges when non-US companies can sell but KLA cannot. He noted more progress in process tools for Chinese competition than in lithography or process control, expressing confidence in competing globally. Bren Higgins (CFO) added they advocate for a level playing field regarding government actions.

Jim Schneider followed up on the diversification in KLA's leading-edge logic and foundry customer base, asking if this is primarily at the inquiry level or already reflected in order books or informal forecasts. He also asked for a refresh on expectations for mid-teens service growth in 2025 and whether it could accelerate next year.

Answer

CFO Bren Higgins confirmed that the diversification is being seen in order forecasts and informs KLA's views for next year, with collaborative discussions on ramping capacity. He stated that service growth for 2025 is expected to be in the target range of 12-14%, slightly stronger than anticipated, and expects it to remain in the same range for 2026, driven by install base growth, increased tool lifetime, system complexity, acquired businesses, and new opportunities in packaging and HBM.

Jim Schneider followed up on the diversification in KLA's leading-edge logic and foundry customer base, asking if this is primarily at the inquiry level or if it's already reflected in order books or informal forecasts. He also asked for a refresh on expectations for service growth in 2025 and whether it could accelerate in 2026.

Answer

CFO Bren Higgins confirmed that the diversification is reflected in order forecasts and informs KLA's views for next year, with collaborative discussions ongoing to help customers navigate and ramp capacity. Regarding service growth, Bren Higgins stated that it has been stronger than expected, benefiting from FX and increased utilization rates. He expects service growth to be in the target range of 12%-14% for both 2025 and 2026, driven by install base growth, increased tool lifetime, system complexity, acquired businesses, and new requirements from packaging and HBM.

Jim Schneider asked for an update on SanDisk's factory network, including utilizations at Yokkaichi and Kitakami, and the ramp strategy for achieving high-teens bit growth over the next 18 months. He also sought the company's perspective on recent industry greenfield capacity expansion announcements. Additionally, he inquired about the expected Enterprise SSD exposure as a percentage of total revenue by the end of the calendar year.

Answer

CEO David Goeckeler confirmed the extension of JV agreements for Yokkaichi and Kitakami through 2034, ensuring long-term supply assurance. He noted that fabs have been running at full capacity for several quarters, with Kitakami (K2 fab) being the site for expansion. David viewed recent industry greenfield announcements as normal course, emphasizing the long lead times for new fabs and reiterating SanDisk's consistent mid-to-high teens bit growth plans through innovation. While not providing an exact percentage for Enterprise SSD exposure, he indicated a substantial sequential step-up in revenue is expected, driven by high-performance TLC products and the upcoming BiCS8 QLC product.

Jim Schneider requested an update on SanDisk's factory network (Yokkaichi and Kitakami), utilization rates, and plans to ramp capacity over the next 18 months to achieve high-teens bit growth. He also asked for views on industry greenfield capacity expansions and the expected Enterprise SSD exposure as a percentage of total revenue by calendar year-end.

Answer

David Goeckeler (Chairman and CEO) confirmed the JV extension for Yokkaichi and Kitakami through 2034, ensuring long-term supply. Fabs are running at full capacity, with Kitakami designated for future expansion. He views recent industry greenfield announcements as normal, aligning with SanDisk's consistent mid-to-high teens bit growth plans driven by innovation. He did not provide an exact percentage for Enterprise SSD revenue but indicated substantial sequential growth is expected, driven by compute-focused TLC products and upcoming BiCS8 QLC.

Jim Schneider inquired about SanDisk's structural view on the supply situation over the next couple of years, specifically whether growth would come from upgrades or new wafer capacity, and what factors would trigger a decision to add wafer capacity. He also asked for an update on enterprise SSD qualifications, market share ambitions for 2026/2027, and the expected business size.

Answer

Chairman and CEO David Goeckeler reiterated the expectation of an undersupplied market extending beyond 2026, driven by long-term demand trends and limited capital investment. He stated that SanDisk is not currently considering adding wafer capacity, focusing instead on increasing productivity and bit supply through its strong technology roadmap, like the BICS8 transition. He expressed satisfaction with the enterprise SSD business, highlighting ongoing qualifications for Stargate products and broadening customer deployments, expecting increasing sequential sales throughout fiscal year 2026.

Jim Schneider inquired about Sandisk's structural supply situation over the next couple of years, specifically whether expected supply would come from upgrades or new wafer capacity, and what factors would trigger a decision to add new wafer capacity. He also asked for an update on enterprise SSD qualifications and the company's market share ambitions for late 2026 or 2027.

Answer

Chairman and CEO David Goeckeler stated that Sandisk anticipates an undersupplied market extending beyond 2026, driven by long-term demand trends and capital investment. He clarified that the company is not currently discussing additional wafer capacity, focusing instead on increasing productivity through its strong Technology Roadmap and BiCS8 transition. Goeckeler expressed satisfaction with the Stargate program's qualifications and the broadening adoption of compute-focused enterprise SSDs, expecting sequential sales growth throughout FY 2026 and aiming for a fair share in the rapidly growing data center market.

Jim Schneider asked for an outline of the expected path and trajectory for IBM's consulting business in 2026, specifically how the strong AI backlog will convert into revenue and if there's an anticipated improvement in discretionary or short-cycle spending throughout the year.

Answer

CFO Jim Kavanaugh expressed encouragement regarding the consulting business's inflection to durable growth in the second half of 2025 and its potential for continued headroom in operating margins. He outlined drivers for 2026, including backlog realization (supporting low-to-mid single-digit growth, modestly growing throughout the year), GenAI momentum (representing over a third of bookings and 25% of backlog), strategic partnerships, and a portfolio aligned to higher-growth markets like digital transformation and AI. He also noted the reshaping of the model to asset-based services.

Jim Schneider asked for the expected path and trajectory of the consulting business throughout 2026, specifically how the strong AI backlog will convert into revenue and if there will be further improvements in discretionary or short-cycle spending.

Answer

CFO James Kavanaugh expressed encouragement for the consulting business's inflection to durable growth in H2 2025 and guided for low to mid-single-digit growth in 2026, with a 1.5-point improvement in operating margins. He highlighted drivers such as backlog realization ($32 billion, up 2%), GenAI momentum (over a third of bookings, 25% of backlog, 15% of revenue run rate), strategic partnerships, and a portfolio aligned to higher growth markets like digital transformation and AI. He noted that backlog realization supports modest growth throughout the year, starting low single-digit in Q1.

Jim Schneider, Senior Equity Analyst at Goldman Sachs, asked for elaboration on IBM's M&A strategy, specifically regarding target perspective, whether the company is thinking differently about portfolio or product pieces, or the potential size of transactions. He also inquired if IBM would consider undertaking a larger, more transformative transaction, not necessarily Red Hat scale, but of similar relative scale to its overall portfolio.

Answer

Arvind Krishna, IBM's Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, reiterated that M&A is a crucial part of IBM's strategy, viewed over a multi-year window with significant financial flexibility (mid-20s billion over three years). He stated that IBM remains focused on hybrid cloud and AI, translating to hybrid, automation, and data & AI portfolios, citing examples like BLLM, HashiCorp, and DataStax acquisitions. Krishna outlined three key criteria for any substantial acquisition: strategic fit, synergy (higher growth rate within IBM due to geographic spread, bundling, faster deployment), and accretion to cash by the end of the second year. He confirmed that IBM would not rule out larger transactions if they meet all these criteria, emphasizing that size alone is not the driver, but rather the ability to enter new spaces, accelerate overall growth, and provide attractive free cash flow, as seen with Red Hat.

Jim Schneider asked about IBM's M&A strategy, specifically regarding target perspective, portfolio fit, product focus, and potential transaction size. He inquired if IBM would consider a larger, more transformative acquisition, perhaps of a similar scale to Red Hat, rather than solely focusing on smaller deals.

Answer

Arvind Krishna, IBM's Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, emphasized M&A as a critical strategy, viewed over a multi-year window with mid-20s flexibility in excess cash flow over three years. He stated that IBM remains focused on hybrid cloud and AI, translating to Hybrid, Automation, and Data and AI portfolios, citing examples like B-LLM, HashiCorp, and DataStax. Mr. Krishna outlined three criteria for any acquisition of size: strategic fit, synergy (higher growth rate within IBM), and accretion to cash by the end of the second year. He noted that while IBM never rules anything out, any larger transaction must meet these stringent criteria, similar to how Red Hat allowed entry into a new space, accelerated IBM's growth, and offered an attractive free cash flow profile.

Jim Schneider asked about the potential for software growth to improve beyond current levels into 2026 and also inquired about trends in the consulting business, specifically booking duration and contract commencement times.

Answer

Chairman, President & CEO Arvind Krishna expressed confidence in 2026 software growth, expecting sustained momentum in Red Hat, Automation, and AI, with Transaction Processing returning to its model. SVP & CFO James Kavanaugh added that in Consulting, there are 'green shoots,' with backlog up 8% at spot rates and booking duration down six months, improving revenue realization. He noted that while overall signings were down on tough comps, net new business was up 13%.

Jim Schneider asked for directional guidance on calendar 2026 exabyte shipments compared to 2025, relative to Seagate's long-term targets, considering the strong demand and HAMR product mix.

Answer

CFO Gianluca Romano stated that Seagate is not providing calendar 2026 guidance but reiterated the expectation for nearline exabyte growth in the mid-20% range, noting that recent performance has been even better. CEO Dave Mosley added that the transition from 2.4 TB to 3 TB and then 4 TB per platter indicates a strong trajectory, emphasizing the need for predictable execution to meet customer data center build-out requirements.

Jim Schneider requested directional guidance on where Seagate's exabyte shipments might land for calendar 2026 compared to calendar 2025, relative to the company's previously stated long-term targets, suggesting potential for materially better performance.

Answer

CFO Gianluca Romano stated that Seagate does not guide for calendar 2026 but reiterated the financial model's expectation for mid-20% nearline exabyte growth, noting that the company has performed better than this. CEO Dave Mosley added that the transition from 2.4 to 3 to 4 TB per platter indicates a strong trajectory, with predictability being key for customer data center build-outs.

Jim Schneider asked about Seagate's expected cost reduction on a blended basis for calendar 2026, specifically if mid-teens reduction is achievable or if factors might alter this, and clarified the impact of dual-tracking HAMR versus conventional technologies on unit capacity.

Answer

Dave Mosley, Chair and CEO, clarified that Seagate's strategy involves pivoting existing PMR technology to HAMR to add exabyte capacity, rather than building more PMR units. Gianluca Romano, CFO, stated that significant cost per terabyte improvements in calendar 2026 will be driven by the transition to higher-capacity HAMR drives, particularly the 40-terabyte platform.

Jim Schneider asked about Seagate's cost reduction expectations for calendar 2026, specifically if a mid-teens cost down is achievable with aggressive HAMR ramp, and the unit capacity implications of HAMR transitions.

Answer

Seagate's Chair and CEO, Dave Mosley, clarified that the focus is on pivoting from PMR to HAMR to add exabyte capacity, not unit capacity. CFO Gianluca Romano highlighted that the transition to higher capacity HAMR drives, especially 40TB, will boost cost per terabyte reduction in calendar 2026.

Jim Schneider asked about Micron's capacity allocation strategy, specifically seeking a minimum floor level of production for mission-critical legacy applications like automotive and industrial, and a maximum comfortable level of data center exposure. He also sought clarification on the timeline for volume production capability from the Hiroshima clean room expansion.

Answer

Sumit Sadana (Chief Business Officer) explained that the overall market TAM is shifting towards data centers, influencing Micron's portfolio mix towards higher ROI products and driving increased share of industry profit. He affirmed investments in the Manassas fab to support long-lifecycle legacy products and acknowledged the difficulty in meeting all demand across segments, requiring careful assessment of customer needs. Manish Bhatia (EVP of Global Operations) stated that the Hiroshima clean room expansion would support future generations of DRAM technology, timed to new nodes, confirming it would not reach volume production in 2026.

Jim Schneider asked about Micron's capacity allocation for legacy and embedded applications like automotive, seeking insight into a minimum floor level of production for these mission-critical markets, and conversely, the maximum comfortable level of data center exposure. He also inquired about the timeline for volume production capability from the Hiroshima clean room expansion.

Answer

Sumit Sadana (Chief Business Officer) explained that the overall TAM is shifting towards data centers, and Micron's portfolio mix is moving towards higher ROI products, which is a tailwind for financial performance. He affirmed continued support for legacy products through investments in the Manassas, Virginia fab (modernizing with 1-alpha technology). He acknowledged the difficulty in meeting all demand across segments due to structural supply challenges, emphasizing assessing threshold supply levels and maintaining customer commitments. Manish Bhatia (EVP of Global Operations) clarified that the Hiroshima clean room expansion will support future generations of technology, timed for new nodes, and will not contribute to volume production in 2026.

Jim Schneider inquired whether Micron expects its HBM4 market share to be sustainably higher than its HBM3 share, given its performance benefits. He also asked for a breakdown of fiscal 2025 CAPEX between WFE and facility spend, and if that mix is expected to change significantly in the next year.

Answer

Sumit Sadana, EVP and Chief Business Officer, expressed confidence in Micron's HBM4 capabilities, citing industry-leading HBM3E performance and a stronger starting position for HBM4 volume support. He believes Micron's HBM4 has the highest performance among competitors and expects strong customer preference, anticipating HBM share shifts primarily between competitors. Mark Murphy, EVP & CFO, declined to provide a specific WFE versus facility CAPEX breakout, reiterating that the vast majority of spend is for DRAM construction and equipment. Manish Bhatia, EVP - Global Operations, added that Idaho fab production is expected in the second half of 2027, with investments also in technology transitions and optimizing production in Japan and Taiwan.

Jim Schneider asked if Micron expects its HBM4 market share to be sustainably higher than its HBM3 share, given the performance benefits. He also requested a breakdown of fiscal 2025 CAPEX between Wafer Fab Equipment (WFE) and facility spend, and any expected changes in this mix for the next fiscal year.

Answer

Sumit Sadana, EVP and Chief Business Officer, expressed confidence in Micron's HBM4 capabilities, citing industry-leading HBM3E performance and improved operational readiness for HBM4. He believes Micron's HBM4 offers the highest performance and expects strong customer preference, with any market share shifts likely occurring between competitors. Mark Murphy, CFO, declined to provide a specific CAPEX breakout but reiterated that the vast majority of spend is for DRAM construction and equipment. Manish Bhatia, EVP of Global Operations, added that Idaho fab production starts in H2 2027, with investments also focused on technology transitions and optimizing production in Japan and Taiwan.

Jim Schneider inquired if Micron expects its HBM4 market share to be sustainably higher than its HBM3 share, citing performance benefits. He also asked for a breakdown of fiscal 2025 CapEx between WFE and facility spend, and if this mix is expected to change significantly in fiscal 2026.

Answer

Sumit Sadana, Chief Business Officer, expressed confidence in Micron's HBM4 capabilities, noting its strong competitive positioning due to improved capacity and yields compared to the HBM3E ramp. He highlighted Micron's HBM4 as having the highest performance among competitors and anticipated customer preference. Mark Murphy, CFO, declined to provide a WFE versus facility CapEx breakout but reiterated that the vast majority of spend is for DRAM construction and equipment. Manish Bhatia, EVP of Global Operations, added that investments are also for technology transitions and optimizing production in Japan and Taiwan.

Jim Schneider asked for a more precise calibration of Broadcom's AI revenue expectations for fiscal year 2026, specifically if the Q1 100% growth rate is indicative of the full year, and sought clarification on whether the $1 billion order for the fifth customer is related to OpenAI.

Answer

Hock Tan (President and CEO) stated that the AI backlog is dynamic and growing, making it difficult to give precise full-year 2026 guidance, but indicated an accelerating trend. He declined to confirm the identity of the fifth customer but acknowledged it's a real customer on a multi-year XPU journey.

Jim Schneider asked for more precise calibration of Broadcom's AI revenue expectations for fiscal year 2026, specifically if the Q1 100% growth rate is indicative of the full year, and sought clarification on whether the $1 billion order for the fifth customer is OpenAI.

Answer

Hock Tan (President and CEO, Broadcom) stated that the AI backlog is dynamic and growing, with the $73 billion backlog for the next 18 months expected to increase. He indicated that the Q1 growth rate is strong and the trend is likely accelerating through 2026, but declined to give precise full-year guidance. He did not confirm the identity of the fifth customer but clarified that the OpenAI 10 GW announcement is an agreement for 2027-2029, separate from the XPU program with them, which is progressing rapidly.

Jim Schneider asked about the broader universe of potential custom chip prospects beyond the seven already identified, seeking insight into whether Broadcom sees additional opportunities for custom AI accelerators.

Answer

Hock Tan, President and CEO, explained that Broadcom focuses on the narrow LLM market, serving a few players driving frontier models, rather than the broader enterprise market. He confirmed the seven identified players (four customers, three prospects) are currently the extent of their focus, with careful qualification for any potential additional prospects.

Jim Schneider questioned the material step-up in related party revenue, seeking clarification on the nature of Arm's relationship and design activities with SoftBank, especially concerning recent Stargate announcements.

Answer

Rene Haas, Arm's Chief Executive Officer, described Stargate as a significant opportunity for Arm to partner with SoftBank and its affiliates, providing technology for various aspects of data center buildouts, including compute, networking, power distribution, and assembly. He emphasized the collaborative nature of the SoftBank family of companies on these designs.

Jim Schneider asked about the material step-up in related party revenue, recent announcements regarding Stargate and SoftBank, and the evolving nature of their relationship and design activities.

Answer

CEO Rene Haas described Stargate as a significant opportunity for Arm to partner with SoftBank and its affiliates, providing technology for various aspects of data center buildouts, including compute, networking, power distribution, and assembly. He highlighted the collaborative efforts within the SoftBank family of companies on these designs.

Jim Schneider asked why customers are not restocking, specifically what OEMs would need to see to gain confidence for replenishment, and if this applies broadly to the distributor side. He also requested more visibility into the 'other' segment, noting strong data center performance but inquiring about any offsetting headwinds seen in the current quarter and going forward.

Answer

Hassane El-Khoury, President, CEO, and Director, ON Semiconductor, explained that distributors are seeing increased internal die bank inventory for the mass market. For OEMs, he stated that credible demand signals (consumer confidence) and geopolitical stabilization are necessary for restocking. Thad Trent, CFO, ON Semiconductor, projected the 'other' segment to be up mid to high single digits in Q4, driven by normal seasonality in non-core markets and AI data center growth. Mr. El-Khoury added that non-core business exits within the 'other' segment offset some growth, indicating very strong growth in strategic markets like AI data center.

Jim Schneider asked what OEMs and distributors would need to see to gain confidence and begin restocking inventory. He also sought more visibility on the 'other' segment, including headwinds offsetting data center growth and the forward outlook.

Answer

Hassane El-Khoury, President and CEO, stated that distributors are seeing die bank builds for the mass market. For OEMs, he indicated that a credible demand signal (consumer confidence) and geopolitical stabilization are necessary for restocking. Thad Trent, CFO, noted that the 'other' segment is expected to be up mid to high single digits in Q4, driven by normal seasonality in non-core markets and AI data center growth, with non-core exits offsetting some of this growth.

Jim Schneider sought more specific guidance for the industrial and 'Other' end markets in Q3, following the commentary on automotive growth. He also asked for the primary reasons behind the auto market weakness in the U.S. and Europe.

Answer

President and CEO Hassane El-Khoury clarified that all end markets—auto, industrial, and other—are expected to grow in Q3. CFO Thad Trent provided specifics, guiding for low-single-digit growth in auto and industrial, and mid-to-high single-digit growth in the 'Other' category, driven by AI. El-Khoury attributed the auto weakness in the West to a combination of factors including inventory, tariff uncertainty, and soft end-market demand.

Jim Schneider asked about CEO Dave Reeder's initial strategic priorities, specifically focusing on commercial and operational differences or improvements he plans to implement.

Answer

CEO Dave Reeder outlined commercial plans to expand the customer engagement model to ecosystem partners and mainstream logic, building on existing innovation. Operationally, he prioritized accelerating qualification and ramp-up of new facilities in Rock Rimmon and KSP South, with Rock Rimmon entering production this quarter and KSP South ramping volume in 2026. Regarding pricing, he emphasized value but declined to discuss specific pricing strategies.

Jim Schneider from Goldman Sachs asked for quantification of the gross margin headwinds from inventory management and operational inefficiencies, and when these pressures might ease. He also inquired about which underperforming end markets, like NAND or trailing-edge logic, are expected to recover first.

Answer

CFO Linda LaGorga attributed the margin pressure to the uncertain trade environment, decisions to manage inventory levels for better free cash flow, and inefficiencies from ramping new facilities in Taiwan and Colorado. She stated the long-term path to higher margins remains intact. CEO Bertrand Loy projected that mainstream logic would likely see the first signs of recovery, followed by NAND and traditional DRAM, likely next year.

Jim Schneider asked about Equinix's confidence in power availability and scheduling for its 12 xScale projects, the planning timeframe, and any changes in the anticipated use of power sources (grid vs. alternative).

Answer

Adaire Fox-Martin, President and CEO of Equinix, acknowledged the complexity of power but highlighted Equinix's 27-year history, strong utility relationships, and optimized energy use. She noted a shift where land acquisitions often involve contracts to secure load ramps, requiring CapEx investment, which Equinix can meet with its strong balance sheet. She confirmed that power for recent land acquisitions is either fully committed or in advanced discussions, and all 12 current xScale projects have secured power, indicating power is not a constraint for these developments.

Jim Schneider asked about Equinix's confidence in power availability and scheduling for its 12 xScale projects, the planning timeframe for these, and any changes in the anticipated use of power sources (grid vs. alternative).

Answer

Adaire Fox-Martin, President and CEO of Equinix, emphasized Equinix's 27-year history and strong relationships with utilities, which help navigate power constraints. She noted a shift in customer-supplier dynamics, often requiring CapEx investment to secure load ramps. Equinix's strong balance sheet enables it to meet these requirements. For recent land acquisitions, power is either fully committed or in advanced discussion stages, as Equinix avoids speculative land purchases. All 12 current xScale projects have secured power, indicating no constraint on their development.

Jim Schneider inquired about the magnitude and implementation timeline of the cost optimization program, and why CoreSite's guidance remained consistent despite peers raising theirs and strong demand.

Answer

EVP, CFO, and Treasurer Rod Smith highlighted that cost efficiencies are a strategic priority, contributing to 300 basis points of EBITDA margin expansion since 2020. He noted future opportunities are incremental, driven by the new COO role focused on simplifying operations and bending the cost curve. President and CEO Steve Vondran stated CoreSite's consistent guidance reflects accurate prior expectations, sustained double-digit growth, and strong demand for hybrid cloud and AI workloads, with no underlying issues.

Jim Schneider asked for details on the scope and impact of American Tower's cost optimization program, including its flow through the model and considerations for sizing the opportunity, and why CoreSite's guidance remained consistent despite peers raising theirs.

Answer

EVP, CFO, and Treasurer Rod Smith highlighted that cost efficiencies are a strategic priority, contributing to a 300 basis point EBITDA margin expansion since 2020, and expects future opportunities to be incremental improvements. President and CEO Steve Vondran affirmed sustained double-digit growth for CoreSite, noting strong demand for hybrid cloud and AI-related workloads, and that current guidance was already accurate and well above initial underwriting assumptions. Rod Smith added that CoreSite has 296 MW of power available for future development and 42 MW under construction.

Jim Schneider asked for Lam Research's current view on the NAND market, including any signs of accelerating orders or long-term forecasts from customers, and when these might impact financial results. He also questioned whether 2026 NAND growth would be primarily driven by upgrades or new tool installations.

Answer

President and CEO Tim Archer reiterated that the demand signal for NAND upgrades has accelerated due to higher bit demand. He expects Lam Research's NAND business to remain predominantly upgrade-focused through 2026, as upgrades offer the lowest cost and fastest way to achieve higher performance. While capacity additions might eventually be needed if demand remains high, upgrades to the existing installed base, combined with some new tools for higher layer counts, will be the primary drivers.

Jim Schneider inquired about observations in the NAND market, specifically if Lam Research is seeing an acceleration in NAND orders or initial signals from customers regarding longer-term forecasts, and when this might impact the numbers. He also asked whether 2026 NAND growth is expected to be led by upgrades or new tools.

Answer

Tim Archer, President and CEO, reiterated that demand signals suggest an acceleration in NAND upgrade spending due to higher bit demand. He expects Lam's business to remain predominantly upgrade-focused through 2026, as it's the lowest cost and easiest way to achieve higher performance growth. While some capacity additions may occur, upgrades are likely to lead.

Jim Schneider asked for clarification on the magnitude and timing of Accenture's projected headcount growth across all regions for the fiscal year, given ongoing business optimization actions. He also inquired about the net impact of internal AI adoption on utilization and gross margins, particularly given the 93% utilization rate.

Answer

CFO Angie Park stated that headcount is expected to grow across all markets based on demand, but no specific numbers were provided. CEO Julie Sweet clarified that the 93% utilization rate reflects demand momentum, not a structural change from AI, and is expected to fluctuate in the low 90s. She added that internal AI adoption drives efficiencies, which are already reflected in bookings and guidance, as Accenture leads by example for its clients.

Jim Schneider from Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. asked for clarification on the magnitude and timing of Accenture's expected headcount growth across all regions in the fiscal year, given ongoing business optimization actions. He also inquired about the net impact of internal AI use on business optimization, utilization, and gross margins.

Answer

CFO Angie Park stated that Accenture expects headcount to grow across all markets based on demand, but did not provide a specific number or timing. CEO Julie Sweet clarified that current utilization, which is in the low 90s, reflects demand momentum and is not structurally changed by AI. She explained that internal AI use, particularly in platforms like GenWizard, drives efficiencies reflected in bookings and guidance, enabling Accenture to lead by example for clients.

Jim Schneider (Goldman Sachs) asked for clarification on the magnitude and timing of Accenture's expected headcount growth across all regions during the fiscal year, especially in the context of business optimization actions. He also inquired about the net impact of internal AI use on business optimization, workforce utilization (currently 93%), and potential effects on gross margins.

Answer

Chief Financial Officer Angie Park stated that Accenture expects headcount to grow across all markets based on demand, but did not provide a specific number or timing. Chair & CEO Julie Sweet clarified that the current 93% utilization reflects demand momentum and is expected to fluctuate in the low 90s, not indicating a structural change due to AI. She explained that internal AI adoption, particularly in platforms like GenLizard, drives efficiencies reflected in bookings and guidance, enabling Accenture to lead by example for clients.

Jim Schneider of Goldman Sachs asked for an update on the bookings pipeline visibility, given the commentary about clients shifting from a 'pause' to a more proactive stance. He also asked about the drivers of recent gross margin pressure.

Answer

CEO Julie Sweet confirmed a strong overall pipeline heading into Q4, reflecting themes of cost optimization and digital core transformation, which supports the company's raised guidance. CFO Angie Park explained that while subcontractors were a factor in gross margin, they were not a material driver this quarter, and emphasized the company's focus on operating margin, which expanded 40 basis points.

Jim Schneider asked for an update on the bookings pipeline visibility given management's commentary on clients becoming more proactive, and also questioned the cause of recent gross margin pressure, particularly regarding subcontractors.

Answer

CEO Julie Sweet confirmed a strong overall pipeline going into Q4, consistent with the themes of cost optimization and digital core transformation, which supports the raised guidance. CFO Angie Park acknowledged that subcontractors can be a driver of gross margin changes but were not a material factor this quarter. She redirected focus to the strong operating margin expansion of 40 basis points, which is the primary metric the company manages to.

Jim Schneider of Goldman Sachs inquired about Marvell's capital allocation strategy, specifically the intended use of the $2.5 billion in proceeds from the automotive Ethernet divestiture and whether the company is open to selling other non-core business units.

Answer

Chairman & CEO Matt Murphy explained their strategy-first approach, which prioritizes investment in the data center and AI. CFO Willem Meintjes added that the proceeds provide flexibility for both opportunistic share buybacks and strategic tuck-in acquisitions to accelerate their AI roadmap. The company will continue its consistent free cash flow execution to drive buybacks.

Jim Schneider from Goldman Sachs asked about the expected impact of CPI and FX resets on organic growth heading into 2026 and potential positive offsets. He also questioned the rationale for further asset sales given the company is already approaching its leverage target.

Answer

EVP & CFO Steve Howden noted that while it's early for 2026 guidance, he expects continued leasing strength in Nigeria and Brazil to offset moderating CPI/FX resets. Chairman & CEO Sam Darwish and CFO Steve Howden both explained that further asset sales are being considered if they are value-accretive and align with the strategy to return capital to shareholders as leverage targets are met.

Jim Schneider from Goldman Sachs questioned the state of customer inventory levels in IoT and smartphones and their expected normalization timeline. He also asked about the strategic importance of the MIPS acquisition, including customer feedback and potential new revenue models.

Answer

CEO Tim Breen stated that the multi-year inventory digestion is nearing its end, though some modest upticks occurred in Q2. Regarding MIPS, he described it as a strategic fit that adds cutting-edge processor IP for the physical AI space and deepens customer engagement. CFO John Hollister added that MIPS is expected to contribute $50-100 million in high-margin annual revenue initially, with potential for hundreds of millions over time.

Jim Schneider questioned whether increased fiber investment from competitors alters Charter's multi-year CapEx outlook and asked about the potential for increased rural construction investments.

Answer

President & CEO Chris Winfrey stated that Charter's existing network evolution plan, which includes 'fiber on demand' capabilities, already addresses future competition, so there is no change to the CapEx outlook. He noted that while Charter will participate in future subsidy programs, the opportunity for new rural builds is smaller now due to significant construction already completed.

Jim Schneider from Goldman Sachs asked if Digital Realty has sufficient available inventory in its existing facilities for 2026 to accommodate the sustained momentum in zero-to-one megawatt bookings, which could potentially drive upside to 2026 financials.

Answer

CEO Andy Power confirmed that the company plans for continued growth and actively manages its inventory runway. He noted that while some core markets are supply-constrained, DLR's presence in over 50 metros and its strategy of repurposing larger expiring leases into colocation inventory provide the capacity needed to support customer growth.

Jim Schneider asked which end markets may have performed stronger than expected in Q2 and could be at risk of reverting in the second half of the year. He followed up by asking how the expected cash tax benefits might influence future capital return policies like buybacks or dividends.

Answer

CEO Haviv Ilan identified the industrial market as having run 'hotter' than expected in Q2, prompting caution for Q3. CFO Rafael Lizardi explained that while tax law changes will positively impact free cash flow, capital return decisions will continue to be balanced against factors like the ongoing high CapEx cycle, cash levels, and stock price, with the objective to return all free cash flow over time.

Jim Schneider from Goldman Sachs inquired about client priorities in the AI services market and whether the increased costs for growth ramps will eventually provide operating leverage.

Answer

CEO Bryce Maddock described a market shift in AI services toward more complex work, such as using subject matter experts to validate LLM outputs, with demand growing from both large players and new entrants. Regarding costs, he explained that the abrupt shift from cost-cutting to rapid expansion has led to inefficiencies, such as expedited facility build-outs and hiring incentives. These upfront investments and concessions made to win business are the primary cause of the temporary margin pressure.