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    Michael Francis • William Blair

    Michael Francis's questions to Karat Packaging Inc (KRT) leadership

    Michael Francis's questions to Karat Packaging Inc (KRT) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Michael Francis from William Blair questioned the negative price impact in Q2 despite tariff-related increases, the outlook for pricing in the second half, the drivers behind the guided sequential gross margin decline for Q3, and July sales trends.

    Answer

    CEO Alan Yu explained that cost mitigation through sourcing diversification to other Asian and Latin American countries is offsetting the need for major price hikes. CFO Jian Guo added that pricing is expected to approach breakeven in the second half. Regarding margins, Alan Yu attributed the expected Q3 dip to selling inventory purchased with higher tariffs and currency headwinds, with a recovery anticipated in Q4 as sourcing benefits materialize. He also confirmed strong July sales trends, particularly in California, driven by competitors reducing inventory.

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    Michael Francis's questions to Karat Packaging Inc (KRT) leadership • Q4 2024

    Question

    Michael Francis questioned which geographies present the most opportunity in 2025, the reasons for the guided year-over-year decline in gross margin, and the key assumptions for operating expenses.

    Answer

    CEO Alan Yu identified the Midwest, particularly Texas, as the largest growth opportunity due to a booming restaurant scene and population influx. Regarding gross margins, he explained the guidance is conservative due to significant tariff uncertainty, but noted that a strong U.S. dollar and low ocean freight are positive factors. CFO Jian Guo detailed the OpEx assumptions, which include savings from optimizing shipping, improving labor efficiency, and potentially scaling back some online marketing investments while maintaining sales momentum.

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    Michael Francis's questions to Hillman Solutions Corp (HLMN) leadership

    Michael Francis's questions to Hillman Solutions Corp (HLMN) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Michael Francis of William Blair sought an update on the back-half gross margin cadence, asking if a previously guided 300 basis point impact was still valid. He also questioned if the implied 9% volume decline in the second-half forecast was due to conservatism or observed deterioration in R&R demand.

    Answer

    CFO Robert Kraft noted the gross margin impact would be less than 300 bps since the tariff estimate fell from $250M to $150M, and guided to a full-year EBITDA margin up ~100 bps. President & CEO Jon Michael Adinolfi affirmed the back-half volume guide is prudent until pricing is fully implemented in the market.

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    Michael Francis's questions to Proficient Auto Logistics Inc (PAL) leadership

    Michael Francis's questions to Proficient Auto Logistics Inc (PAL) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Michael Francis of William Blair inquired about the specifics of the record revenue month in April and its implications for the Q2 forecast. He also asked about the company's M&A appetite following the Brothers acquisition.

    Answer

    CFO Bradley Wright reiterated the conservative Q2 outlook of 8% sequential revenue growth. President and COO Amy Rice noted April was strong but a pullback began late in the month. Regarding M&A, Wright stated the company will be cautious but is seeing distressed assets come to market and will be selective.

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    Michael Francis's questions to Global Industrial Co (GIC) leadership

    Michael Francis's questions to Global Industrial Co (GIC) leadership • Q1 2025

    Question

    Michael Francis asked for specifics on the company's goal for shifting its sourcing mix away from China, clarification on the strategy to expand the Total Addressable Market (TAM), and whether recent growth in strategic accounts was from new customer acquisition or deeper penetration of existing ones.

    Answer

    Executive Thomas Clark clarified that the percentage of COGS from China is already lower than the 35% figure from a few years ago, partly due to the Indoff acquisition and ongoing diversification efforts since 2019. He stated that while there's no published goal, they will continue to reduce this exposure over the medium-to-long term. CEO Anesa Chaibi explained that expanding the TAM involves broadening focus beyond SMBs to further penetrate enterprise, GPO, and existing strategic accounts. She added that the recent growth in strategic accounts was a mix, but largely driven by performance within existing accounts.

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    Michael Francis's questions to Global Industrial Co (GIC) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Michael Francis of William Blair asked if the increased focus on growth initiatives was a reaction to the soft market or a pre-existing plan. He also questioned if SG&A spending could be reduced if market conditions remain weak and whether any costs might roll off.

    Answer

    CFO Thomas Clark clarified that the growth initiatives, such as the Salesforce implementation, have been underway for some time and were not a direct reaction to recent results, although the timing aligns well with current market needs. Regarding SG&A, he noted that while discretionary spending is being controlled, there is a significant fixed-cost base. The company is reallocating resources like digital marketing spend for better returns but acknowledged that negative leverage will persist in a soft top-line environment, making revenue growth the primary focus.

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