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KT

KEY TRONIC CORP (KTCC)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q3 FY2025 revenue was $112.0M, down 21% year over year (vs. $142.4M) and slightly below the pre-announced range; GAAP EPS was -$0.06, improving from -$0.21 YoY as gross margin expanded to 7.7% from 5.7% .
  • Management withdrew revenue and EPS guidance due to tariff volatility; no Q4 FY2025 guidance was provided, citing demand paralysis and cost uncertainty from rapid tariff changes .
  • Cost actions drove margin resiliency despite lower volumes; non-recurring items included ~$0.8M severance in Mexico and ~$0.7M balance sheet adjustments; adjusted EPS was -$0.05 .
  • Strategic capacity expansions in Arkansas and Vietnam, plus new program wins (including an energy resiliency program that could exceed $60M annually when fully ramped) are positioned as medium-term catalysts .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • Cost reductions improved gross margin to 7.7% (from 5.7% YoY); operating margin held flat despite revenue compression, reflecting streamlining and headcount reductions across regions .
  • New business momentum: wins in telecommunications ($12M), pest control ($6M), energy (~$7M initially in Arkansas), consumer ($2–$5M in Arkansas), and a ~$1M design contract potentially scaling to $5–$15M; “These initiatives reflect...customers rebalancing their contract manufacturing” .
  • Working capital progress: inventories trending more in line with revenue; nine-month operating cash flow improved to $10.1M vs. $6.1M prior year .

What Went Wrong

  • Revenue fell 21% YoY to $112.0M, with management citing “rapid, unprecedented changes in tariffs” causing delays, higher costs, and demand reduction; demand hesitancy and “business paralysis” persisted into Q4 planning .
  • Q3 non-recurring costs: ~$0.8M mandated severance (COGS) in Mexico and ~$0.7M balance sheet adjustments (approx. $0.3M COGS / $0.4M OpEx), weighing on profitability; interest expense remained elevated ($2.6M in Q3) .
  • Guidance risk management: withdrawal of Q4 guidance and earlier Q3 guidance, reflecting tariff uncertainty and potential impacts on pricing, margins, and customer ordering behavior .

Financial Results

MetricQ3 2024Q1 2025Q2 2025Q3 2025
Revenue ($USD Millions)$142.4 $131.6 $113.9 $112.0
Diluted EPS ($USD)-$0.21 $0.10 -$0.46 -$0.06
Gross Margin %5.7% 10.1% 6.8% 7.7%
Operating Margin %-0.4% 3.4% -1.0% -0.4%
Net Income ($USD Millions)-$2.22 $1.12 -$4.91 -$0.60

Non-GAAP:

  • Adjusted EPS: Q3 2025 -$0.05 ; Q2 2025 -$0.38 ; Q3 2024 -$0.20 .

Selected KPIs (current quarter-end or FY-to-date):

  • Operating Cash Flow (9M FY2025): $10.1M
  • Inventory (Mar 29, 2025): $99.33M
  • Trade Receivables (Mar 29, 2025): $112.33M
  • Cash (Mar 29, 2025): $2.47M
  • Current Ratio: 2.7:1
  • DSOs: 92 days (vs. 85 prior year)
  • Q3 non-recurring costs: ~$0.8M severance (COGS); $0.7M balance sheet adjustments ($0.3M COGS / ~$0.4M OpEx) .

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
RevenueQ3 FY2025$115M–$130M Guidance withdrawn (Feb 4) Withdrawn
EPS (Diluted)Q3 FY2025$0.00–$0.15 Guidance withdrawn (Feb 4) Withdrawn
Revenue/EPSQ4 FY2025NoneNot issuing guidance Maintained (no guidance)
CapExFY2025$8M–$10M (Feb 4 call) $6M–$8M (May 6 call) Lowered

Note: Q1 FY2025 provided Q2 guidance ($130M–$140M revenue; $0.05–$0.15 EPS) which was missed materially (actual $113.9M; -$0.46 EPS) amid component shortages and demand weakness .

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q1 FY2025)Previous Mentions (Q2 FY2025)Current Period (Q3 FY2025)Trend
Tariffs/MacroNo explicit tariff impact; focus on cost actions and design delays Newly emphasized; China tariffs and potential Mexico tariffs; withdrew Q3 guidance “Rapid, unprecedented changes in tariffs” driving delays, higher costs, demand paralysis; withdrew Q4 guidance Intensifying headwind
Supply ChainImprovements vs PY; resumed shipments on delayed programs Specific component shortages at a large customer; resolved post-Q2 Adjusted MRP; better preparedness for disruptions, still cautious Stabilizing with process upgrades
Capacity Expansion (US & Vietnam)Not detailedAnnounced expansions: AR lease increase by June 2025; Vietnam capacity doubling by Sep 2025 AR flagship facility investment (> $28M; ~400 jobs); Vietnam to play major role; online in FY2026 Execution underway
New Program WinsManufacturing equipment, vehicle lighting, commercial pest control Aerospace ($5M) and energy resiliency ($60M fully ramped) 5 wins: telecom ($12M), pest control ($6M), energy ($7M in AR initial), consumer ($2–$5M), design (~$1M; potential $5–$15M) Pipeline broadening
Mexico Cost BaseWorkforce reductions improved efficiencies Rightsizing; peso weakness supportive Continued headcount reductions; wage increases in Mexico prompt streamlining Structural cost action
Financing/LiquidityN/ANew ABL facilities up to $115M; write-off ~$1.0M loan fees; adequate liquidity Debt flexibility; availability-driven covenants; lowered concern vs prior year Improved flexibility
Working CapitalInventory reductions, improved alignment to revenue Inventory uptick due to missed shipments; continued DSO elevation Inventory reduced ~14% YoY; target ~4 turns; DSOs 92 days Ongoing optimization

Management Commentary

  • “The rapid, unprecedented changes in tariffs have significantly impacted the demand from our customers… uncertainties about tariffs have led to hesitancy and business paralysis” — Brett Larsen, CEO .
  • “We anticipate these new [Arkansas and Vietnam] facilities will be operational in the first half of fiscal 2026… benefit from customers rebalancing their contract manufacturing” — Brett Larsen, CEO .
  • “We anticipate margins to be strengthened by additional cost reductions and improvements in operating efficiencies… as production volumes increase” — Tony Voorhees, CFO .
  • “We’re planning to significantly increase production capacity in Arkansas and Vietnam… help mitigate the adverse impact and uncertainties surrounding tariffs” — Company release .

Q&A Highlights

  • Program wins detail: telecom ($12M, Mexico, ramp by Q2 FY2026), pest control ($6M, Vietnam), energy ($7M initial, Arkansas), consumer ($2–$5M, Arkansas), design ($1M; $5–$15M potential) .
  • Non-recurring items: ~$0.8M severance in Mexico booked in COGS; ~$0.7M adjustments split ~$0.3M COGS/$0.4M OpEx .
  • Margin sensitivity: analyst-calculated adjusted GM 8.6%–8.7% after add-backs; management expects >10% gross margin with incremental revenue ($20M) assuming stable tariff/pricing backdrop .
  • Working capital: target ~4 inventory turns; >90% of BOMs managed by KTCC; DSOs 92 days .
  • Energy resiliency program: expected to begin revenue in Q1 FY2026; ramp to ~$60M over 12–18 months; location shifted to mitigate tariff risk .

Estimates Context

  • S&P Global consensus coverage for KTCC’s Q3 FY2025 EPS and revenue was unavailable/insufficient for a meaningful comparison. As a result, we cannot quantify a beat/miss vs. Street. Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
  • Pre-announcement (Jan 24) indicated management’s internal expectations of Q3 revenue $115–$130M and EPS $0.00–$0.15, which were subsequently withdrawn on Feb 4 due to tariff uncertainty; actual Q3 delivered $112.0M and -$0.06 EPS .
MetricQ3 2025 (Consensus)Q3 2025 (Actual)
Revenue ($USD Millions)N/A*$112.0
EPS ($USD)N/A*-$0.06

*Values retrieved from S&P Global.

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Tariff volatility is the primary near-term swing factor: management withdrew guidance and flagged demand paralysis; expect continued earnings variability until tariff path stabilizes .
  • Cost reductions are working: gross margin improved YoY despite lower sales; add-backs suggest core GM nearing 9%; incremental revenue could lift GM >10% with fixed-cost leverage if volumes rebound .
  • Pipeline depth is improving: multiple wins across telecom, pest control, energy, and consumer; the energy resiliency program offers ~$60M annual potential over 12–18 months, providing medium-term revenue visibility .
  • Strategic capacity shifts: Arkansas flagship and Vietnam expansion target tariff mitigation and onshoring/dual-sourcing trends; new capacity expected online in FY2026, aligning with program ramps .
  • Working capital and liquidity are supportive: nine-month operating cash flow $10.1M; new ABL provides flexibility; focus on inventory turns and DSOs should continue to free cash as volumes normalize .
  • Near-term trading lens: lack of guidance and tariff uncertainty likely cap upside; watch for tariff headlines, component availability, and program ramp updates (especially energy resiliency) as catalysts .
  • Medium-term thesis: diversified footprint, vertical integration, and design-led wins position KTCC to benefit from re/onshoring; execution on Arkansas/Vietnam expansions and disciplined cost control underpin margin recovery as volumes return .