Electronics Segment Outlook
Q: What's the outlook for Electronics, especially power semiconductors?
A: The Electronics segment faces two different situations. For passives and protection semiconductors, channel inventories are healthy, and point-of-sale demand is stable, leading to normal seasonality into Q4. However, power semiconductors are challenged by slowing industrial demand, particularly in Europe, with meaningful slowdowns in machine automation. The visibility on improvement is challenging due to geopolitical dynamics, but we feel we're finding the bottom and expect end-market improvement over 2025.

Margin Outlook
Q: Can we expect margins to remain strong into next year?
A: In Q3, Transportation and Industrial segments benefited from one-offs, including a 200 basis points margin tailwind from a weaker Mexican peso. While it's uncertain if these benefits will continue, we feel confident about sustaining margins and expect continued progress with margin expansion into 2025 through footprint optimization, cost reductions, and recovering volumes.

Pricing Environment
Q: Are you facing pricing pressure amid tough demand?
A: Despite a tougher demand environment, our prior pricing increases have remained sticky and stable. While a normalized pricing environment has returned with typical year-over-year price declines in Electronics and some Industrial, we've actively worked to drive pricing up in Transportation to address cost and profitability concerns. Overall, we're comfortable with current pricing levels.

Industrial Segment Growth Drivers
Q: What drove growth in the Industrial segment this quarter?
A: Growth was driven by robust demand in data center applications, continued strength in industrial safety, where we hold a leadership position, and a turning point in HVAC, which is beginning to show growth after several down quarters. We see significant opportunities in Industrial for long-term growth.

Design Activity and Conversion
Q: Are design wins translating into growth despite flat markets?
A: Design-in activity remains solid across all segments, with customers continuing to develop next-generation products. While the conversion from design-in to production is taking longer due to cautiousness as customers focus on current products, these design wins will slowly add to growth over time. Overall, signs are positive for design activities.

Capital Allocation and M&A
Q: What's your outlook on M&A activity in 2025?
A: Thoughtful M&A is critical to our long-term strategy. We're actively pursuing opportunities that diversify our markets and drive higher organic growth. While timing can be unpredictable, we expect to find acquisitions over the next 12 months, though nothing specific to announce now.

Inventory Levels in Power Semiconductors
Q: How are power semiconductor inventories and when will they normalize?
A: We have less distribution exposure in power semiconductors, with an even mix of direct and distribution sales. We don't see excess inventories with channel partners, but industrial customers may have inventory overhangs in components and finished goods, dampening the industrial segment. Normalization will depend on end-customer demand clearing.

Industrial Demand Softness
Q: Is industrial demand softness due to cautiousness or demand?
A: The softness is more pronounced in Europe and China, with North America being stable. Customers are cautious about factory investments, influenced by higher interest rates. We observe cautious ordering patterns, with more late and last-minute orders, indicating a preference to keep inventories low at fiscal year-end.

Actions to Improve Electronics Margins
Q: Can you improve Electronics margins despite lower revenue?
A: Volume significantly impacts margins; Q3 benefited from strong volume, with sales at a four-quarter high. With a normal seasonal sales decline in Q4, margins may be pressured. However, we're focusing on cost reductions, including footprint optimization and restructuring, aiming for margin expansion in 2025.

Design Win Sizes
Q: Any changes in design win dollar values?
A: Our business typically secures incremental wins—"singles and doubles" rather than "home runs". We've not seen significant shifts in win sizes; they remain consistent. The only change is a slightly elongated cycle from design win to production, which we view as an environmental, temporary situation.