Release Date: October 31, 2024
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
- Fingerprint Cards AB (FGRRF, Financial) has successfully executed a transformation plan, resulting in improved gross margins by exiting unprofitable markets like mobile and PC.
- The company is now debt-free after completing a rights issue and removing convertible bonds, strengthening its balance sheet.
- There is strong sequential growth in the Access business, indicating robust performance despite transformational changes.
- New product launches, such as AllKey and the latest IRIS technology, are expected to drive future growth in Access and Payments markets.
- The company is actively exploring new partnerships and M&A opportunities to expand into the broader identity market, focusing on software-rich areas.
Negative Points
- Revenue has decreased year-on-year due to the strategic exit from the mobile business, impacting overall financial performance.
- The PC business is facing increased headwinds and commoditization, leading to a decision to exit this market as well.
- There is continued volatility expected as the company undergoes a significant transformation, which may affect short-term stability.
- The Payments market has been slow to take off, with pipeline movement not progressing as quickly as anticipated.
- The company is experiencing challenges in the China market, which is highly competitive and cost-focused, leading to strategic exits.
Q & A Highlights
Q: Can you talk a little bit about the timing of the wind down of the PC business?
A: We're starting to wind that business down immediately. It's something we've already begun, and we expect it to move quickly. We aim to do this with respect for our team and customers.
Q: What has changed in the PC market to prompt this swift exit?
A: The PC market has become commoditized, similar to mobile. There's an oversupply, allowing customers to easily reallocate volumes, which is unsustainable for us. Additionally, the constant need for innovation at lower costs makes it untenable. The competition between using existing camera infrastructure for identification versus adding fingerprint sensors has also intensified.
Q: With operating costs being reduced, when should we expect the company to be cash flow positive?
A: We don't provide specific forecasts, but we're aggressively reducing costs to match revenue dynamics. Our focus is on controllable costs, and we have opportunities for further reductions, especially with our exit from China.
Q: Is the increase in mobile sales due to inventory reductions, and is this now complete?
A: Yes, the increase was due to clearing out inventory, and we are now mostly done with that transition. We expect only a small long tail from mobile sales moving forward.
Q: Can you elaborate on the near-term plans for Access and Payments?
A: For Access, we feel confident due to its global market and value-driven dynamics. We've launched AllKey to enable customers to integrate our technology more easily, allowing us to scale through channel partners. In Payments, we're focused on moving deals through the pipeline to drive market adoption, having already invested heavily upfront.
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
