The following is excerpted from the question-and-answer section of the transcript.
(Questions from industry analysts are provided in full, but answers are omitted - download the transcript to see the full question-and-answer session)
Question: Thomas Diffely - D.A. Davidson & Co - Analyst
: Yes. Good morning. I appreciate the chance to ask a couple questions. First, I just wanted to ask a quick question about the fourth quarter. Do you
see the mix being very similar to the third quarter? Are there any changes in what's driving the revenue?
Question: Thomas Diffely - D.A. Davidson & Co - Analyst
: Okay. And then you've made some comments about tariffs and trade restrictions. I assume those don't impact you directly, but it impacts your
customers, which impacts just your revenue, as opposed to a direct restriction on what you can and can't do?
Question: Thomas Diffely - D.A. Davidson & Co - Analyst
: Okay. And you are fairly regionalized where you take most of your equipment and most of your -- I guess, most of your materials from the region
that you're serving?
Question: Thomas Diffely - D.A. Davidson & Co - Analyst
: Okay. And maybe just a quick question on the investments you're about to make. When you look at the multi-beam to go to the higher end, is that
for essentially serving Samsung and TSMC at the higher end nodes? Or is that for your other independent customers that are actually moving to
those nodes?
Question: Thomas Diffely - D.A. Davidson & Co - Analyst
: Okay. And then last question. When you look at the potential to move down to the 6-nanometer, 8-nanometer node in Asia. Does there -- is anything
has to happen as far as getting the okay, or the permission to have that level of technology? Or is that already clear and it's really just a pure
investment thesis at this point?
Question: Thomas Diffely - D.A. Davidson & Co - Analyst
: Okay. I appreciate the time.
Question: Gowshihan Sriharan - Singular Research - Analyst
: Good morning. Can you hear me?
Question: Gowshihan Sriharan - Singular Research - Analyst
: Okay. Thank you. My first question is looking at the sequential change in gross margins between Q2 and Q3. Is that entirely due to mix shift within
the IC segment or is there some ongoing cost inefficiencies associated with the recent build-out?
Question: Gowshihan Sriharan - Singular Research - Analyst
: Okay. And on the new technology ramp, with the multi-beam mask writer in Boise, can you give us any update on customer adaptation, qualification
timelines, whether this new capacity is translating to tangible order visibility for customers?
Question: Gowshihan Sriharan - Singular Research - Analyst
: And given that your comments on elevated CapEx for the next couple of years, a significant portion of your cash is tied up in JVs. How much
flexibility do you have to allocate, or redeploy those funds for strategic needs, or buybacks in the US?
Question: Gowshihan Sriharan - Singular Research - Analyst
: Awesome. And then just my last question. With the US government involvement with Intel, does that affect or have any effect on your business or
potential in the US market?
Question: Gowshihan Sriharan - Singular Research - Analyst
: Awesome. That's all I had. I'll take the rest offline. Thank you, guys.
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