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 Companies - Analyst
: Yes. Good morning. Thank you for letting me ask a few questions. Maybe first on the operating expenses. They were up quite a bit year over year.
MAYBE just a little more detail on what it was, the one-timers, that impacted that.
Question: Thomas Diffely - D.A. Davidson Companies - Analyst
: Okay. Just real quickly on the SG&A side, how much of it was labor and benefits that I assume are more recurring versus the outside services, which
tend to be more one-time in nature?
Question: Thomas Diffely - D.A. Davidson Companies - Analyst
: Okay, thank you.
Question: Thomas Diffely - D.A. Davidson Companies - Analyst
: Okay. And maybe, Chris, if I could continue that conversation towards the $200 million of CapEx for 2025, obviously, a little bit higher than its run
historically. And it sounds like a lot of it is going to go to investment in the US.
So I'm curious, is that replacing older tools? Is it new capacity, new capabilities? Maybe just a little more color on what you're going to get for that
$200 million.
Question: Thomas Diffely - D.A. Davidson Companies - Analyst
: And is this expansion of capacity for -- to serve current fabs? Or is this to serve some of the newer fabs that are in the process of being built right
now?
REFINITIV STREETEVENTS | www.refinitiv.com | Contact Us
consent of Refinitiv. 'Refinitiv' and the Refinitiv logo are registered trademarks of Refinitiv and its affiliated companies.
DECEMBER 11, 2024 / 1:30PM, PLAB.OQ - Q4 2024 Photronics Inc Earnings Call
Question: Thomas Diffely - D.A. Davidson Companies - Analyst
:
Question: Thomas Diffely - D.A. Davidson Companies - Analyst
: All right. And then probably, Chris, I also had a question on the mainstream business. You talked about some node migration going on. But I'm just
more curious about the health of the mainstream business.
Over the last several years, we had a period where there was really tight supply. We had nice pricing increases. That seems to have waned at this
point. How do you view the mainstream business for IC over the next, call it, three-plus years?
Question: Thomas Diffely - D.A. Davidson Companies - Analyst
: Okay, great. And Frank, maybe just a broader industry question for you. What is your view of industry growth -- photomask industry growth in '25?
And how do you view maybe the next few years beyond that?
REFINITIV STREETEVENTS | www.refinitiv.com | Contact Us
consent of Refinitiv. 'Refinitiv' and the Refinitiv logo are registered trademarks of Refinitiv and its affiliated companies.
DECEMBER 11, 2024 / 1:30PM, PLAB.OQ - Q4 2024 Photronics Inc Earnings Call
Question: Thomas Diffely - D.A. Davidson Companies - Analyst
: Okay. Maybe just a final question for you, Frank. You talked about the AI ecosystem driving some demand for you. What products are using
photomasks from Photronics in the AI ecosystem, just to get my hands around what the opportunity is?
Question: Thomas Diffely - D.A. Davidson Companies - Analyst
: Great. Well, thank you, Chris, Frank, and Eric. Appreciate your time today.
| 
