Latest news with #Vector
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Standard
EV plans face 24-month delay as OEMs, suppliers hit R&D, execution limits
Around 88 per cent of India's auto component suppliers are facing severe research and development capacity constraints, and electric vehicle (EV) programmes at legacy original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are being delayed by up to 24 months, according to a new study by Vector Consulting Group. Long and uncertain wait times for customers, poor after-sales services, and frequent product recalls are the major concerns that the EV industry is currently facing, which is resulting in the delay. The study, based on conversations with over 100 chief experience officers across OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers, finds that the sector's biggest challenge is not a lack of vision or technology, but a widespread execution breakdown across the value chain. Automakers, suppliers, and EV start-ups are discovering that traditional models of new product development, supplier engagement, and supply chain management are no longer fit for purpose. 'The bottleneck is internal: poor coordination, capacity mismatches, and execution blind spots,' said Ravindra Patki, Managing Partner at Vector Consulting Group. 'To thrive in this new era, the industry must rethink how it works—not just what it builds.' Many OEMs are attempting to manage EV and internal combustion engine (ICE) programmes in parallel, without realigning or expanding internal capacity. Engineering, procurement, and validation teams remain shared across programmes, leading to rework, bottlenecks, and chronic delays. Even where dedicated EV teams exist, they often depend on legacy internal systems, reducing their ability to move quickly. Tier-1 suppliers face similar pressure. They are expected to support multiple complex programmes across multiple OEMs at once, often with limited visibility into volume forecasts or product timelines. As a result, suppliers are forced to deal with late-stage design changes, increasing risk, cost, and strain on an already stretched engineering bandwidth. 'If OEMs want reliable delivery, they must involve suppliers early, align them on product priorities, and integrate them into the decision-making process—not just the sourcing cycle,' added Patki. Start-ups, though free from ICE legacies, are not immune to execution challenges. Many over-promise on launch timelines and rely on digital workarounds—such as over-the-air (OTA) updates—to fix post-launch engineering issues. While agile in theory, this approach often leads to short-term fixes that hurt long-term brand trust and increase costs, the study notes. For a solution, the report recommends a fundamental reset in OEM-supplier collaboration. Vector calls for stakeholders to move beyond transactional, cost-down relationships to co-development partnerships. This involves shared risks, earlier design engagement, and common execution targets. It also includes setting up integrated OEM-supplier programme teams and using real-time product-maturity dashboards to reduce friction and delays. 'The winners of the next decade won't be those with the flashiest prototypes, but those who can launch, scale, and improve faster than others,' said Patki. 'That's why the industry must stop patching old systems and start building new ones.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U Q1 Earnings Call: Unity Highlights AI Ad Platform Progress Amid Lower Revenue Outlook
Game engine maker Unity (NYSE:U) beat Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, but sales fell by 5.5% year on year to $435 million. On the other hand, next quarter's revenue guidance of $420 million was less impressive, coming in 1.9% below analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.24 per share was significantly above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy U? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $435 million vs analyst estimates of $416.8 million (5.5% year-on-year decline, 4.4% beat) Adjusted EPS: $0.24 vs analyst estimates of $0.11 (significant beat) Revenue Guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $420 million at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $428 million EBITDA guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $72.5 million at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $79.05 million Market Capitalization: $10.33 billion Unity's first quarter performance reflected the early impact of its AI-driven advertising platform, Unity Vector, and strong adoption of Unity 6 in its Create segment. CEO Matthew Bromberg credited the company's 'accelerated rollout of Vector ahead of schedule,' which delivered a 15% to 20% increase in installs and in-app purchase value on iOS compared to previous models. Management pointed to double-digit subscription growth in Create, particularly from non-gaming industries, as another positive factor, and emphasized that transitioning away from low-margin professional services has improved the revenue mix. CFO Jarrod Yahes highlighted disciplined cost management—especially in general and administrative and sales and marketing expenses—as a key contributor to margin improvement. For the coming quarter, Unity's guidance reflects a cautious stance, shaped by a mix of internal transitions and ongoing industry challenges. Management noted that although Unity Vector has begun to yield higher advertiser returns, the financial benefits will take time to be fully visible as legacy ad products are phased out. Bromberg stated, 'Our confidence in the future of our Grow business has never been stronger,' but also cautioned that the company is 'being prudent about how we're guiding this business' given its early stage. Yahes explained that increased cloud costs from operating both legacy and new ad models will normalize in the second half, supporting better profitability. Management also acknowledged the broader macroeconomic environment but said gaming's resilience and the focus on performance-based advertising should buffer major impacts. Unity's leadership attributed Q1 results to rapid AI ad platform deployment, strong subscription momentum, and deliberate resource reallocation. Management also identified a multi-quarter transition period as a significant factor affecting near-term results. AI-powered ad platform rollout: The full migration of Unity's ad network to the new AI-driven Vector platform was completed ahead of schedule. Management reported that Vector delivered a 15% to 20% lift in installs and in-app purchase value for iOS advertisers compared to the legacy system. Initial Android results are tracking similarly. Shift toward high-margin subscriptions: The Create segment saw double-digit year-over-year subscription growth, offsetting declines in low-margin professional services. Subscription revenue now comprises nearly 80% of Create, with industry verticals outside gaming contributing meaningfully to growth. Resource reallocation to Vector: Unity aggressively shifted investment toward machine learning and cloud infrastructure to support Vector, while reducing costs in general and administrative and sales and marketing. R&D spending increased, but management expects these costs to normalize as legacy ad models are retired. Non-strategic revenue runoff: CFO Jarrod Yahes clarified that sequential declines in Create are primarily due to planned reductions in non-core revenue streams, which now account for under 2% of total revenue, providing a clearer focus on core growth areas. Platform expansion beyond gaming: Management highlighted new customers in healthcare, industrial training, and digital twins, citing consistent revenue growth from non-gaming verticals for nine consecutive quarters. These emerging use cases are now the fastest-growing part of Unity's subscription business. Unity's near-term outlook is shaped by ongoing migration to its AI ad platform, normalization of costs, and continued uptake of core subscription products. AI-driven ad business ramp: Management expects Unity Vector to drive long-term revenue growth as advertisers see higher returns and shift budgets to the platform. However, in the immediate term, overall Grow segment revenue is tempered by declines in legacy ad products as customer spending transitions to Vector. Normalization of cloud and R&D costs: With the completion of the Vector migration, Unity anticipates cloud and R&D expenses will decrease in the second half of the year, supporting margin improvement. CFO Jarrod Yahes noted that operating leverage from high gross margins should enable profitability as ad business scales. Industry diversification and new pricing: The company is seeing early success from expanding Create into new industry verticals and implementing price improvements. Management expects these trends, along with continued seat growth, to support double-digit subscription revenue growth through 2025. Looking ahead, the StockStory team will monitor (1) the pace at which advertisers increase spend on Unity Vector and whether it sustains its reported performance gains, (2) the impact of normalizing cloud and R&D costs on margins as legacy ad models are fully retired, and (3) the continued expansion and retention of non-gaming industry customers in the Create segment. Developments in product pricing and successful delivery of new platform features will also be critical for validating Unity's growth strategy. Unity currently trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 5.7×. Should you double down or take your chips? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. 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Associated Press
04-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Veritiv Continues to Invest in Print Solutions to Offer Customers Best-in-Class Products and Services
ATLANTA, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Veritiv Operating Company, America's premier print solutions provider, announced its leading coated paper brand, Endurance, is now exclusively Made in the U.S.A. With this change, Veritiv is supporting American workers and manufacturing while reducing the length and complexity of the supply chain. Additionally, the new offering provides enhanced product consistency with improved packaging and is backed by a best-in-class supply chain. 'At Veritiv, we constantly work to deliver tangible benefits to our customers – and the new Endurance offering is a perfect example, providing the same high-quality product you've come to expect, now with shorter lead times, and the comfort of a product made in America,' said David Backus, Veritiv's Senior Vice President of Print Solutions. 'Veritiv continues to lead the way in the print solutions industry, setting new standards of excellence and delivering on our dedication to supporting our customers' long-term success.' With American manufacturing and shorter lead times, Veritiv maintains better overall inventory quality with the continued ability to take advantage of our national distribution network, enabling Veritiv to respond quicker to changes in demand, and creating an improved stock offering for customers. Veritiv's Endurance brand showcases a consistent 93 brightness and appealing shade across all basis weights and finishes – perfect for all your printing needs. Endurance remains Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®)-certified, ensuring Veritiv's commitment to sustainable sourcing and responsible forestry. For Endurance Digital, Veritiv now offers a new easy access clamshell packaging design with a fold down front panel and loose sheets inside. This helps keep the paper clean and wrinkle-free without the hassle of taking on and off the lid, ultimately saving time, reducing waste, and maximizing press uptime. For more product-specific information, visit: Broadening the Uncoated Freesheet Portfolio Recently, Veritiv also expanded its uncoated sheet offering by launching Vector™ opaque offset sheets as part of its portfolio of private label brands. Available exclusively through Veritiv, Vector is designed to meet the demands of today's print projects by helping buyers offset rising input costs and postal rates. Vector offers dependable runnability, consistent availability, and is FSC-certified. The addition of Vector to Veritiv's portfolio, which already includes the best-in-class Starbrite® Opaque Select, creates one of the most comprehensive uncoated sheet offerings in the United States. Endurance, Starbrite, and Vector are available from Veritiv's fully stocked nationwide distribution centers, ensuring delivery when and where you need it. About Veritiv Headquartered in Atlanta, Veritiv Operating Company is a leading full-service provider of packaging solutions. Additionally, Veritiv provides JanSan, hygiene, print and publishing products and services. Serving customers in a wide range of industries both in North America and globally, Veritiv has distribution centers primarily in the U.S. and Mexico, with additional resources and team members around the world helping shape the success of its customers. For more information about Veritiv and its business segments visit Veritiv Contact Jennifer Chapman, 770-391-8415 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Veritiv Operating Company
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vector AIS Welcomes John Spiridis as SVP of Enterprise Growth & Services
SAN FRANCISCO, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vector AIS, the modern fund administrator purpose-built for closed-end alternative investment funds, is excited to announce that John Spiridis will join the firm as Senior Vice President, Enterprise Growth & Services, beginning in early June. John brings over two decades of experience spanning fund administration and private markets operations, having held senior roles at industry-leading firms including Credit Suisse, Citco, BNY Mellon, TPG, and most recently Man Varagon. With deep expertise across both the GP and fund administrator perspectives, John is uniquely positioned to help guide Vector's next phase of growth and platform evolution. As Vector continues expanding its footprint across private equity and adjacent private market strategies, John's appointment underscores the firm's commitment to building strategic infrastructure and capabilities that scale with client needs. In his new role, John will lead efforts to strengthen Vector's private equity service offering, refine go-to-market strategies, and support cross-functional growth initiatives across product, delivery, and business development. "We're thrilled to welcome John to the team," said Molly Yakubian, CEO. "His background, values, and vision align closely with where we're headed as a company. John's experience on both sides of the private markets ecosystem gives him an exceptional ability to see around corners and ensure we scale intentionally, sustainably, and always with the client at the center." John's mandate will span asset classes, with an initial focus on private equity. He will also play a key role in shaping the roadmap for Valence, Vector's proprietary technology platform, and in fostering strategic partnerships, referral relationships, and industry visibility through thought leadership. Known for his collaborative approach and emphasis on team culture, John is already resonating with Vector's values and mission. "From the outset, it's been clear that John brings not just exceptional experience, but also the energy, warmth, and curiosity that make Vector special," said Molly. To learn more about John Spiridis, visit his LinkedIn profile. Contact Information hello@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Vector AIS Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Unity Software Stock Skyrocketed This Week
Unity stock got a big boost from bullish analyst coverage this week. Solid gains for the broader market also helped lift Unity's share price. Jeffries is seeing signs that Unity's AI-powered digital-advertising platform could power a comeback for the company. 10 stocks we like better than Unity Software › Unity Software (NYSE: U) stock closed out last week's trading with big gains thanks to bullish coverage from an analyst. The company's share price ended this Friday's trading up 25.7% from the previous week's market close. On Friday, Jeffries published new coverage on Unity and upgraded its rating on the stock from hold to buy. Unity's share price also got a boost from bullish momentum for the broader market over last week's trading. The S&P 500 index ended the week up 1.9%. Jeffries released a new note on Unity stock before the market opened on Friday, upgrading its rating on the stock to buy and raising its one-year price target from $22 per share to $29 per share. The investment firm sees signs that Unity's new Vector digital advertising is gaining traction and will help accelerate a turnaround for the business. Vector is using artificial intelligence (AI) to provide better ad targeting for games and applications built on Unity's development platform, and the company is positioning the new software as a key pillar of its comeback strategy. On the one hand, Unity is still in the relatively early stages of its turnaround effort, and the company could continue to see soft sales performance this year as it rolls out Vector and transitions customers to the platform. On the other hand, Jeffries thinks Vector will help power accelerating sales growth next year and beyond. If the new software helps reposition the company as a stronger player in the app advertising market, Unity stock could climb well above current levels. It's too early to say whether that will be the case, but the stock could deliver big upside for risk-tolerant investors. Before you buy stock in Unity Software, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Unity Software wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $651,049!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $828,224!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 979% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Keith Noonan has positions in Unity Software. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Unity Software. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why Unity Software Stock Skyrocketed This Week was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
