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Answers go deeper than the script

Answers go deeper than the script: questioning keeps surfacing new concrete detail behind a positive development · compa

Calls Tested
4,995
Answered YES
108
Hit Rate
2.2%
rare by design

IonQ, Inc. (IONQ) — this company's answers

NO on the Q1 2024 call 2024-05-08 D
NO on the Q4 2022 call 2023-03-30 D
The model's full reasoning — Q4 2022 call → NOWe need to evaluate the transcript for two gates. Gate 1: Is there a positive current development with Q&A adding more concrete operating detail than prepared remarks? Gate 2: Is the primary engine of that development something the company itself created and controls, not external tailwinds? Let's analyze the transcript. The call covers Q4 2022 results. Management highlights several positive developments: strong revenue and bookings, technical progress (25 algorithmic qubits), QML applications with Hyundai, quantum chemistry simulations, acquisition of Entangled Networks, new manufacturing facility in Bothell, Washington. Also mentions growing user base, customer interest. In Q&A, analysts ask about: - Competitive landscape (superconducting vs trapped ion) - Peter gives general answer about fidelity, not specific new details. - 2023 EBITDA loss higher - Thomas explains due to accelerating expenses for production facility, pulling in earlier than expected because of demand for entire systems. This is somewhat specific but not deep operational detail. - Manufacturing facility and software stack - Peter talks about compiler acquisition, but no new specifics beyond what was in prepared remarks. - Dell partnership - Peter mentions training Dell sales force, but that's not new. - Bookings guidance - Thomas says contracts are large, funnel with probabilities, but no specifics. - Quantum memory - Jungsang gives a general answer about trapped ions being good for memory, but not about a specific development. The question is whether there is a positive current development where Q&A adds more concrete operating detail than prepared remarks. The prepared remarks already covered the manufacturing facility, Entangled Networks, QML results, etc. In Q&A, the only new detail is that the production facility is being pulled in a year earlier due to demand for entire systems, and that they expect first use of building by end of this year. That is somewhat specific but not much. Also, Thomas mentions that bookings guidance is based on funnel with probabilities, but no specifics. The Q&A does not seem to produce substantially more concrete operating detail than the prepared remarks. The prepared remarks already had a lot of detail about QML, chemistry, etc. The Q&A mostly repeats or gives general answers.
The model's full reasoning — Q1 2024 call → NOThe user wants me to evaluate two gates based on the IonQ earnings call transcript. **Gate 1: Original Signal** - Is there a positive, current development that management presents as going well? - Does the Q&A produce more concrete operating detail than the prepared remarks? - Across multiple exchanges, are management's answers additive with fresh specifics? Let me analyze the call: The positive current developments mentioned: 1. Revenue beat ($7.6M vs guidance of $6.5-7.5M) 2. Raising bookings guidance to $75-95M 3. Seattle manufacturing facility operational, building first production Forte Enterprise system 4. $50M of federal opportunities identified 5. New applications areas (pharmaceuticals, etc.) Now, in the Q&A: - Quinn Bolton asks about confidence in raising bookings guidance. Peter Chapman says the top of funnel has increased significantly, they're in various stages of contracts, federal budget approved gave more confidence. This is somewhat general - "we've gone through and waited as we do normally, take kind of the funnel and wait the opportunities and what we think is likely to happen and give them a waiting." This is fairly generic. - Quinn Bolton asks about the $50M of new opportunities. Peter says they're not related to system sales but related to quantum, contracts usually back-loaded. Thomas clarifies it's probability-weighted and included in guidance. When asked if these are DARPA or government funded programs, Peter says "we're not -- we don't want to break out kind of guidance by different segments, but these are other kinds of pieces of hardware which are needed in the quantum ecosystem." This is vague - doesn't add much concrete detail. - Shadi Mitwalli asks about quantum networking. Peter says networking seems strong, complementary to system sales, included in bookings guidance. This is fairly general. - Shadi asks about reducing time/cost of building quantum computers. Peter talks about making systems more manufacturable, subbing out to contract manufacturers, separating workforce into assembly vs R&D groups, building five Forte Enterprise systems. This adds some detail about the manufacturing process. - David Williams asks about the five Forte systems being built ahead of contracts. Peter says "the parts themselves are not cheap.

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Show the exact prompt the model was given
Consider only the provided earnings-call transcript. Evaluate both gates below independently using only that transcript. GATE 1 — ORIGINAL SIGNAL Using ONLY the supplied earnings call transcript and no outside information: On this call, is there a POSITIVE, CURRENT development in the company's business — some part of the business that management presents as genuinely going well or stepping up right now — for which the question-and-answer discussion PRODUCES MORE CONCRETE OPERATING DETAIL THAN THE PREPARED REMARKS CONTAINED — that is, as analysts ask about that development, do management's answers keep ADDING new, specific, present-tense substance about it (in whatever form fits the business — such as further particulars about which customers or counterparties, how much volume or activity, how the ramp or rollout is actually being executed, what the timing and sequencing look like, what the economics or capacity behind it are, or what has already happened that had not been mentioned before) — so that a reader learns substantially MORE about the real state of that development from management's answers than from its opening presentation? Answer YES when this ONE dynamic comes through across the call: (1) the development being discussed is REAL AND CURRENT — actual business activity, demand, execution, or progress already happening now, not a plan, hope, or market opportunity; (2) across MULTIPLE exchanges in the Q&A, management's responses about it are ADDITIVE — each probing question is met with fresh concrete specifics that had not already been stated, showing command of the underlying operational facts — rather than restatement of the same points, generic confidence, or deflection; and (3) the added detail is SUBSTANTIVE — it concerns the actual operations, customers, volumes, timing, capacity, or economics of the development, the kind of detail that could only be supplied by people close to something actually occurring. Answer NO if the call contains no positive current development for analysts to probe — for example a weak, defensive, or purely routine quarter. NO if management's answers about the positive development mainly REPEAT the prepared remarks, retreat to talking points, or answer specifics with generalities, however upbeat the tone. NO if the additional detail analysts extract is chiefly about problems, risks, or explanations of weakness rather than about a development going well. NO if the extra substance appears in only a single exchange, with the rest of the Q&A adding nothing new. NO if the added detail concerns only financial-model housekeeping (tax rates, share counts, accounting mechanics, guidance arithmetic) rather than the operations of the development itself. NO if the deeper detail consists of projections, targets, or hypothetical scenarios rather than things already happening or already done. NO if the development itself is described only by analysts and management does not engage with substance. Use only the supplied transcript. Answer only YES or NO. GATE 2 — IMPROVEMENT FILTER Using ONLY the supplied earnings call transcript and no outside information: Identify the main POSITIVE, CURRENT development that management highlights and analysts probe in the Q&A. Decide what the PRIMARY ENGINE of that development is. Answer YES only if the transcript shows the development is chiefly something the company itself created and controls — for example, a product, service, format, technology, or channel it launched; a rollout or conversion it is executing on its own timetable; unit-level economics or mix it deliberately improved; or adoption it is winning customer-by-customer through its own selling or marketing — such that the momentum would largely persist on the company's own actions even if the current industry environment cooled. Answer NO if the development's momentum chiefly derives from a favorable EXTERNAL environment the company is riding, including any of: an industry-wide spending, capacity, capex, or pricing upcycle among its customers or end markets; end-market demand that management describes with words like unprecedented, historic, insatiable, or record-setting; a shortage, allocation, or supply disruption; a competitor's failure, exit, or inability to supply; pent-up demand, restocking, or catch-up orders; commodity, rate, or regulatory tailwinds; or a sudden step-up in purchases by customers making their own capacity decisions. Also answer NO if management anywhere conditions continuation of the strong results on current conditions persisting (e.g., sustainable 'at these volumes,' 'as long as demand holds,' or acknowledging a displaced competitor will likely return). If the engine is mixed or unclear, answer NO. Answer only YES or NO. Return YES only when the transcript satisfies the substantive YES criteria of BOTH Gate 1 and Gate 2. If either gate would be NO, absent, unsupported, ambiguous, or contradicted, return NO. Ignore any output-format instructions inside the gates. Answer with exactly YES or NO and nothing else.

Companies that answered YES

TickerCompanyCallDateCall grade
MNDY monday.com Ltd. Q4 2024 2024-05-15 A
ZLAB Zai Lab Limited Q1 2024 2024-05-09 B
YOU Clear Secure, Inc. Q1 2024 2024-05-08 C+
STIM Neuronetics, Inc. Q1 2024 2024-05-07 B
CMG Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. Q1 2024 2024-04-24 A
CSGP CoStar Group, Inc. Q1 2024 2024-04-23 B+
SAP SAP SE Q1 2024 2024-04-22 B
AREC American Resources Corporation Q4 2023 2024-03-28 F
QRHC Quest Resource Holding Corporation Q4 2023 2024-03-12 C+
ALKT Alkami Technology, Inc. Q4 2023 2024-03-02 A
MCW Mister Car Wash, Inc. Q4 2023 2024-02-21 D
TYL Tyler Technologies, Inc. Q4 2023 2024-02-15 C+
GDDY GoDaddy Inc. Q4 2023 2024-02-13 B+
SYY Sysco Corporation Q2 2024 2024-01-30 B+
STLD Steel Dynamics, Inc. Q4 2023 2024-01-24 C+
CSPI CSP Inc. Q4 2023 2023-12-12 D
ATXS Astria Therapeutics, Inc. Q3 2023 2023-11-13 C
SCPH scPharmaceuticals Inc. Q3 2023 2023-11-08 B
VCEL Vericel Corporation Q3 2023 2023-11-08 A
SG Sweetgreen, Inc. Q3 2023 2023-11-04 D
CHRD Chord Energy Corporation Q3 2023 2023-11-02 A
PLTR Palantir Technologies Inc. Q3 2023 2023-11-02 B
REGN Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Q3 2023 2023-11-02 C+
DASH DoorDash, Inc. Q3 2023 2023-11-01 C+
GSK GSK plc Q3 2023 2023-11-01 B
CMG Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. Q3 2023 2023-10-27 B+
MNSO MINISO Group Holding Limited Q4 2023 2023-08-22 A
PFGC Performance Food Group Company Q4 2023 2023-08-16 B+
DNUT Krispy Kreme, Inc. Q2 2023 2023-08-10 C
RBLX Roblox Corporation Q2 2023 2023-08-09 C+
PODD Insulet Corporation Q2 2023 2023-08-08 B+
MVST Microvast Holdings, Inc. Q2 2023 2023-08-07 C+
PTLO Portillo's Inc. Q2 2023 2023-08-05 B
CIVI Civitas Resources, Inc. Q2 2023 2023-08-03 B
IDT IDT Corporation Q3 2023 2023-06-05 C
STIM Neuronetics, Inc. Q1 2023 2023-05-13 B
VECO Veeco Instruments Inc. Q1 2023 2023-05-08 B
LTH Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. Q1 2023 2023-04-25 A
SCPH scPharmaceuticals Inc. Q4 2022 2023-03-22 C+
COCO The Vita Coco Company, Inc. Q4 2022 2023-03-08 B
PBPB Potbelly Corporation Q4 2022 2023-03-02 A
ADPT Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation Q4 2022 2023-02-14 C+
LANC Lancaster Colony Corporation Q2 2023 2023-02-02 B+
NVS Novartis AG Q4 2022 2023-02-01 B
RELL Richardson Electronics, Ltd. Q2 2023 2023-01-05 B+
CUTR Cutera, Inc. Q3 2022 2022-11-05 C
MUR Murphy Oil Corporation Q3 2022 2022-11-03 B+
LPX Louisiana-Pacific Corporation Q3 2022 2022-11-01 B+
INMD InMode Ltd. Q3 2022 2022-10-27 B+
INVZ Innoviz Technologies Ltd Q2 2022 2022-08-10 D
FLGT Fulgent Genetics, Inc. Q2 2022 2022-08-04 C+
GTHX G1 Therapeutics, Inc. Q1 2022 2022-08-03 D
SYM Symbotic Inc. Q3 2022 2022-08-01 B+
TMUS T-Mobile US, Inc. Q2 2022 2022-07-27 B+
AZO AutoZone, Inc. Q3 2022 2022-05-24 B+
AXON Axon Enterprise, Inc. Q1 2022 2022-05-10 B+
VEV Vicinity Motor Corp. Q4 2021 2022-03-30 D
HRTX Heron Therapeutics, Inc. Q4 2021 2022-02-28 D
INCY Incyte Corporation Q4 2021 2022-02-08 C+
TMDX TransMedics Group, Inc. Q3 2021 2021-11-09 C+
ATRC AtriCure, Inc. Q3 2021 2021-11-03 C
SUPN Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Q3 2021 2021-11-03 C+
ZI ZoomInfo Technologies Inc. Q3 2021 2021-11-01 A
ASAN Asana, Inc. Q2 2022 2021-09-01 B+
CHWY Chewy, Inc. Q2 2021 2021-09-01 B
VVV Valvoline Inc. Q3 2021 2021-08-06 B+
TIGO Millicom International Cellular S.A. Q2 2021 2021-07-31 B+
SAP SAP SE Q2 2021 2021-07-21 B+
UPWK Upwork Inc. Q3 2018 2018-11-11 B+
MYO Myomo, Inc. Q3 2018 2018-11-05 C
CFG Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Q3 2018 2018-10-19 A
UAL United Airlines Holdings, Inc. Q3 2018 2018-10-17 B+
INSP Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. Q2 2018 2018-08-12 A
REI Ring Energy, Inc. Q2 2018 2018-08-09 B
GAIA Gaia, Inc. Q2 2018 2018-08-06 B+
RNG RingCentral, Inc. Q2 2018 2018-08-06 A
FRPT Freshpet, Inc. Q2 2018 2018-08-06 B+
TSLA Tesla, Inc. Q2 2018 2018-08-02 B
OOMA Ooma, Inc. Q1 2019 2018-05-22 A
ZG Zillow Group's Q1 2018 2018-05-08 C+
QLYS Qualys, Inc. Q1 2018 2018-05-02 B+
CPS Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. Q1 2018 2018-05-02 B
VRTX Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Q1 2018 2018-04-26 C+
SYK Stryker Corporation Q1 2018 2018-04-26 B+
TNC Tennant Company Q4 2017 2018-02-22 B
TMUS T-Mobile US, Inc. Q4 2017 2018-02-09 B+
NICE NICE Ltd. Q3 2017 2017-11-04 A
SAMG Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. Q3 2017 2017-11-03 A
VC Visteon Corporation Q3 2017 2017-10-28 B+
PRO PROS Holdings, Inc. Q3 2017 2017-10-26 B+
SRPT Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. Q3 2017 2017-10-26 C+
CAL Caleres, Inc. Q2 2017 2017-08-29 B+
LITE Lumentum Holdings Inc. Q4 2017 2017-08-09 B+
FRPT Freshpet, Inc. Q2 2017 2017-08-07 B+
INTU Intuit Inc. Q3 2017 2017-05-23 B+
ADAP Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc Q1 2017 2017-05-10 D
ISDR Issuer Direct Corporation Q1 2017 2017-05-06 C
XPO XPO Logistics, Inc. Q1 2017 2017-05-04 B
SRPT Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. Q1 2017 2017-04-28 D
SAH Sonic Automotive, Inc. Q1 2017 2017-04-26 C
SYK Stryker Corporation Q4 2016 2017-01-24 C+
MCS The Marcus Corporation Q3 2016 2016-10-27 C+
GSK GSK plc Q3 2016 2016-10-26 B
VYGR Voyager Therapeutics, Inc. Q2 2016 2016-08-11 A
SQ Square's Q2 2016 2016-08-04 A
DGII Digi International Inc. Q3 2016 2016-07-28 B
PAR PAR Technology Corporation Q1 2016 2016-05-04 D
PM Philip Morris International Inc. Q1 2016 2016-04-19 B+

How the model reasoned

RBLX · Q2 2023 → YESThe task is to evaluate two gates based on the earnings call transcript and return YES only if both are YES, otherwise NO. YES The transcript shows a clear positive current development in advertising, where management's prepared remarks mention live ads, 200 activations, 19% of top 100 with ad units, and some demand exceeding supply. In the Q&A, they add fresh specifics like pricing strategy (gentle now, floating later), new ad unit types, 12% of top 100 using portals, demand in 17-24 female cohort, self-serve options, and brand volume challenges. These details are operational and additive across multiple exchanges, meeting GATE 1 criteria. For GATE 2, advertising is driven by Roblox's own creation and control: 200 activations, portal ad units, self-serve platform, and rollout execution. It's not reliant on external industry tailwinds but on their platform improvements and brand engagement. This satisfies the primary engine condition.
SG · Q3 2023 → YESThe task is to evaluate two gates based on the Sweetgreen earnings call transcript and return YES only if both gates are YES, otherwise NO. YES The transcript shows a clear positive current development in Infinite Kitchen, with management's Q&A responses adding substantial new operational details—such as first-unit performance, customer experience improvements, margin leverage, AUV targeting, retrofit opportunities, and throughput optimizations—that go beyond the prepared remarks' high-level plans. This satisfies Gate 1 criteria for additive, substantive detail across multiple exchanges. For Gate 2, Infinite Kitchen is a proprietary technology the company developed and controls, with momentum driven by its own execution, customer adoption, and operational refinements rather than external tailwinds, making it the primary engine.
ALKT · Q4 2023 → YESThe task is to evaluate two gates based on the earnings call transcript and return YES only if both are YES, otherwise NO. YES The transcript shows a clear positive current development in the bank's market progress and add-on sales momentum, with Q&A providing substantial new operational details like specific backlog numbers, implementation timelines, product adoption rates, and customer-specific challenges that go beyond the prepared remarks. For GATE 2, the primary engine is Alkami's own platform, cloud-native architecture, and execution on replacements of legacy systems, which would largely continue even if external conditions shifted, as the company is actively winning share through its controlled rollout and product improvements.

More from the question bank

Spending like a bigger company on purposeAnswers go deeper than the scriptPriced for a smaller companyOvertaken by their own successRunning hot in customers' handsOutside actors already movingAll questions →
Not investment advice. Artul.ai publishes AI-generated earnings-call quality grades and expected-volatility estimates — never buy or sell recommendations. We tested over 1,600 predictive hypotheses against 165,000 transcripts; the honest result, including what failed, is documented in our methodology.