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Photronics, Inc. (PLAB) — Earnings Call X-Ray

Our AI read all 38 of PLAB's earnings calls (2015–2025) and answered the same battery of questions about each one. Every past call is free; the newest quarter unlocks with a free account.

Latest Call Grade
🔒
Q2 2025 · sign up to see
Previous Call Grade
F
Q1 2025
Expected Move
🔒
next 45 days · members
Calls Analyzed
38
2015–2025
Avg Candor
7.2/9
evasion 2.2/9
Guidance LoweredHigh CandorCritic AmmunitionEarly Product, Fast GrowthUnderused Fixed CostsCapex IncreasingHidden SegmentReads Rehearsed

Call-by-call analysis

🔒 Q2 2025 earnings call 2025-05-28 NEWEST

Guidance: ■■■■■Demand: ■■■■■■ Margins: ■■■■Backlog: ■■■■ ■ analysts, ■■ questionsexpected move ±■■%
Candor /9
Specificity /9
Evasion /9
Stress /9

Management ■■■■■■ guidance against ■■■■■■■■ demand and ■■■■■■■ margins. The delivery was ■■■■■■■■ and ■■■■ in specifics, with ■■■ questions left hanging.

🔒 The Q2 2025 call grade is ready
The full 37-point AI read of PLAB's newest earnings call — grade, expected move, and every question answered — is free with an account.
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F Q1 2025 earnings call 2025-02-26 move ±9.1%

Management lowered guidance against mixed demand signals. The delivery was unusually candid.

Guidance: loweredDemand: mixedMargins: stablePricing: stableCapex: increasing 2 analysts · 16 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition⚑ Question left hanging✓ Early product, fast growth⚑ Reads rehearsedHidden segment
Candor 7/9
Specificity 6/9
Evasion 4/9
Confidence 6/9
Uncertainty 6/9
Promotion 3/9
Stress 3/9
Complexity 4/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
NO Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
NO Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
NO Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
YES Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
YES Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
YES Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
NO Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
YES Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
YES Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

C+ Q4 2024 earnings call 2024-12-11 move ±15.2%

Management held guidance steady against mixed demand signals. The delivery was rich in specifics.

Guidance: maintainedDemand: mixedMargins: stablePricing: stableCapex: increasing 1 analysts · 7 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts
Candor 6/9
Specificity 7/9
Evasion 2/9
Confidence 7/9
Uncertainty 5/9
Promotion 4/9
Stress 2/9
Complexity 5/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
YES Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
NO Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
NO Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

C+ Q3 2024 earnings call 2024-08-29 move ±13.2%

Management held guidance steady against slowing demand and contracting margins. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics.

Guidance: maintainedDemand: slowingMargins: contractingBacklog: stablePricing: stableCapex: decreasing 1 analysts · 6 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts⚑ Reads rehearsedCFO dominates
Candor 7/9
Specificity 8/9
Evasion 2/9
Confidence 6/9
Uncertainty 5/9
Promotion 4/9
Stress 3/9
Complexity 4/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
YES Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
YES Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
YES Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
YES Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

C+ Q2 2024 earnings call 2024-05-22 move ±10.2%

Management held guidance steady against mixed demand signals. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics.

Guidance: maintainedDemand: mixedMargins: stablePricing: stableCapex: flat 2 analysts · 7 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubtsDirection beats results
Candor 7/9
Specificity 7/9
Evasion 2/9
Confidence 7/9
Uncertainty 4/9
Promotion 4/9
Stress 2/9
Complexity 4/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
YES Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
NO Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

B Q1 2024 earnings call 2024-02-21 move ±11.5%

Management held guidance steady against accelerating demand. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics, relaxed under questioning.

Guidance: maintainedDemand: acceleratingMargins: stablePricing: stableCapex: flat 1 analysts · 4 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts⚑ Reads rehearsedCFO dominates
Candor 7/9
Specificity 8/9
Evasion 2/9
Confidence 7/9
Uncertainty 5/9
Promotion 5/9
Stress 1/9
Complexity 5/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
YES Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
YES Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
YES Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

A Q4 2023 earnings call 2023-12-13 move ±21.6%

Management gave no formal guidance against mixed demand signals. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics, relaxed under questioning.

Demand: mixedMargins: stablePricing: under pressureCapex: increasing 1 analysts · 5 questions
✓ Clean call✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubtsCFO dominates
Candor 8/9
Specificity 8/9
Evasion 2/9
Confidence 8/9
Uncertainty 4/9
Promotion 3/9
Stress 1/9
Complexity 3/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
YES Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
NO Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
NO Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
YES Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
NO Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

B+ Q3 2023 earnings call 2023-09-06 move ±13.5%

Management held guidance steady against mixed demand signals. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics.

Guidance: maintainedDemand: mixedMargins: stableBacklog: shrinkingPricing: stableCapex: flat 1 analysts · 4 questions
✓ Clean call✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts⚑ Reads rehearsedCFO dominates
Candor 7/9
Specificity 8/9
Evasion 2/9
Confidence 7/9
Uncertainty 5/9
Promotion 4/9
Stress 2/9
Complexity 4/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
YES Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
NO Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
NO Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
YES Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
YES Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

Earlier calls

CallDateGradeGuidanceDemandMarginsCandorEvasion
Q2 2023 2023-05-24 B maintainedstableexpanding 6/9 2/9
Q1 2023 2023-02-22 B maintainedstablecontracting 7/9 2/9
Q4 2022 2022-12-13 C+ maintainedmixedstable 7/9 3/9
Q3 2022 2022-08-30 B maintainedmixedexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q2 2022 2022-05-25 A raisedacceleratingexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q1 2022 2022-02-23 A raisedacceleratingexpanding 7/9 1/9
Q4 2021 2021-12-08 A raisedacceleratingexpanding 7/9 1/9
Q3 2021 2021-08-25 A raisedacceleratingexpanding 8/9 1/9
Q2 2021 2021-05-26 A raisedacceleratingexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q1 2021 2021-02-24 B maintainedacceleratingcontracting 8/9 2/9
Q4 2020 2020-12-09 B maintainedmixedcontracting 8/9 2/9
Q3 2020 2020-08-27 B maintainedmixedexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q2 2020 2020-05-27 C withdrawnmixedcontracting 7/9 2/9
Q1 2020 2020-03-04 C+ loweredmixedcontracting 8/9 1/9
Q4 2019 2019-12-11 B+ maintainedacceleratingexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q3 2019 2019-08-20 C+ maintainedmixedexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q2 2019 2019-05-22 C+ maintainedstablecontracting 7/9 3/9
Q1 2019 2019-02-21 C+ maintainedmixedcontracting 8/9 2/9
Q4 2018 2018-12-12 C+ maintainedmixedcontracting 7/9 3/9
Q3 2018 2018-08-22 B maintainedacceleratingexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q2 2018 2018-05-22 B+ maintainedacceleratingexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q1 2018 2018-02-14 B maintainedacceleratingexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q4 2017 2017-11-29 C+ nonemixedexpanding 7/9 3/9
Q3 2017 2017-08-15 C maintainedmixedunclear 7/9 3/9
Q2 2017 2017-05-17 C+ maintainedacceleratingcontracting 7/9 3/9
Q1 2017 2017-02-15 C+ maintainedmixedexpanding 7/9 3/9
Q4 2016 2016-12-06 C+ maintainedslowingcontracting 8/9 2/9
Q3 2016 2016-08-18 B+ maintainedmixedstable 8/9 3/9
Q2 2016 2016-05-18 B+ maintainedmixedcontracting 8/9 2/9
Q4 2015 2015-12-03 C+ maintainedmixedexpanding 7/9 3/9

Research question bank — earlier calls

During our 1,600-question research program, batches of experimental hypotheses were tested directly against some of PLAB's earlier calls. The YES answers — the rare hits — are shown; click any question to see every company that matched it. Full list: the question bank.

B Q3 2022 earnings call 2022-08-30

1 more research questions answered NO

C+ Q2 2017 earnings call 2017-05-17

267 more research questions answered NO

B+ Q3 2016 earnings call 2016-08-18

1 more research questions answered NO

How to read this page

The grade is a transparent composite of call quality — candor, specificity, low evasion, low stress, whether the call resolves more doubts than it creates, and the guidance action — not a buy or sell signal. The expected move is a volatility estimate from the one signal that survived our out-of-sample tests: how a stock's own reaction and pre-call volatility predict the size (not direction) of its next move. Full detail, including everything that failed: methodology.

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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.