Company: IPGP
Filing Date: 2025-08-05
Form Type: 10-Q
Source: 0001111928-25-000132
Chunk: 85

Company: IPG PHOTONICS CORP
Filing Date: 2025-08-05
Form: 10-Q
Item: Part I, Item 8
Chunk 85
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 share in existing markets, or by developing new applications and markets we address, by reducing the cost of our products and by optimizing the efficiency of our manufacturing operations.

A high proportion of our costs is fixed so costs are generally difficult to adjust or may take time to adjust in response to changes in demand. In addition, our fixed costs increase as we expand our capacity. If we expand capacity faster than is required by sales growth, gross margins could be negatively affected. Gross margins generally decline if production volumes are lower as a result of a decrease in sales or a reduction in inventory because the absorption of fixed manufacturing costs will be reduced. Gross margins generally improve when the opposite occurs. If both sales and inventory decrease in the same period, the decline in gross margin may be greater if we cannot reduce fixed costs or choose not to reduce fixed costs to match the decrease in the level of production. If we experience a decline in sales that reduces absorption of our fixed costs, or if we have production issues, our gross margins will be negatively affected.

We also regularly review our inventory for items that are slow-moving, have been rendered obsolete or are determined to be excess. Any provision for such slow-moving, obsolete or excess inventory affects our gross margins. For example, we recorded provisions for slow-moving, obsolete or excess inventory totaling $7.8 million and $14.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively and $17.3 million and $26.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

Selling and general and administrative expenses. In the past, we invested in selling and general and administrative costs in order to support continued growth in the Company. As the secular shift to fiber laser technology matures, our sales growth becomes more susceptible to the cyclical trends typical of capital equipment manufacturers. Accordingly, our future management of and investments in selling and general and administrative expenses will also be influenced by these trends, although we may still invest in selling or general and administrative functions to support certain initiatives even in economic down cycles. Certain general and administrative expenses are not related to the level of sales and may vary quarter to quarter based primarily upon the level of acquisitions, litigation and project-related consulting expenses. Additionally, selling and general and administrative expenses will also be influenced by accruals for variable compensation and performance stock unit expense both of which are dependent upon our performance relative to preestablished targets.

Research and development expenses. We plan to continue to invest in research and development