Buying its own future output: the company is spending now to own more of the value it already helps create
The model's full reasoning — Q1 2018 call → NOWe need to determine if management describes the company currently moving itself further up or down its own value chain, taking ownership or direct control of a step that someone else used to perform, and that this move is already being executed and changing what the company earns or can do, rather than planned. Let's analyze the transcript. The question is about vertical integration or internalizing a step. The transcript discusses DLH Holdings, a government health services contractor. They talk about moving up the value chain towards more technology-driven services. For example, they mention "we continue to move up the value chain to higher margins" and "we are moving more and more towards leveraging DLH expertise." They also discuss investing in analytics and informatics capabilities. However, is this about taking over a step previously performed by others? They are enhancing their own capabilities, but are they internalizing something they previously outsourced? They mention "we are combining some strategic partnerships with some of the best of breed tools and software" and "leverage in some strong partnerships on taking more of our solutions to the cloud." That suggests they are partnering, not necessarily internalizing. They also talk about "we took into this annual operating plan just north of a $1 million to invest and to expanding our analytics informatics capabilities" - that's investment in their own capabilities, but is that taking over a step from someone else? It could be that they previously relied on subcontractors or partners for these capabilities, but the transcript doesn't explicitly say that. They say "we are finding a lot of our peer competitive companies are sharpening their capabilities there too" - so it's about staying competitive, not necessarily internalizing. The question asks: "does management describe that the company is CURRENTLY MOVING ITSELF FURTHER UP OR DOWN ITS OWN VALUE CHAIN — taking ownership or direct control of a step in the chain that someone else used to perform, own, or capture the margin on — and does management convey that this move is ALREADY BEING EXECUTED and is already changing what the company earns or can do, rather than being planned or contemplated?" The transcript has management talking about moving up the value chain, but they don't specifically say they are taking over a step from a third party.
| Ticker | Company | Call | Date | Call grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIII | G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. | Q4 2024 | 2024-03-14 | C |
| KOPN | Kopin Corporation | Q4 2023 | 2024-03-14 | C+ |
| PFE | Pfizer Inc. | Q4 2023 | 2024-01-30 | F |
| BZUN | Baozun Inc. | Q2 2023 | 2023-08-28 | D |
| KMDA | Kamada Ltd. | Q2 2023 | 2023-08-16 | B+ |
| SOL | ReneSola Ltd | Q3 2022 | 2022-12-01 | C+ |
| TMCI | Treace Medical Concepts, Inc. | Q2 2022 | 2022-08-13 | B+ |
| HROW | Harrow Health, Inc. | Q4 2021 | 2022-03-10 | C |
| SLQT | SelectQuote, Inc. | Q2 2022 | 2022-02-07 | F |
| LC | LendingClub Corporation | Q4 2021 | 2022-01-26 | A |
| LPTH | LightPath Technologies, Inc. | Q4 2021 | 2021-09-09 | D |
| KNDI | Kandi Technologies Group, Inc. | Q2 2021 | 2021-08-09 | F |
| EHTH | eHealth, Inc. | Q2 2021 | 2021-07-29 | F |
| PRPO | Precipio, Inc. | Q3 2018 | 2018-11-19 | D |
| T | AT&T Inc. | Q3 2018 | 2018-10-24 | C+ |
| KOP | Koppers Holdings Inc. | Q2 2018 | 2018-08-12 | C+ |
| XOM | Exxon Mobil Corporation | Q2 2018 | 2018-07-27 | C |
| TOUR | Tuniu Corporation | Q4 2017 | 2018-03-14 | D |
| HSTM | HealthStream, Inc. | Q3 2017 | 2017-10-24 | C |
| FLEX | Flex Ltd. | Q1 2018 | 2017-07-28 | F |
| DAN | Dana Incorporated | Q1 2017 | 2017-05-02 | B |
| GES | Guess?, Inc. | Q1 2017 | 2016-05-25 | F |
FLEX · Q1 2018 → YESThe question is about whether Flex Ltd is currently moving itself further up or down its own value chain by taking ownership or control of a step that someone else used to perform. YES The transcript shows Flex is actively internalizing a previously external step in the shoe manufacturing value chain by taking ownership of automation, process redesign, and end-to-end production for Nike. Management describes this as an ongoing, real-time execution: “we’re vertically integrating technologies,” “rethinking all of the whole supply process we’re applying automation technologies,” “we’ve manufactured over 1 million pairs,” and “we took over the facility in September” for Bose, with the Nike factory transition “complete by October.” They explain the value capture: the company now keeps margin it previously paid away, controls quality, cost, supply, and timing previously constrained by a counterparty, and serves customers it could not reach through the old chain. While acknowledging the ramp is early (losses persist through Q2, breakeven expected by year-end), the move is already changing what Flex earns and can do, not merely planned or contemplated. This meets all three required elements.
XOM · Q2 2018 → YESThe question is about whether ExxonMobil is currently moving itself further up or down its own value chain by taking ownership or control of a step that someone else used to perform. YES The transcript shows ExxonMobil actively internalizing logistics and supply-chain steps that previously required external partners or intermediaries. Neil Chapman explicitly states they “will get engaged in the connectivity between the Permian and our Gulf Coast refining and chemical assets,” with equity participation in logistics, the Wink terminal acquisition (closed late 2017), 11 active completion crews, and a signed letter of intent for a 1 million bpd long-haul crude pipeline. These moves are already producing results: Gulf Coast refineries are “already processing our production levels and more, capturing the benefits of disadvantaged feed cost.
KMDA · Q2 2023 → YESThe question is about whether management describes the company currently moving itself further up or down its own value chain, taking ownership of a step that someone else used to perform, and that th...YES The transcript shows management describing the 2021 acquisition of the Beaumont plasma collection center as the company's entry into U.S. plasma collection, with the explicit goal of becoming a "fully integrated specialty plasma product company." They state they are "successfully expanding" capacity at the first center (already acquired and operational) and plan to open the second in Houston in early 2024. This is presented as an active, ongoing move to internalize plasma collection that previously depended on external suppliers.