Cash cost of the wait: management is funding a defined waiting period whose end is already scheduled
The model's full reasoning — Q2 2018 call → NOWe need to determine if the transcript describes a current waiting period where the company is paying costs now for something not yet earning, with a specific near-dated event in sight, and management treats it as the main work. Key points from transcript: - ACP project delay: "the ACP project that did not start as quickly as we had hoped." They view it as timing issue. They have equipment moved, MAXX purchased, standby payments? They mention "we are being paid for equipment that we have already moved in the yards and for the over $20 million in MAXX that we have already purchased." So they are being paid for standby? Actually they say "we are being paid for equipment that we have already moved in the yards and for the over $20 million in MAXX that we have already purchased." So they are being compensated for standby? That suggests they are not paying out of pocket? But they also mention "we would burned $24 million of that total" in Q2 for ACP revenue. They expected $210 million for three quarters, but only $24 million in Q2. So they are not earning as much as expected, but they are being paid for standby? The question is whether they are paying out of pocket for something not yet earning. They have equipment and MAXX purchased, but they are being paid for that. So the cost is not out of pocket? Actually they purchased MAXX, but they are being paid for it? The transcript says "we are being paid for equipment that we have already moved in the yards and for the over $20 million in MAXX that we have already purchased." So they are receiving payments for that. So the waiting period is not costing them out of pocket? They might have idle crews? They mention "we are ready to go" but they are waiting for notice to proceed. They have costs for equipment and crews? But they are being paid for standby? The transcript says "we are being paid for equipment that we have already moved in the yards and for the over $20 million in MAXX that we have already purchased." So they are compensated. So the waiting period is not a cost to them? They also mention "we would burned $24 million of that total" meaning they recognized $24 million revenue from ACP in Q2, but expected more. So they are earning some, but less than expected. The delay is a timing issue, but they are not necessarily paying out of pocket.
| Ticker | Company | Call | Date | Call grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOPN | Kopin Corporation | Q4 2023 | 2024-03-14 | C+ |
| LILA | Liberty Latin America Ltd. | Q4 2023 | 2024-02-23 | C |
| SBS | Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado | Q3 2023 | 2023-11-10 | C+ |
| QTRX | Quanterix Corporation | Q3 2023 | 2023-11-07 | B |
| APPS | Digital Turbine, Inc. | Q1 2024 | 2023-08-08 | D |
| PRPH | ProPhase Labs, Inc. | Q1 2023 | 2023-05-11 | F |
| CDE | Coeur Mining, Inc. | Q1 2023 | 2023-05-11 | C+ |
| SOL | ReneSola Ltd | Q3 2022 | 2022-12-01 | C+ |
| FLL | Full House Resorts, Inc. | Q3 2022 | 2022-11-07 | B |
| EHTH | eHealth, Inc. | Q2 2021 | 2021-07-29 | F |
| IRT | Independence Realty Trust, Inc. | Q2 2018 | 2018-08-02 | B |
| YUM | Yum! Brands, Inc. | Q2 2018 | 2018-08-02 | C |
| IBTX | Independent Bank Group, Inc. | Q3 2017 | 2017-10-24 | A |
| FLEX | Flex Ltd. | Q1 2018 | 2017-07-28 | F |
| DAN | Dana Incorporated | Q1 2017 | 2017-05-02 | B |
SBS · Q3 2023 → YESThe question is whether management describes the company as currently living through a defined waiting period it's paying for out of its own pocket. YES The transcript shows management describing the company as currently bearing real, ongoing cash costs (salaries, consulting, transition work) for the IDP/restructuring program whose benefits (full expense reduction, shared-services center operational) are not yet realized. The far side is a specific, near-dated event: full 3.7% staff reduction and shared-services center operational by mid-2024 (July 2024 for full benefit), with the program already in motion and on schedule. Management frames this as the main current work, not a setback, and treats the costs as self-funded. This meets all three conditions.
EHTH · Q2 2021 → YESThe question is whether management describes the company as currently living through a defined waiting period it is paying for out of its own pocket. YES The transcript shows management describing the company as currently living through a defined waiting period for the AEP, paying for it out of its own pocket through heavy investments in internal agents and quality initiatives. They hired agents early, many still in training with lower productivity, and are bearing the cost of additional training and customer service expansion in Q3. This is framed as a chosen investment to improve enrollment quality and prepare for the fourth-quarter AEP, not an apology or external issue.
YUM · Q2 2018 → YESThe question is whether management describes the company as currently living through a defined waiting period it is paying for out of its own pocket. YES The transcript shows management describing a clear, self-funded transition cost tied to the refranchising effort. They explicitly call out the “timing mismatch between G&A savings and refranchising” as one of the four items weighing on Q2 core operating profit, and they quantify the full-year headwind at 6 7 percentage points. This is presented as a real, ongoing drag on current results while they complete the shift to 98 % franchised by year-end 2018 and reach the 1.7 % G&A run-rate target in 2019.