Winning is getting easier: management describes the effort needed to land each new piece of business visibly falling, wi
The model's full reasoning — Q2 2018 call → NOWe need to determine if management conveys that it has recently become easier for the company to win business than it used to be, with real recent wins and still in effect. Let's scan the transcript for relevant statements. Keith Creel: "we are working hard to enhance our total transportation product in all of our business units, and we're pricing for the value that we provide in the marketplace." That's not about ease. John Brooks: "I'm very proud of my team’s strategic and disciplined approach in the marketplace. As Keith mentioned, we’re working with our partners, our customers to maximize our network value." Not about ease. Keith Creel: "we've got capacity. So, as much as I appreciate crude and certainly we want to help solve that problem as much as we can, the most exciting part is the opportunity to develop perspective relationships with these customers that they see the value in this franchise and it allows us, crude or no crude, to create significant value for both the customer, as well as CP, the economy and our shareholders. That's a win-win solution to me. That's the value of low cost reliable service. That's the value precision scheduled railroading that keeps on giving." This suggests that their service and reputation now do work, but is there a comparison against their own past? They mention "we've worked hard to create a very reputable, dependable service model. We've done that now." That implies that previously they had to work hard, now they have it. But is that about winning business being easier? They say "we've got capacity" and "the opportunity to develop perspective relationships" - but not explicitly that it's easier than before. Later: Keith Creel: "we've worked hard to establish this reputation for our service. We've worked hard to be able to sit at the table and have these disciplined productive discussions. We certainly take that responsibility with the gravity it deserves." That suggests they've built something, but not that winning is easier now. John Brooks: "I started out the year cautioning that automotive would likely be a drag but given the recent performance I’m now cautiously optimistic we may have some upside." That's about performance, not ease. Look for any explicit contrast: "it used to be hard, now it's easier." I don't see that.
| Ticker | Company | Call | Date | Call grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NICE | NICE Ltd. | Q4 2023 | 2024-02-22 | B+ |
| ACGL | Arch Capital Group Ltd. | Q4 2023 | 2024-02-15 | B+ |
| VRNS | Varonis Systems, Inc. | Q2 2016 | 2016-08-09 | B+ |
| ACCO | ACCO Brands Corporation | Q1 2016 | 2016-04-27 | B+ |
ACCO · Q1 2016 → YESThe question is: Does management convey that IT HAS RECENTLY BECOME EASIER FOR THE COMPANY TO WIN BUSINESS THAN IT USED TO BE, based on real recent wins, and still in effect. YES The transcript shows management conveying that winning business has become easier than in the company's recent past. Boris Elisman states that customers have seen the value of the company's strong brands during the past couple of seasons, resulting in broader and deeper penetration in mass retailers and continued share gains.
NICE · Q4 2023 → YESThe question is: Does management convey that IT HAS RECENTLY BECOME EASIER FOR THE COMPANY TO WIN BUSINESS THAN IT USED TO BE, grounded in real business won recently, and still in effect.
VRNS · Q2 2016 → YESThe question is whether management conveys that it has recently become easier for the company to win business than it used to be, grounded in real recent wins, and still in effect.