$JBL (-1.34%)

This partnership serves a dual purpose: validation testing of Apptronik's Apollo humanoid robots in the real world and training of Apollo's AI models, which should ultimately lead to Apollo being able to help build Apollo robots.

At the end of 2024, Automation World reported on the collaboration between the humanoid robot developer Apptronik and the Google DeepMind robotics team. The aim is to combine artificial intelligence and "embodied intelligence" to further develop humanoid robots for use in dynamic environments. The term "embodied intelligence" describes the interaction of mind and body to influence behavior and learning. In robotics, it refers to the use of AI to develop systems that can interact effectively with the physical world.

Although this news was not specifically aimed at the use of Apptronik robots in manufacturing, the latest news from Apptronik and Jabil clearly is. The two companies have announced a strategic collaboration that will see Apptronik's Apollo humanoid robots integrated into certain Jabil production processes. This includes the production lines at Jabil where Apollo humanoid robots will later be built. As Apptronik noted, this paves the way for Apollo to build Apollo.

Apollo robots will be used in Jabil's factory for real-world validation tests. These include various simple, repetitive intralogistics and manufacturing tasks such as inspection, sorting, collation, line delivery, fixture placement and pre-assembly before they are deployed to Apptronik's customers. By building and evaluating their function in Jabil's production environment, Apptronik and Jabil can capture real-world use cases for manufacturing automation with Apollo while optimizing Apollo's AI models.

"We are committed to advanced automation and robotics in our operations. Therefore, piloting Apollo is a logical next step for our division and for Jabil in the long term," said Rafael Renno, Senior Vice President of Global Business Units at Jabil. "Not only will we experience first-hand the impact of general purpose robots as we test Apollo in our operations, but we will also help shape the future of manufacturing with the production of Apollo units. These new technologies and applications strengthen Jabil's world-class capabilities to solve complex challenges and produce at scale for our customers."

https://www.automationworld.com/factory/robotics/news/55271042/jabil-jabil-to-deploy-apptroniks-robots-in-its-manufacturing-operations

$JBL (-1.34%)

🔹 EPS: $2.00 (Est. $1.88) 🟢

🔹 Revenue: $7.0B (Est. $6.61B) 🟢

Q2 Guidance:

🔹 EPS: $1.60-$2.00 (Est. $1.80) 🟡

🔹 Revenue: $6.1B-$6.7B (Est. $6.28B) 🟢

FY25 Guidance:

🔹 EPS: $8.75 (Est. $8.69) 🟢

🔹 Revenue: $27.3B (Est. $27.04B) 🟢

Earnings next week 🗓️

Jabil today announced preliminary, unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ending August 31, 2024.

"It is clear that Jabil has undergone a profound transformation this fiscal year: a year in which we sold our Mobility business, experienced growth in the AI data center sector and faced challenges in several end markets," said CEO Mike Dastoor. "Despite these changes, we delivered core margins of 5.5% and $8.49 core diluted earnings per share in FY2024, while generating over $1 billion in adjusted free cash flow. In addition, we returned USD 2.5 billion to our shareholders through buybacks. While near-term demand in certain end markets faces challenges, we are confident that we are well positioned in the medium to long term to benefit from long-term trends in areas such as data center power and cooling, electric and hybrid vehicles, healthcare and pharmaceutical delivery solutions, semiconductor equipment and warehouse automation"

Highlights of the fourth quarter of the 2024 financial year:

• Net sales: $7.0 billion
• Operating result according to US GAAP: $318 million
• Diluted earnings per share according to US GAAP: 1,18 $
• Core operating income (non-GAAP): $401 million
• Diluted core earnings per share (non-GAAP): 2,30 $

Highlights of the 2024 financial year:

• Net sales: $28.9 billion
• Operating result according to US GAAP: $2.0 billion
• Diluted earnings per share according to US GAAP: 11,17 $
• Core operating income (non-GAAP): $1.6 billion
• Diluted core earnings per share (non-GAAP): 8,49 $

Update on return on capital:

The Board of Directors has announced a share buyback program for ordinary shares worth up to 1 billion $ authorized. The shares will be repurchased from time to time in a variety of ways, including, at the Company's discretion and depending on market conditions and other factors, in the open market.

Source

https://investors.jabil.com/news/news-details/2024/Jabil-Posts-Fourth-Quarter-and-Fiscal-Year-2024-Results/default.aspx

What we can expect next week:

Monday:

• Empire State Manufacturing Survey
• Speeches by Fed President Patrick Harker and Fed Governor Lisa D. Cook
• La-Z-Boy ($LZB (-1.75%) ) publishes quarterly figures

Tuesday:

• Publications on retail sales, industrial production, capacity utilization and business inventories
• Quarterly figures by Lennar ($LEN (-1.35%) ) and KB Home ($KBH (-2.61%) )
• Speeches by various Fed Presidents (Logan, Barkin, Musalem, Goolsbee)

Wednesday:

• ⚠️Markt geschlossen⚠️ because of National Independence Day
• Publication of the Housing Market Index

Thursday:

• Initial claims for unemployment benefits
• Release of housing starts for May
• Quarterly figures from Accenture ($ACN (-2.52%) ), Kroger ($KR (-1.58%) ), Darden Restaurants ($D1RI34 ) and Jabil ($JBL (-1.34%) )
• Speech from Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin

Friday:

• Release of the S&P Global Flash Composite U.S. PMI
• Existing home sales figures
• Quarterly figures from CarMax ($KMX (+1.26%) )

The week summarized:

Monday

• Oracle Corp. ($ORCL (-2.22%) ) published quarterly results.

Tuesday

• NFIB Small Business Optimism Index (February)
• Consumer Price Index (February)
• Quarterly results of On Holding AG ($ONON ), Kohl's ($KSS (-3.43%) ), Manchester United PLC ($MANU (-1.33%) ) and LoanDepot Inc. ($LDI (-1.05%) )

Wednesday

• Dollar Tree ($DLTR (-1%) ), Lennar Corp. ($LEN (-1.35%) ) and Williams-Sonoma Inc. ($WSM (-1.16%) ) publish quarterly results.

Thursday

• Retail sales in the USA (February)
• Producer Price Index (February)
• Business inventories (January)
• Quarterly results from Adobe ($ADBE (-0.61%) ), Dollar General ($DG (+0.51%) ), Ulta Beauty Inc. ($ULTA (+0.93%) ) and Dick's Sporting Goods Inc. ($DKS (-3.53%) )

Friday

• Empire State Manufacturing Survey (March)
• Import Price Index (February)
• Industrial Production (February)
• Consumer sentiment (March)
• Capacity utilization (February)
• Quarterly results from Jabil Inc. ($JBL (-1.34%) )

Here is a summary of important economic events for the coming week:

Monday, September 25

• Thor Industries Inc.. ($THO (-1.01%) ) publishes quarterly reports.

• -Publication of the Chicago Fed National Activity Index for August.

• Publication of the Dallas Fed Manufacturing Index for September.

Tuesday, September 26

• Quarterly reports From Costco Wholesale Corp.. ($COST (-1.63%) ), Cintas Corp. ($CTAS (-2.02%) ), Ferguson PLC ($FERG ) and Neogen Corp. ($NEOG (+0%) )

• Publication of the S&P Case-Shiller National Home Price Index for July.

• Publication of the FHFA House Price Index for July.

• Publication of the Sales figures for new homes in August.

• Publication of the CB Consumer Confidence Index for September.

• Publication of the Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index for September.

• Publication of the Dallas Fed Services Index for September.

Wednesday, September 27

• Quarterly reports From Micron Technology Inc.. ($MU (-2.34%) ), Paychex Inc. ($PAYX (+0.19%) ), Jefferies Financial Group ($JEF (-1.37%) ), Concentrix Corp. ($CNXC (-4.5%) ) and H.B. Fuller Company ($FUL (+2.16%) ).

Thursday, September 28

• Quarterly Reports From Accenture PLC ($ACN (-2.52%) ), Nike ($NKE (-0.93%) ), Jabil Inc. ($JBL (-1.34%) ), CarMax Inc .. ($KMX (+1.26%) ), Vail Resorts Inc. ($MTN (+0.4%) ) and BlackBerry Ltd.. ($BB (-0.72%) ).

• Publication of the final GDP for the second quarter of 2023.

• Publication of the final data on real consumer spending in the second quarter of 2023.

• Publication of the sales figures for outstanding homes in August.

• Speech by Fed Chair Jerome Powell at a Town Hall Event.

Friday, September 29

• Carnival Corporation ($CCL (-1.34%) ) published Quarterly Reports.

• Publication of consumer income and expenditure data in August.