Strategy in TECH...
Once again, the calendar year of 2025 is rapidly slipping away. This week, most Americans will pause, gather with friends and family, participate in a joyous and delicious feast, and contemplate all they have to be thankful for.
And, this year, I’ll share with you a bit of holiday mystery at Strata-gee…
Calling 2025 a “transitional” year, new Sonos, Inc. (Nasdaq: SONO) CEO Tom Conrad suggested the company turned a corner in the fourth quarter, as part of reporting its financial results for fiscal 2025, the year that ended on September 27, 2025. However, I couldn’t help but notice company executives were carefully choosing their words in describing the company’s performance – referring to just certain key Q4 numbers and “adjusted” results. This always makes me want to take a deeper look, and when I looked at fiscal 2025’s total performance, it was disappointing, with revenues continuing to decline and losses progressively increasing…again.
Even in the fourth quarter, which the executives did want to talk about, the company lost $37.9 million.
At the end of last week, Masimo Corporation (Nasdaq: MASI) received some good news in its years-long court battle with Apple Inc. over its alleged infringement of Masimo patents misappropriated for use in Apple Watch models. It has been virtually a nuclear war between the two combatants, taking place in Federal, California, and Delaware courts; at the US International Trade Commission; in the Federal Appeals Court; at the Patent Trial & Appeal Board; and with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Now, a California jury has found in Masimo’s favor in one of those cases and ordered Apple to pay it $634 million in damages. But is this the end of the matter?
Ft Lauderdale, FL-based Just Video Walls, a specialist supplier of custom MicroLED video walls, had a massive showing at CEDIA Expo 2025, situated in two large booths on the main floor. The company, which has had a huge growth spurt over the last couple of years, has added many new employees, introduced new product models, brought on new accessory & control options, and had its largest presence ever at Expo 2025.
Late last week, the University of Michigan released its widely respected Index of Consumer Sentiment for an initial reading of how consumers were feeling about the state of the economy. It showed a marked drop from both the previous month’s (October) reading and last year’s November 2024 reading. Why the downward dive in sentiment? Most likely, this was due, at least in part, to the ongoing government shutdown (which may be resolved by the time you read this).
On Wednesday, Resideo Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: REZI), maker and distributor of tech products for homes and businesses and parent company of Products and Solutions, ADI Global Distribution, Snap One, Control4, and more, announced its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2025. The results looked pretty good. Then, on Thursday, its stock collapsed a stunning 23.75%. By comparison, the S&P 500 was down 1.1%.
Now, on Friday, in midday trading, Resideo is trending down again… yet another 1.5% decline. What’s going on?
Emerald Holding, Inc. (NYSE: EEX), parent company to Emerald Expositions and owner of the CEDIA Expo, Commercial Integrator Expo, CEPro, Commercial Integrator, and more, reported its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, showing growth in both consolidated revenues and “adjusted” earnings. However, the data makes it pretty clear that growth relies heavily on acquiring more shows – a costly way to drive growth.
Goldman Sachs, a leading American-based global investment bank, earlier this month recognized Hagan Kappler, CEO and Co-Founder of Daisy, as one of the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2025. This recognition was announced at the Goldman Sachs Builders + Innovators Summit 2025 held in Healdsburg, California.
Crestron Electronics, a leading industry manufacturer of commercial and enterprise-grade connectivity gear, as well as sophisticated but simple control and automation solutions for the smart home, has launched another Crestron Experience Center (CEC) in Mechelen, Belgium. Not only does this stunning facility showcase the depth and breadth of Crestron technology, but it also demonstrates the company’s commitment to EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Asia) markets as well as to the greater global community.
Gentex Corporation (Nasdaq: GNTX) reported its financial results for the third quarter of Fiscal 2025, and for the first time, these results betray an impact from the Trump administration’s tariff program as well as slowing global economic activity. The company is also still struggling to more fully integrate Voxx International, acquired back in April 2025, into its operations and forward planning.
Organic results – which take Voxx out of the 2025 numbers for an apples-to-apples comparison with Fiscal 2024 results – showed a notable decline in net sales and a troubling double-digit decline in net income. Read on to see what the company said about these results…and to get my take.
