Latest news with #AVT
Sky News
9 hours ago
- Health
- Sky News
Doctors are using unapproved AI software to record patient meetings, investigation reveals
Doctors are using AI software that does not meet minimum standards to record and transcribe patient meetings, according to a Sky News investigation. NHS bosses have demanded GPs and hospitals stop using artificial intelligence software that could breach data protection rules and put patients at risk. A warning sent out by NHS England this month came just weeks after the same body wrote to doctors about the benefits of using AI for notetaking - to allow them more time to concentrate on patients - using software known as Ambient Voice Technology, or "AVT". Health Secretary Wes Streeting will next week put AI at the heart of the reform plan to save the NHS in the 10-year plan for the health service in England. But there is growing controversy around software that records, transcribes and summarises patient conversations using AI. In April, NHS England wrote to doctors to sell the benefits of AVT and set out minimum national standards. However, in a letter seen by Sky News, NHS bosses wrote to doctors to warn that unapproved software that breached minimum standards could harm patients. The 9 June letter, from the national chief clinical information officer of NHS England, said: "We are now aware of a number of AVT solutions which, despite being non-compliant ... are still being widely used in clinical practice. "Several AVT suppliers are approaching NHS organisations ... many of these vendors have not complied with basic NHS governance standards. "Proceeding with non-compliant solutions risks clinical safety, data protection breaches, financial exposure, and fragmentation of broader NHS digital strategy." Sky News has previously revealed the danger of AI "hallucinations", where the technology makes up answers then lies about them, which could prove dangerous in a healthcare setting. 1:59 NHS England sets minimum standards but does not tell NHS trusts and healthcare providers which software providers to use. Sky News can now reveal there is growing pressure on NHS England and similar bodies to be more proactive. Dr David Wrigley, deputy chair of the British Medical Association's GP committee, said: "Undoubtedly, as a GP myself and my 35,000 colleagues, we've got responsibilities here - but in such a rapidly developing market when we haven't got the technical knowledge to look into this. "We need that help and support from those who can check that the products are safe, check they're secure, that they're suitable for use in the consulting room, and NHS England should do that and help and support us." Dr Wrigley continued: "We're absolutely in favour of tech and in favour of taking that forward to help NHS patients, help my colleagues in their surgeries. "But it's got to be done in a safe and secure way because otherwise we could have a free for all - and then data could be lost, it could be leaking out, and that just isn't acceptable. "So we are not dinosaurs, we're very pro-AI, but it has to be a safe, secure way." The spectre of dozens of little-known but ambitious AI companies lobbying hospitals and surgeries to get their listening products installed worries some healthcare professionals. There are huge profits to be made in this technological arms race, but the question being asked is whether hundreds of different NHS organisations can really be expected to sift out the sharks. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said the letter was "a really significant moment". He said it was right for the NHS to experiment, but that it needed to be clearer what technology does and does not work safely. "My own view is that the government should help in terms of the procurement decisions that trusts make and should advise on which AI systems - as we do with other forms of technology that we use in medicine - which ones are safe," Mr Taylor said. "We'll need [government] to do a bit more to guide the NHS in the best way to use this." When pressed whether in the short term that actually makes it sound like it could be quite dangerous, Mr Taylor replied: "What you've seen with ambient voice technology is that kind of 'let a thousand flowers bloom' approach has got its limits." 0:45 Earlier this year, the health secretary appeared to suggest unapproved technology was being used - but celebrated it as a sign doctors were enthusiastic for change. Mr Streeting said: "I've heard anecdotally down the pub, genuinely down the pub, that some clinicians are getting ahead of the game and are already using ambient AI to kind of record notes and things, even where their practice or their trust haven't yet caught up with them. "Now, lots of issues there - not encouraging it - but it does tell me that contrary to this, 'Oh, people don't want to change, staff are very happy and they are really resistant to change', it's the opposite. People are crying out for this stuff." Doctors who use AI that complies with national standards already say there are big benefits. Anil Mehta, a doctor in the health secretary's Ilford constituency, told Sky News he backed his MP's drive for more AI technology in healthcare. "I spend 30% of my week doing paperwork," he said. "So I think once I've explained all of those features of what we're doing, patients are extremely reassured. And I haven't faced anybody that's not wanted to have me do this. He added: "(I) think that consultation with your doctor is extremely confidential, so that's not changed at all. "That remains confidential - so whether it's a vulnerable adult, a vulnerable child, teenager, young child with a parent, I think the concept of that confidentiality remains." An NHS spokesperson said: "Ambient Voice Technology has the potential to transform care and improve efficiency and in April, the NHS issued guidance to support its use in a safe and secure way. "We are working with NHS organisations and suppliers to ensure that all Ambient Voice Technology products used across the health service continue to be compliant with NHS standards on clinical safety and data security."
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AVT Q1 Earnings Call: Revenue Meets Expectations, Guidance Trails Analyst Estimates
Electronic components distributor Avnet (NASDAQGS:AVT) met Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, but sales fell by 6% year on year to $5.32 billion. On the other hand, next quarter's revenue guidance of $5.3 billion was less impressive, coming in 0.9% below analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.84 per share was 17.4% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy AVT? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $5.32 billion vs analyst estimates of $5.29 billion (6% year-on-year decline, in line) Adjusted EPS: $0.84 vs analyst estimates of $0.71 (17.4% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $181.7 million vs analyst estimates of $161.6 million (3.4% margin, 12.5% beat) Revenue Guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $5.3 billion at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $5.35 billion Adjusted EPS guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $0.70 at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $0.90 Operating Margin: 2.9%, in line with the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow Margin: 2.1%, down from 8.1% in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $4.39 billion Avnet's first quarter results were primarily driven by continued softness in Western markets and ongoing customer inventory destocking, offset by stronger-than-anticipated performance in Asia and incremental improvements at Farnell, its distribution business. CEO Phil Gallagher cited Asia's third consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth and highlighted ongoing stabilization efforts in Europe, noting, 'Asia was the only region with year-on-year sales growth. In EMEA, we continue to experience weak demand across the region.' Looking ahead, Avnet's guidance for next quarter reflects persistent headwinds in key Western markets and heightened tariff-related uncertainty. Management emphasized caution around geopolitical factors and the complexity of new tariffs on goods from China, with Gallagher stating, 'Our team has made a significant effort to adjust our processes for this latest round of tariffs.' The company expects muted revenue trends and is focused on maintaining operational discipline while managing supply chain challenges and evolving customer demand patterns. Avnet's management attributed the latest quarter's results to stable but challenging market conditions, ongoing customer inventory adjustments, and regional disparities in demand. Key themes included efforts to optimize inventory, manage tariffs, and drive incremental improvements at Farnell. Asia Outperforms, Western Weakness: Asia delivered year-over-year sales growth for the third straight quarter, aided by some customer pull-ins related to regulatory uncertainty, while Europe (EMEA) continued to experience broad-based demand weakness. Customer Destocking Continues: Customers across most regions remained focused on reducing their inventories, leading to lower backlog and shorter lead times. Cancellations were described as normal, but management does not foresee a rapid recovery from the destocking cycle. Farnell Progresses on Turnaround: The Farnell business, which caters to industrial and electronic component customers, posted sequential improvement in sales and margin. Management credited new leadership and operational streamlining for these early gains, but emphasized that further improvement is needed to reach mid- to high-single-digit margins. Tariff Mitigation Efforts: In response to new tariffs on goods from China, Avnet is leveraging its global logistics, alternative sourcing, and foreign trade zone capabilities to minimize impact on customers. Management noted that about 7%-10% of Americas sales are affected by these tariffs, and efforts are underway to pass through or offset costs where possible. Inventory Strategy Adjustments: Avnet views its inventory as a strategic asset, balancing reductions in excess stock with the need to support customer requirements. Management acknowledged that while some inventory is elevated, other product lines require further investment to remain competitive and responsive to demand shifts. Avnet's outlook centers on ongoing regional imbalances, continued customer inventory correction, and adapting to new tariff regimes. Management expects these themes to shape revenue and margin trends in the coming quarters. Tariffs and Geopolitical Uncertainty: Management highlighted the dynamic nature of U.S.-China tariffs and associated supply chain complexity. The company's ability to mitigate tariff effects and adjust sourcing will influence both customer demand and margin profile. Inventory Normalization Pace: The speed at which customers complete inventory destocking will affect Avnet's sales trajectory. Prolonged correction periods may delay revenue recovery, while faster normalization could support a rebound. Farnell Operational Execution: Continued progress at Farnell—driven by cost control, SKU expansion, and process improvements—remains a key lever for improving group profitability. Management aims for steady margin increases but cautioned that significant gains will take time. Joe Quatrochi (Wells Fargo): Asked why Avnet's revenue guidance was lower than some suppliers' growth outlooks. CFO Ken Jacobson explained that ongoing weakness in Europe and the Americas offsets strength in Asia, describing the guidance as neither conservative nor aggressive. Joe Quatrochi (Wells Fargo): Inquired about the impact of new tariffs and supply chain services. Jacobson emphasized Avnet's global footprint and ability to shift sourcing, but noted that tariffs on Chinese goods are largely unavoidable and must be passed through or mitigated. William Stein (Truist): Requested detail on Farnell's improved margins and long-term strategy. CEO Phil Gallagher said progress is encouraging, attributing gains to new leadership and operational efficiency, while reaffirming the goal of achieving higher margins over several quarters. William Stein (Truist): Questioned Avnet's inventory approach and whether higher inventory levels are a permanent strategy. Management reiterated that inventory is a strategic asset but intends to reduce excess stock where possible. Wamsi Mohan (BofA): Asked about order patterns related to tariffs and visibility into AI-related component demand. Gallagher reported only modest order pull-ins and estimated AI-driven sales at 3%-5% of Asia-Pacific business, with potential for future growth. In the upcoming quarters, the StockStory team will watch (1) whether destocking trends in Western markets begin to moderate, supporting a sales recovery; (2) the effectiveness of Avnet's strategies to offset or pass through the impact of new tariffs on its Americas business; and (3) continued operational improvements at Farnell, particularly in achieving margin expansion. Additionally, we will monitor Avnet's inventory management as a signal of supply-demand normalization. Avnet currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 10.3×. Should you load up, cash out, or stay put? Find out in our free research report. Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
1 Hated Stock that Should Get More Attention and 2 to Avoid
Wall Street's bearish price targets for the stocks in this article signal serious concerns. Such forecasts are uncommon in an industry where maintaining cordial corporate relationships often trumps delivering the hard truth. Whatever the consensus opinion may be, our team at StockStory cuts through the noise by conducting independent analysis to determine a company's long-term prospects. Keeping that in mind, here is one stock where you should be greedy instead of fearful and two where the skepticism is well-placed. Consensus Price Target: $118.26 (2.4% implied return) Founded as a single retail store, Arrow Electronics (NYSE:ARW) provides electronic components and enterprise computing solutions to businesses globally. Why Is ARW Risky? Flat sales over the last five years suggest it must find different ways to grow during this cycle Earnings per share have contracted by 32.1% annually over the last two years, a headwind for returns as stock prices often echo long-term EPS performance Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up Arrow Electronics is trading at $115.46 per share, or 9.8x forward P/E. If you're considering ARW for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more. Consensus Price Target: $51.25 (5.2% implied return) With a century-long history of adapting to technological evolution, Avnet (NASDAQ:AVT) is a global electronic components distributor that connects manufacturers of semiconductors and other electronic parts with businesses that need these components. Why Does AVT Give Us Pause? Sales tumbled by 8.3% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle Earnings per share have dipped by 31% annually over the past two years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term Lacking free cash flow generation means it has few chances to reinvest for growth, repurchase shares, or distribute capital Avnet's stock price of $48.71 implies a valuation ratio of 9.7x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with AVT, check out our full research report (it's free). Consensus Price Target: $85.26 (5.5% implied return) With over 90 years of connecting the world's technologies, Amphenol (NYSE:APH) designs and manufactures connectors, cables, sensors, and interconnect systems that enable electrical and electronic connections across virtually every industry. Why Are We Backing APH? Market share has increased this cycle as its 15.2% annual revenue growth over the last two years was exceptional Dominant market position is represented by its $16.78 billion in revenue and gives it fixed cost leverage when sales grow Earnings growth has massively outpaced its peers over the last five years as its EPS has compounded at 19% annually At $80.84 per share, Amphenol trades at 33.9x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it's free. Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 175% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2019 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+2,183% between December 2019 and December 2024) as well as under-the-radar businesses like Axon (+711% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Avnet: Fiscal Q3 Earnings Snapshot
PHOENIX (AP) — PHOENIX (AP) — Avnet Inc. (AVT) on Wednesday reported fiscal third-quarter net income of $87.9 million. The Phoenix-based company said it had net income of $1.01 per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 84 cents per share. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 72 cents per share. The distributor of electronic components posted revenue of $5.32 billion in the period, also surpassing Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $5.29 billion. For the current quarter ending in June, Avnet expects its per-share earnings to range from 65 cents to 75 cents. The company said it expects revenue in the range of $5.15 billion to $5.45 billion for the fiscal fourth quarter. Avnet shares have fallen 2% since the beginning of the year. The stock has risen almost 3% in the last 12 months. _____ This story was generated by Automated Insights ( using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on AVT at Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 Reasons AVT is Risky and 1 Stock to Buy Instead
Over the last six months, Avnet shares have sunk to $45.83, producing a disappointing 16.4% loss - worse than the S&P 500's 6.9% drop. This might have investors contemplating their next move. Is there a buying opportunity in Avnet, or does it present a risk to your portfolio? Get the full breakdown from our expert analysts, it's free. Despite the more favorable entry price, we're cautious about Avnet. Here are three reasons why we avoid AVT and a stock we'd rather own. With a century-long history of adapting to technological evolution, Avnet (NASDAQ:AVT) is a global electronic components distributor that connects manufacturers of semiconductors and other electronic parts with businesses that need these components. Reviewing a company's long-term sales performance reveals insights into its quality. Any business can put up a good quarter or two, but many enduring ones grow for years. Over the last five years, Avnet grew its sales at a tepid 3.9% compounded annual growth rate. This fell short of our benchmark for the business services sector. Forecasted revenues by Wall Street analysts signal a company's potential. Predictions may not always be accurate, but accelerating growth typically boosts valuation multiples and stock prices while slowing growth does the opposite. Over the next 12 months, sell-side analysts expect Avnet's revenue to stall. Although this projection suggests its newer products and services will catalyze better top-line performance, it is still below average for the sector. Although long-term earnings trends give us the big picture, we like to analyze EPS over a shorter period to see if we are missing a change in the business. Sadly for Avnet, its EPS declined by more than its revenue over the last two years, dropping 37.1%. This tells us the company struggled to adjust to shrinking demand. Avnet isn't a terrible business, but it isn't one of our picks. Following the recent decline, the stock trades at 9.2× forward price-to-earnings (or $45.83 per share). While this valuation is optically cheap, the potential downside is big given its shaky fundamentals. We're fairly confident there are better stocks to buy right now. We'd suggest looking at the most entrenched endpoint security platform on the market. Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 175% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2019 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+2,183% between December 2019 and December 2024) as well as under-the-radar businesses like Comfort Systems (+751% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Sign in to access your portfolio
