How did CAMT's Q1 2025 EPS forecast compare to past trends?

**Camtek's Q1 2025 EPS forecast is in line with past trends of strong growth.** Here's a detailed analysis:

1. **Consistent Growth Trend**: Camtek has shown a compound earnings per share (EPS) growth rate of 27% per year over the past five years. The expected EPS growth of 22.22% in Q1 2025 aligns with this historical trend.

2. **Positive Market Outlook**: Analysts are optimistic about Camtek's performance, as evidenced by the Zacks Rank, which considers estimate revisions as a predictor of future stock performance. The fact that the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q1 2025 EPS has only moved 0.14% lower over the last 30 days suggests stability and continued positive expectations.
3. **Sector and Economic Context**: The Computer and Technology sector's loss of 11.22% and the S&P 500's loss of 7.69% over the past month provide a challenging backdrop. Camtek's projected revenue growth of 22.82% in Q1 2025 indicates resilience and a ability to outperform the broader market.
4. **Specific Growth Drivers**: The company's significant growth is attributed to the high-performance computing (HPC) segment, which contributed 50% of total revenue in 2024 and is expected to maintain this level in Q1 2025. Recent orders exceeding $10 million for HPC-related products reinforce this growth trajectory.
5. **Financial Health Indicators**: Camtek's record Q4 2024 revenues and operating income demonstrate robust financial health. The company's gross margin improved to 50.6% in Q4 2024, up from 49.2% in the same quarter last year, indicating enhanced profitability.

In conclusion, Camtek's Q1 2025 EPS forecast is not only consistent with its historical growth trajectory but also reflects the company's strong market position and ability to capitalize on sector-specific growth opportunities, despite broader market challenges.