Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to financial market risks, primarily due to changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and non-marketable equity security price. None of market risk sensitive instruments are held for speculative trading purposes.

Interest Rate Risk. The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve the invested principal while maximizing yields without significantly increasing risk exposure. To achieve this objective, we maintain our portfolio of investments in a mix of tax-exempt and taxable instruments that meet high credit quality standards, as specified in our investment policy. Our policy also limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issue, issuer and type of instrument.

Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates to our cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments, and outstanding debt. As of October 31, 2023, all of our cash, cash equivalents, and debt were at short-term variable or fixed interest rates. As of October 31, 2023, we had short term fixed income investment portfolio of $151.6 million. These securities, as with all fixed income instruments, are subject to interest rate risk and will decline in value if market interest rates increase. While par value generally approximates fair value on variable instruments, rising interest rates over time would increase both our interest income and our interest expense.

Our cash equivalents and debt by fiscal year of expected maturity and average interest rates as of October 31, 2023 are as follows:

Maturing in Year Ending

20242025202620272028 and thereafterTotalFair Value

(in thousands)

Cash & Cash equivalents$1,343,860 $1,343,860 $1,343,860

Approx. average interest rate2.44 %

Short-term investments$73,879 $38,851 $24,558 $9,501 $4,850 $151,639 $151,639

Approx. average coupon rate2.07 %3.19 %3.71 %5.11 %4.48 %

Short-term debt (variable rate):

Credit Facility in China$18,078 $18,078 $18,078

Average interest rate

LPR +0.74% of such rate

Foreign Currency Risk. We operate internationally and are exposed to potentially adverse movements in currency exchange rates. The functional currency of the majority of our active foreign subsidiaries is the foreign subsidiary's local currency. A weakening U.S. dollar relative to other currencies increases expenses of our foreign subsidiaries when they are translated into U.S. dollars in our consolidated statements of income. Likewise, a strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies, including the renminbi or Yen, reduces revenue of our foreign subsidiaries upon translation and consolidation. If the U.S. dollar continues to strengthen, this could adversely affect our financial condition and operating results. In addition, increased international sales in the future may result in greater foreign currency denominated sales, increasing our foreign currency risk. Our operating expenses incurred outside the United States and denominated in foreign currencies are increasing and are subject to fluctuations due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. If we are not able to successfully hedge against the risks associated with foreign currency fluctuations, our financial condition and operating results could be adversely affected. We enter into hedges in the form of foreign currency forward contracts to reduce our exposure to foreign currency rate changes on non-functional currency denominated forecasted transactions and balance sheet positions including: (1) certain assets and liabilities, (2) shipments forecasted to occur within approximately one month, (3) future billings and revenue on previously shipped orders, and (4) certain future intercompany invoices denominated in foreign currencies. The foreign currency contracts are carried at fair value and denominated in various currencies as listed in the tables below. The duration of forward contracts usually ranges from one month to 27 months. See Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation and Note 7. Financial Assets and Liabilities of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of our accounting for foreign currency contracts.

The success of our hedging activities depends upon the accuracy of our estimates of various balances and transactions denominated in non-functional currencies. Exchange rates are subject to significant and rapid fluctuations due to a number of factors, including interest rate changes and political and economic uncertainty. Therefore, we cannot predict the prospective impact of exchange rate fluctuations. To the extent our estimates are correct, gains and losses on our foreign currency contracts will be offset by corresponding losses and gains on the underlying transactions. For example, if the Euro were to depreciate by 10% compared to the U.S. dollar prior to the settlement of the Euro forward contracts listed in the table below as of October 31, 2023, the fair value of the contracts would decrease by approximately $26.1 million, and we would be required to pay approximately $26.1 million to the counterparty upon contract maturity. At the same time, the U.S. dollar value of our Euro-based expenses would decline, resulting in positive cash flow of approximately $26.1 million that would offset the loss and negative cash flow on the maturing forward contracts.

If estimates of our balances and transactions prove inaccurate, we will not be completely hedged, and we will record gains or losses, depending upon the nature and extent of such inaccuracy. Although we engage in foreign currency hedging activity, we may be unable to hedge all of our foreign currency risk, which could have a negative impact on our results of operations.

We enter into foreign exchange forward contracts with financial institutions and have not experienced nonperformance by counterparties. Further, we anticipate performance by all counterparties to such agreements.

Information about the gross notional values of our foreign currency contracts as of October 31, 2023 is as follows:

Gross NotionalAmount inU.S. DollarsAverageContractRate

(in thousands)

Forward Contract Values:

Indian rupee$523,162 84.792

Japanese yen286,654 144.426

Euro260,562 1.086

Chinese renminbi146,652 0.141

Canadian dollar141,956 1.359

Taiwanese dollar103,717 30.778

Korean won80,903 1,326.344

Israel shekel47,809 3.768

British pound sterling32,556 0.819

Armenian dram19,716 399.587

Singapore dollar12,166 1.340

Swiss franc8,324 0.865

Hungarian forint2,581 359.851

$1,666,758

Equity Price Risk. Our non-marketable equity securities investments totaled $19.1 million and $31.9 million as of October 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Our strategic investments include privately-held companies that are considered to be in the start-up or development stages and have a higher inherent risk. Specifically, the technologies or products these companies have under development are typically in the early stages and may never materialize, which could result in a loss of a substantial part of our initial investment in these companies. These investments could be impaired if the carrying value exceeds the fair value and is not expected to recover. The evaluation of these investments is based on information provided by these companies, which is not subject to the same disclosure regulations as U.S. publicly traded companies and as such, the basis for these evaluations is subject to the timing and accuracy of the data provided.