FormFactor (NasdaqGS:FORM) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 04, 2026 04:25 PM ET Speaker7Thank you, and welcome everyone to FormFactor's fourth quarter 2025 earnings conference call. On today's call are Chief Executive Officer Mike Slessor and Chief Financial Officer Aric McKinnis. Before we begin, Stan Finkelstein, the company's VP of Investor Relations, will remind you of some important information.Speaker10Thank you. Today, the company will be discussing GAAP P&L results and some important non-GAAP results ...

Intel could be close to a major foundry win.DigiTimes reported on Wednesday that Nvidia is planning to tap Intel's (INTC 1.14%) foundry for some manufacturing and advanced packaging needs beginning in 2028. Nothing has been confirmed, so this remains in the realm of rumors and speculation. However, it does line up with comments made by Intel management during the fourth-quarter earnings call.If this Nvidia rumor is true, Intel's foundry business will get a significant boost from the king of AI chips. A mix ...

KLA Corporation Conference Call Summary Company Overview - **Company**: KLA Corporation (NasdaqGS: KLAC) - **Date of Conference**: December 03, 2025 - **Speaker**: Brian Higgins, CFO Key Industry Insights Equipment Market Trends - The wafer fabrication equipment (WFE) market is expected to see modest growth in the first half of 2026, with an acceleration in the second half driven by high-performance computing and advanced packaging [6][12] - KLA has experienced mid-teens revenue growth and high 20% EPS growth in 2025, indicating strong market positioning and execution [6][12] - The company anticipates a WFE market size between $105 billion and $110 billion for 2025, with advanced packaging contributing an additional $11 billion [14] Drivers of Growth - Investment in leading-edge technology nodes, particularly the two-nanometer node, is expected to drive growth, with high-bandwidth memory and advanced packaging being significant contributors [9][10] - The design environment has improved since the seven-nanometer node, leading to increased process control intensity and efficiency [7][8] - KLA's share of the WFE market has increased, with expectations of further share gains due to broadening investments in leading-edge technology [15][16] Regional Market Dynamics - The Chinese market is projected to be modestly down, with KLA's share of the market declining from 40% in 2024 to mid-20s in 2026 due to export controls and market access issues [22][24][25] - The impact of the BIS rule change is estimated to have cost KLA approximately $300 million in expected revenue [25] Financial Performance Revenue and Margins - Advanced packaging revenue reached approximately $925 million in 2025, up 70% year-over-year, indicating strong demand in the logic segment [35][36] - Gross margin is guided at 62% for the quarter, with expectations of maintaining this level in the coming year despite tariff headwinds [44][47] Service Business Growth - KLA's service business is growing at a rate of 12%-14%, driven by high customer reliance on process control systems and increased contract pricing [48][52] - The average life of KLA systems has increased, contributing to a growing installed base and service revenue [51][52] Competitive Landscape - KLA faces limited competition in the advanced process control market, particularly in China, where domestic alternatives are not yet formidable [30][31] - The company is optimistic about engaging with new customers and expanding its market presence as the foundry market broadens [32][34] Conclusion - KLA Corporation is well-positioned for growth in the semiconductor equipment market, driven by advancements in technology nodes, strong demand for process control, and a robust service business. The company is navigating challenges in the Chinese market while capitalizing on opportunities in advanced packaging and high-performance computing.

Group 1 - The article highlights significant announcements in the stock market, including "suspension and resumption of trading, shareholding changes, investment wins, acquisitions, performance reports, unlocks, and high transfers" [1] - Important announcements are marked in red to assist investors in identifying investment hotspots and preventing various black swan events [1] - The article emphasizes the importance of timely information for investors to discern and find suitable listed companies [1] Group 2 - A company is noted for its technological reserves in the 6G field, possessing self-developed aerospace-grade chips that have been successfully applied [1] - Another company is recognized for its products related to storage chips and PCB, with a self-developed liquid cooling solution already supplied to Alibaba [1] - A company associated with Huawei has achieved mass supply of its electronic skin products [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q4 2025 was $177.6 million, with GAAP earnings per share of $0.12 and non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.28, reflecting a focus on operational efficiency [7][14] - Gross margins were reported at 45.7%, with total operating expenses at $80.3 million on a GAAP basis and just below $70 million on a non-GAAP basis [14] - For the upcoming December quarter, revenue is expected to increase by approximately 7% sequentially to $190 million, with gross margins projected at 47% [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - General semiconductor revenue increased by 24% sequentially, driven by technology and capacity needs, with utilization rates over 80% [8] - Memory-related revenue increased by nearly 60% sequentially to $24.4 million, primarily due to NAND-related capacity additions [8] - Advanced packaging solutions (APS) increased by 17% sequentially, indicating improved production activity across the high-volume install base [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Utilization rates for general semiconductor and memory applications are improving, with memory utilization rates reported at 82-83% [34] - The automotive and industrial markets are showing early signs of improvement, with expectations for sequential growth in Q1 2026 [9][52] - China’s utilization rates are close to 90%, indicating strong demand in the region [34] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its market presence in advanced packaging, advanced dispense, and power semiconductor opportunities [13][16] - There is a commitment to innovation and customer engagement, with preparations for higher production levels in response to improving end market dynamics [6][9] - The company anticipates that half of its incremental growth in fiscal 2026 will stem from technology transitions and share gains in new markets [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the recovery in end markets, particularly in general semiconductor and memory, while acknowledging ongoing challenges in automotive and industrial sectors [9][52] - The company is preparing for a production ramp through fiscal 2026, particularly in advanced heterogeneous logic applications [10] - Management remains cautiously optimistic about the outlook, citing ongoing improvements in utilization rates and customer engagement [13][16] Other Important Information - The company has initiated a share repurchase program, deploying $16.7 million to repurchase 464,000 shares during the September quarter [15] - Organizational changes were announced, with Lester Wong taking over as Interim CEO following Fusen Chen's retirement [4][5] Q&A Session Summary Question: Guidance on segment growth for general semi, memory, and auto-industrial - Management indicated strong growth in general semi and memory, with expectations for sequential growth in auto-industrial as well [20][21] Question: Status of FTC plasma solution and competition - Management confirmed they remain competitive in the foundry space with their FTC solution, which offers customers more options [22][23] Question: Details on HBM system shipment - The first HBM system is being shipped to a customer in the U.S. for qualification, targeting the 4E generation [27][29] Question: Insights into NAND market strength - High utilization rates in memory, particularly in China, are driving improvements in the NAND market [34] Question: Dynamics in the memory market and recovery trajectory - Management noted high memory utilization and sales, indicating a ramp in memory that is expected to continue into FY2026 [50][51] Question: Outlook for automotive and industrial markets - Management expressed optimism for sequential growth in auto-industrial revenue, driven by technology transitions in power semiconductors [52]

Core Insights - Onto Innovation Inc. reported Q3 2025 earnings of $0.92 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.8%, but down from $1.34 in the prior year [1][9] - The company experienced a 13.5% year-over-year decline in revenues, totaling $218.2 million, which was slightly below the consensus mark but above the midpoint of its guidance [2][9] Revenue Breakdown - Specialty devices and advanced packaging revenues accounted for 52% of total revenues, amounting to $113 million, with expectations to rebound to approximately $150 million in Q4 [3] - Revenues from advanced nodes were $54 million, representing 25% of total revenues, with a forecast to double to about $300 million in 2025 from $148.5 million in 2024 [3] - Software and services revenues were $51 million, making up 23% of total revenues [3] Technology Highlights - Onto's Dragonfly 3Di technology was qualified by two major high-bandwidth memory customers, securing orders for 2.5D logic applications essential for AI accelerators and advanced GPUs [4] - Initial shipments of Atlas G6 OCD systems were made to leading logic and memory customers, with more shipments planned for Q4, indicating strong ongoing demand [4] Q4 Outlook - The company anticipates about 18% revenue growth in Q4, primarily driven by strong demand for 2.5D packaging, with revenues expected to range between $250 million and $265 million [5][11] - Gross margin is projected to improve by about 50 basis points sequentially, with a forecasted range of 53.5% to 55% [12] Margin and Expenses - Non-GAAP gross margin was reported at 54%, slightly down from 54.5% in the previous year, impacted by tariff effects [6] - Non-GAAP operating income decreased to $46.1 million from $70 million year-over-year, with operating expenses rising to $71.9 million [6][7] Liquidity Position - As of September 27, the company had $983.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, with total current liabilities of $162.9 million [8] - The company generated a record $83.4 million in cash from operations, representing a cash conversion of 185% of non-GAAP net income [10] Acquisition Plans - Onto Innovation plans to acquire Semilab for $432.3 million in cash and 641,771 shares, valuing the deal at approximately $495 million, which is about $50 million lower than the original terms [10]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved record quarterly revenue of $57.1 million, which is 10% higher than the previous quarter and 23% higher year-over-year [12][15] - Bookings for the quarter totaled over $100 million, with a backlog of $292 million, representing a 25% increase from the previous quarter and a 22% increase year-over-year [11][12] - Gross margin was reported at 76%, slightly ahead of the previous quarter and down 1% year-over-year, with a long-term target of 75% [13][15] - Earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $0.25, with a year-to-date EPS of $0.64, which is $0.06 ahead of the comparable period last year [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Analytics revenue reached $54.7 million, a 12% increase from the prior quarter and a 22% increase year-over-year, driven by business from leading-edge customers and equipment software [12][13] - Integrated yield ramp revenue accounted for 4% of total revenue in Q3, showing a slight decrease compared to the prior quarter but an increase year-over-year [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has expanded its customer base from approximately 150 customers in 2020 to over 370 customers today, including most of the equipment industry and multiple cloud providers [8] - The company noted significant investments in 3D manufacturing and geographic diversification of manufacturing locations, which may increase production costs and slow innovation [6][7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The integration of Tiber AI Studio with Exensio, branded as Exensio Studio AI, is aimed at enhancing AI model management and deployment capabilities [4][5] - The company is focusing on AI-driven collaboration to enable cost-effective manufacturing processes in new locations [7] - The company aims to become a comprehensive analytics platform for the semiconductor supply chain, leveraging acquisitions and investments in technology [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the strong business activity and growth in backlog, reaffirming guidance for 21%-23% annual revenue growth for the year [16] - The management highlighted a positive outlook for 2026, driven by strong bookings and customer opportunities [36] Other Important Information - The company invested $6.3 million in capital expenditures during the quarter, lower than previous quarters, as it prepares for future demand [15][16] - The company is preparing for an analyst day and user conference on December 3rd, where it will share long-term growth targets [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: When does the revenue from the leased machines start? - Revenue generation from the leased machines is expected to begin within the next quarter or the quarter after, depending on the qualification and customer acceptance [21] Question: How does the pipeline of opportunities look for DFI? - The pipeline for DFI is strong, with ongoing discussions with several potential customers [23] Question: How is the go-to-market strategy for SecurWise developing? - The company is expanding SecurWise's market reach beyond equipment vendors to include fab companies, enhancing collaboration across the supply chain [25][28] Question: What is the customer concentration mix? - The company has a diverse customer base, with fabs representing 40%-50% of business, fabless and system companies around 35%-45%, and equipment vendors about 15% [33] Question: What is the outlook for 2026? - While specific guidance for 2026 has not been provided, management anticipates a strong year based on current backlog and opportunities [36] Question: What are the findings from SEMICON West regarding end markets? - There is a more broad-based enthusiasm among customers compared to previous months, particularly in advanced packaging and differentiated products [59][60]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - SkyWater reported record Q3 revenues of nearly $151 million, exceeding expectations by more than $9 million [5][24] - The gross margin for Q3 was reported at 24.6%, with significant revenue upside flowing directly to gross profit [25] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 was $25.8 million, well above the expected range of $10-$12 million [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The ATS business saw a revenue pull-in of approximately $4 million from Q4 due to program execution timing, with expected Q4 ATS revenues around $50 million [8][22] - Texas wafer services revenue reached nearly $87 million, exceeding expectations by $9 million, primarily due to higher work-in-process wafers post-acquisition [15][24] - Quantum computing-related revenue is expected to exceed 30% growth in fiscal 2025, with four new customer engagements signed since Q2 [6][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The quantum computing market is experiencing significant investment, with several players announcing large funding rounds, validating the commercial potential of the sector [9][10] - The advanced packaging market is projected to reach nearly $80 billion by 2030, driven by demand in automotive, IoT, 5G, AI, and edge computing [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - SkyWater aims to restore domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and secure trusted production, positioning itself as a key player in the U.S. innovation infrastructure [18][19] - The acquisition of FAB25 has strengthened SkyWater's competitive position, expanding its scale and diversifying its customer and technology mix [16][15] - The company is focused on leveraging its technology-as-a-service model to support various quantum architectures and drive growth [12][55] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in exceeding initial revenue and EBITDA expectations for 2026, with a baseline expectation of at least $600 million in revenue and $60 million in adjusted EBITDA [23][40] - The ongoing government budget dynamics are expected to impact A&D-related ATS revenues, but overall growth in quantum and advanced packaging is anticipated [22][50] - Management highlighted the importance of U.S. leadership in quantum computing and the need for domestic manufacturing capabilities [20][21] Other Important Information - The company plans to hold its first Investor and Analyst Day on March 24 in New York City [4] - Total debt at the end of Q3 was $184 million, reflecting borrowings for the FAB25 acquisition and working capital [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the gross margin expectations for Q4? - Management indicated that Q4 non-GAAP gross margin is expected to be 17%-20%, with a 200 basis point impact from tools revenue [34][37] Question: What are the dynamics behind the revised revenue guidance for next year? - Management noted that higher-than-expected WIP in the fab and strong performance in Q3 and Q4 contribute to confidence in the $600 million revenue target [40][41] Question: How does SkyWater view the current aerospace and defense environment? - Management stated that while funding dynamics remain uncertain, investments in facilities are geared towards the A&D community, positioning SkyWater well for future growth [50][51]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - FormFactor's Q3 2025 revenue was $202.7 million, with non-GAAP gross margins at 41%, up 250 basis points from 38.5% in Q2 2025 [20][22] - GAAP gross margins for Q3 were 39.8%, compared to 37.3% in Q2 [23] - Non-GAAP EPS for Q3 was $0.33, exceeding the high end of the outlook range of $0.21 to $0.29 [20][24] - Free cash flow in Q3 was $19.7 million, a significant improvement from negative $47.1 million in Q2 [24][25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Probecard segment saw a 254 basis point increase in gross margins, while the systems segment increased by 260 basis points to 40.8% and 42%, respectively [22] - DRAM Probecards achieved double-digit sequential growth in Q3, primarily driven by HBM, with HBM revenue around $40 million [9][49] - The systems segment is expected to continue its growth trajectory into Q4, supported by seasonal demand and advancements in co-packaged optics [13][14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The foundry and logic probecard market experienced weaker demand in Q3, with expectations of similar levels in Q4 [11][12] - Despite a broader PC recovery, significant growth in probecards for CPU applications has not been observed, as demand is being met by existing legacy designs [11][12] - The company is focused on diversifying its customer base in the foundry and logic markets, with ongoing qualifications for major GPU applications [13][40] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to achieve a target model gross margin of 47%, with a focus on both short-term and long-term initiatives to improve profitability [6][15] - Key strategies include optimizing operational effectiveness, reducing manufacturing costs, and expanding capacity through the new Farmers Branch facility [17][25] - The company is committed to developing differentiated products to increase market share and pricing power, particularly in advanced packaging and high-performance compute [7][15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about achieving sequentially higher revenue and gross margins in Q4, driven by improved demand and cost reduction initiatives [5][26] - The transition to HBM4 is expected to increase test intensity and complexity, providing a competitive advantage for FormFactor [10][31] - Management acknowledged ongoing challenges from tariffs but is actively taking steps to mitigate their impact on gross margins [26][27] Other Important Information - The company plans to invest between $140 million and $170 million in the Farmers Branch facility over 2026, which is expected to enhance gross margins in the long term [25][66] - The share repurchase program aims to offset dilution from stock-based compensation, with $70.9 million remaining for future purchases [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on HBM growth and Probecard intensity - Management noted that HBM4 is expected to drive increased test intensity and complexity, leading to growth in Probecard demand as the technology evolves [31][32] Question: Contribution of tactical versus structural improvements to gross margin - Management indicated that both tactical and structural improvements are essential, with ongoing actions expected to yield benefits in the coming quarters [34] Question: Factors contributing to gross margin targets - Management clarified that improvements in manufacturing cycle time and yield are independent of product mix, contributing to the path towards target gross margins [38] Question: Impact of CPU and GPU customer ramps on foundry and logic - Management highlighted the significant addressable markets associated with CPU and GPU opportunities, though quantifying the impact remains challenging [40] Question: Revenue growth drivers in Q4 - Management confirmed that revenue growth in Q4 is expected to be driven by non-HBM DRAM applications, with ongoing improvements in gross margins [42][43] Question: Timing of capacity increase from Farmers Branch - Initial capacity from the Farmers Branch facility is expected to come online late in 2026, with the majority in 2027 [44] Question: HBM revenue specifics for Q3 - Management disclosed that HBM revenue for Q3 was approximately $40 million, with expectations for continued growth into Q4 [49] Question: Revenue from top CPU customer - Management acknowledged that a major CPU customer did not contribute significantly in Q3 but emphasized the importance of the long-term partnership [51][52] Question: ASIC projects engagement updates - Management noted ongoing engagements with major hyperscalers in the custom ASIC space, with expectations for future growth as specifications align with GPU requirements [53][54] Question: Gross margin improvement contributions - Management indicated that mix, volume, and cost improvement actions all contributed to the improved gross margins, with cost improvements being a significant factor [58]

Core Insights - BE Semiconductor Industries N.V. (Besi) reported a significant increase in orders for Q3-25, with bookings rising by 36.5% compared to Q2-25, indicating early signs of recovery in the assembly equipment market for the semiconductor industry [6][8][11] - Despite the increase in orders, revenue for Q3-25 decreased by 10.4% from Q2-25 and 15.3% from Q3-24, primarily due to ongoing weakness in mainstream assembly markets, particularly in mobile and automotive applications [6][8][9] - The company initiated a new €60 million share repurchase program, following the completion of a previous €100 million program, aimed at capital reduction and offsetting dilution from convertible notes and employee stock plans [10][14] Q3-25 Highlights - Revenue for Q3-25 was €132.7 million, down from €148.1 million in Q2-25 and €156.6 million in Q3-24 [5][8] - Orders totaled €174.7 million, reflecting a 36.5% increase from Q2-25 and a 15.1% increase from Q3-24 [5][8] - Gross margin was 62.2%, a decrease of 1.1 percentage points from Q2-25 and 2.5 percentage points from Q3-24, mainly due to adverse foreign exchange effects [5][8] - Net income for Q3-25 was €25.3 million, down 21.2% from Q2-25 and 45.9% from Q3-24 [5][8] Year-to-Date (YTD) 2025 Highlights - YTD revenue reached €425.0 million, a decrease of 6.4% compared to the same period in 2024 [9][10] - Total orders for YTD-25 were €434.6 million, down 6.5% from YTD-24, primarily due to lower bookings in hybrid bonding and mobile applications [9][10] - YTD net income was €88.8 million, a decline of 27.6% from the previous year, attributed to lower revenue and gross margins, as well as higher interest expenses [9][10] Q4-25 Outlook - Revenue is expected to increase by 15-25% compared to Q3-25, driven by improved order levels [11][12] - Gross margin is anticipated to range between 61-63%, while operating expenses are projected to rise by 5-10% due to increased R&D expenditures [11][12] Share Repurchase Activity - During Q3-25, the company repurchased approximately 192,000 shares for €23.1 million at an average price of €119.94 per share [12][14] - The new €60 million share repurchase program is set to be completed by October 2026, with the aim of reducing capital and offsetting dilution [10][14]