Onto Innovation (NYSE:ONTO) FY Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Onto Innovation (NYSE:ONTO) - **Event**: 28th Annual Needham Growth Conference - **Date**: January 13, 2026 Key Industry Insights - **AI Impact**: AI is a significant driver in the semiconductor industry, with NVIDIA projecting a 40% CAGR over the next few years, influencing demand and supply dynamics [6][7] - **Revenue Ties**: In 2025, 61% of Onto's revenue was derived from customers directly supporting the AI supply chain, indicating a strong correlation with AI growth [7] - **Market Outlook**: The outlook for 2026 is expected to be at least 10% stronger in the first half compared to the second half of 2025, reflecting improved customer sentiment [7] Product and Technology Developments - **AI Value Chain**: Onto is positioned in several areas of the AI value chain, including Gate-All-Around nodes, advanced packaging inspection, and 3D metrology [8][9] - **New Technologies**: The company is focusing on co-packaged optics and charge metrology, which are expected to contribute significantly to revenue growth, with an estimated additional opportunity of $1 billion [10][12] - **Dragonfly Platform**: The Dragonfly G3 has seen less decline than expected, with new applications being added. The upcoming Dragonfly G5 is expected to enhance resolution and throughput significantly [14][15] Financial Performance and Projections - **Operating Margin Improvement**: Onto aims for at least a 30% improvement in operating margin for 2026, driven by overseas manufacturing, new product value, and synergies from the SDI acquisition [18][19] - **Revenue Growth Drivers**: Growth is anticipated from advanced nodes and packaging, particularly in HBM and AI-related applications [21][30] Market Position and Competitive Landscape - **OSAT Engagement**: Onto is benefiting from the outsourcing of capabilities to OSATs, which are increasingly involved in AI packaging, enhancing Onto's market position [23][24] - **Lithography Business**: The JetStep system for panel-level packaging is gaining traction, with customers recognizing the importance of inline process control [25][27] Geopolitical Considerations - **China Exposure**: Onto's limited exposure to China provides some protection against geopolitical volatility, while the shift of manufacturing to Asia is expected to enhance engagement with Chinese customers [32][34] Customer Engagement and Value Proposition - **Value Quantification**: Onto emphasizes the importance of solving customer problems through reliable measurements and faster processing, which justifies their pricing strategy [36] - **Sustainable Advantage**: The company's understanding of customer challenges and its ability to address complex issues in packaging and inspection are seen as key differentiators in maintaining a competitive edge [37] Conclusion Onto Innovation is strategically positioned to leverage the growth in AI and advanced semiconductor technologies, with a strong focus on enhancing product capabilities and improving operational efficiencies. The company is optimistic about its growth trajectory in 2026, driven by innovative technologies and a robust market demand.

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]