Advanced Energy Industries (AEIS) 2025 Conference September 04, 2025 02:50 PM ET Company ParticipantsAtif Malik - U.S. Semiconductor Capital Equipment & Specialty Semiconductors analystPaul Oldham - Executive VP & CFOSteve Kelley - President, CEO & DirectorConference Call ParticipantsNone - AnalystAtif MalikWelcome to Day 2 of Citi Global TMT Conference. My name is Atif Malik. I cover U.S. semiconductors, semiconductor equipment, and networking equipment stocks here at Citi. It's my pleasure to welcome Stev ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Second quarter revenue reached $442 million, exceeding the high end of guidance, representing a 21% year-over-year growth and a 9% sequential increase [19][20] - Earnings per share (EPS) was $1.50, up 76% from the previous year, marking the highest level since 2022 [19] - Gross margin improved to 38.1%, up 20 basis points sequentially, despite increased tariff expenses [22][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Semiconductor revenue was $210 million, up 11% year-over-year but down 6% sequentially [20] - Data center computing revenue surged to $142 million, up 47% quarter-over-quarter and 94% year-over-year [21] - Industrial and medical revenue increased 7% sequentially to $69 million but was down 13% year-over-year [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The semiconductor market showed double-digit year-over-year growth, although it faced sequential declines due to customer delivery schedule shifts [10][20] - Data center computing market demand is expected to remain strong, with revenue growth projected to exceed 80% for 2025 [16][29] - Industrial and medical markets are showing signs of recovery, with total backlog growing for the first time since early 2023 [13][21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a diversification strategy across three distinct target markets to mitigate cycle risk and enhance profitability [7][8] - Investments in technology and capacity are being made to support long-term growth, particularly in data center and semiconductor markets [8][18] - The closure of the last factory in China is expected to improve gross margins, targeting 40% by the end of 2025 [10][29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining data center revenue growth into 2026, driven by high investment rates from hyperscalers [36] - The company anticipates overall revenue growth of approximately 17% for 2025, with specific growth expectations for data center and semiconductor markets [16][28] - Management highlighted the importance of mitigating tariff impacts through various strategies, including optimizing supply chains [10][27] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $23 million of its common stock during the quarter, reflecting a strong cash position with total cash and equivalents at $714 million [24][25] - Free cash flow grew 21% sequentially, indicating robust cash generation capabilities [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Sustainability of data center demand - Management believes data center revenues are sustainable into 2026 due to continued high investment from hyperscalers [36] Question: Content per server for AI data centers - AI data centers have significantly higher power consumption, leading to increased revenue potential, although not on a linear basis [42][44] Question: Changes in semiconductor growth projections - The semiconductor growth projection was adjusted to mid-single digits for 2025 due to tariff impacts and market conditions [48][50] Question: Impact of new design wins in industrial and medical - New design wins are expected to contribute to revenue growth in the second half of the year, alongside market recovery [70] Question: Inventory levels and customer behavior - There is no significant overstocking observed in data center customers, with a cautious approach to inventory management in industrial and medical sectors [75]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Second quarter revenue reached $442 million, exceeding guidance and reflecting a 21% year-over-year growth, marking the third consecutive quarter of growth [5][18][19] - Earnings per share (EPS) was $1.50, up 76% from the previous year, the highest level since 2022 [18][19] - Gross margin improved slightly to 38.1%, with operating margin increasing by 110 basis points sequentially [18][21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Semiconductor revenue was $210 million, up 11% year-over-year but down 6% sequentially due to customer delivery schedule shifts [19][20] - Data center computing revenue surged to $142 million, up 47% quarter-over-quarter and nearly doubled year-over-year [20][11] - Industrial and medical revenue was $69 million, a 7% sequential increase but down 13% year-over-year [20][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The semiconductor market showed solid year-over-year growth despite a sequential decline, influenced by tariff impacts and customer inventory management [19][51] - Data center demand is expected to remain strong, with projections for over 80% growth in 2025 [15][28] - Industrial and medical markets are showing signs of recovery, with increased backlog and improved customer inventory levels [12][20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a diversification strategy across three distinct markets to mitigate cycle risks and enhance profitability [6][15] - Investments in technology and capacity are being made to support long-term growth, particularly in data center and semiconductor markets [7][16] - The closure of the last China factory is expected to contribute to gross margin improvements, targeting 40% by the end of 2025 [9][28] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining data center revenue growth into 2026, driven by high investment from hyperscalers [36] - The company anticipates modest sequential growth in industrial and medical markets, with a stronger order book driving higher revenue in the second half of the year [15][72] - Tariff impacts are being actively managed through various mitigation strategies, with expectations for continued operational improvements [25][26] Other Important Information - Total cash and cash equivalents at the end of Q2 were $714 million, with net cash of $147 million [22][24] - The company repurchased $23 million of common stock during the quarter [22][24] - Free cash flow grew 21% sequentially, indicating strong cash generation capabilities [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Sustainability of data center demand - Management believes data center revenues are sustainable into 2026 due to continued high investment from hyperscalers [36] Question: Content per server for AI data centers - AI data centers have significantly higher power consumption, leading to increased revenue potential, though not on a linear basis [42][45] Question: Changes in semiconductor growth projections - The semiconductor growth projection was adjusted to mid-single digits for 2025 due to tariff impacts and market conditions [49][51] Question: Impact of tariffs on gross margin - Tariff costs are expected to remain at current levels, with mitigation strategies in place to offset impacts [53][55] Question: Design wins in industrial and medical - Recent design wins are expected to contribute to revenue growth in the second half, alongside market recovery [71][72]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q1 2025 was $405 million, a 24% increase year over year but a 3% decrease sequentially [15][16] - Gross margin improved to 37.9%, up 280 basis points year over year, despite a slight decrease from the previous quarter [19][21] - Earnings per share for Q1 was $1.23, compared to $1.30 in the previous quarter and $0.58 a year ago [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Semiconductor revenue was $222 million, down 2% sequentially but up 23% year over year, driven by strong demand in AI-related leading-edge foundry logic and memory [17] - Data center computing revenue reached a record $96 million, up 9% sequentially and 30% year over year, with multiple new hyperscale programs ramping [17][9] - Industrial and medical revenue was $64 million, down 16% sequentially and 23% year over year, primarily due to ongoing channel inventory destocking [18] - Telecom and networking revenue declined 5% sequentially and 2% year over year to $22 million, in line with expectations [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The semiconductor market is expected to grow around 10% for the year, supported by the initial production ramp of new products [26] - The industrial and medical market is anticipated to recover in Q2, although the pace may be tempered by economic uncertainty and tariffs [26][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on delivering value through superior technology, in-house manufacturing, and best-in-class service, with significant investments in R&D and new product capabilities [3][14] - The closure of the last factory in China is expected to drive further gross margin improvement in the second half of the year [4][28] - The company aims to capture market share through new product introductions and strategic acquisitions, particularly in the fragmented industrial and medical market [14][48] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the revenue outlook for Q2, supported by solid customer demand in data center and semiconductor markets [4][25] - The company is relatively well-positioned to mitigate the impact of tariffs, with a favorable manufacturing footprint in lower tariff countries [5][24] - There is cautious optimism regarding the recovery in the industrial and medical market, with recent increases in distribution orders [10][56] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $22.7 million worth of common stock at an average price of $83.78 per share in April [16] - Capital expenditures for Q1 were $13.9 million, or 3.4% of revenue, with an increase in full-year CapEx guidance to 5% to 6% of revenue [22][27] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the underlying view for the semiconductor equipment market? - Management believes the market is expected to be flat, with a projected growth of 10% for the company, driven by strong demand in leading-edge processes and new product traction [31][32] Question: Are there any risks of delays in the rollout of new systems? - Management acknowledged potential delays but emphasized the urgency from customers to incorporate new solutions due to challenges with older technology [57] Question: What steps are being taken to improve the industrial and medical business? - Management highlighted the importance of acquisitions in a fragmented market and noted that the design win pipeline is at an all-time high, indicating potential for future growth [44][48] Question: What is the impact of tariffs on costs? - Management indicated that while there are some costs associated with tariffs, they are manageable within the current models and have been contemplated in the guidance [109] Question: How much of the decline in industrial and medical revenue was due to destocking? - Management reported a 14% decline in distributor inventories from Q4 to Q1, indicating that destocking has played a significant role in the revenue decline [111]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q1 2025 was $405 million, a 24% increase year over year but a 3% decrease sequentially [15][16] - Gross margin improved to 37.9%, up 280 basis points year over year, despite a slight decrease from the previous quarter [19][21] - Earnings per share for Q1 was $1.23, compared to $1.30 in the previous quarter and $0.58 a year ago [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Semiconductor revenue was $222 million, down 2% sequentially but up 23% year over year, driven by strong demand in AI-related leading-edge foundry logic and memory [17] - Data center computing revenue reached a record $96 million, up 9% sequentially and 30% year over year, with multiple new hyperscale programs ramping [17][9] - Industrial and medical revenue was $64 million, down 16% sequentially and 23% year over year, primarily due to ongoing inventory destocking [18][10] - Telecom and networking revenue declined 5% sequentially and 2% year over year to $22 million, in line with expectations [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The semiconductor market is expected to grow around 10% for the year, supported by new product ramps [26] - Data center computing is projected to continue strong growth, particularly driven by AI investments [25] - Industrial and medical markets are anticipated to recover in Q2, although the pace may be affected by economic uncertainty and tariffs [26][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on delivering value through superior technology, in-house manufacturing, and best-in-class service, with significant investments in R&D and new product capabilities [3][14] - The closure of the last factory in China is expected to enhance gross margins in the second half of the year [4][28] - The company aims to capture market share through new product introductions and strategic acquisitions, particularly in the fragmented industrial and medical markets [14][48] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the revenue outlook for Q2, supported by solid customer demand in data center and semiconductor markets [4][25] - Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, the company believes it is well-positioned to mitigate tariff impacts and maintain growth [5][28] - The management highlighted strong customer pull for next-generation products and a robust design win pipeline [7][11] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $22.7 million worth of common stock in April at an average price of $83.78 per share [16] - The company expects Q2 revenue to be approximately $420 million, with a gross margin around 38% [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the underlying view for the semiconductor equipment market? - Management believes the market is expected to be flat, with their growth projection of 10% indicating outperformance due to strong demand in leading-edge processes and new products [32][33] Question: Are there any risks of delays in the rollout of new systems? - Management acknowledged potential delays but emphasized the urgency from customers to incorporate new solutions due to challenges with older technology [57] Question: What steps are being taken to improve the industrial and medical business? - Management indicated that while the current state is challenging, they are optimistic about long-term growth due to a strong design win pipeline and potential acquisitions in the fragmented market [46][48] Question: How significant is the impact of tariffs on costs? - Management stated that while there are some costs associated with tariffs, they are manageable and have been factored into their guidance [109] Question: What is the outlook for gross margins moving into 2026? - Management expects continued improvement in gross margins driven by new product traction and operational efficiencies, with a goal to approach 40% by the end of the year [90][78]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, total revenue was $405 million, a 24% increase year over year but a 3% decrease sequentially [14][15] - Gross margin was 37.9%, slightly down 10 basis points from the previous quarter but up 280 basis points year over year [16] - Earnings per share were $1.23, compared to $1.30 in the previous quarter and $0.58 a year ago [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Semiconductor revenue was $222 million, down 2% sequentially but up 23% year over year, driven by strong demand in AI-related leading-edge foundry logic and memory [15][16] - Data center computing revenue reached a record $96 million, up 9% sequentially and 30% year over year, with multiple new hyperscale programs ramping [15][16] - Industrial and medical revenue was $64 million, down 16% sequentially and 23% year over year, primarily due to ongoing inventory destocking [15][16] - Telecom and networking revenue declined 5% sequentially and 2% year over year to $22 million, in line with expectations [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The semiconductor market is expected to grow around 10% for the year, supported by initial production ramps of new products [22][23] - Industrial and medical revenue is anticipated to recover in Q2, although the pace may be tempered by economic uncertainty and tariffs [23] - Data center revenue is expected to grow in Q2 and into the second half of the year, driven by high demand for AI data centers [7][22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on delivering value through superior technology, in-house manufacturing, and best-in-class service, with heavy investments in R&D and new product capabilities [2][11] - The closure of the last China factory is expected to drive further gross margin improvement in the second half of the year [3][25] - The company aims to maintain new product momentum and complete its factory consolidation plan while exploring inorganic growth opportunities [11][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the revenue outlook for Q2, supported by solid customer demand in data center and semiconductor markets [3][20] - Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, the company believes it is well-positioned to mitigate tariff impacts and maintain gross and operating margin targets [21][25] - The company anticipates continued strong demand for new products, particularly in data center and semiconductor sectors [11][20] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $22.7 million worth of common stock in April at an average price of $83.78 per share [14] - Inventory increased by $8 million, with inventory days rising from 126 to 132 [19] - The company expects Q2 gross margin to be around 38%, with operating expenses projected to increase to $99 million to $101 million [23][24] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the underlying view for the semiconductor equipment market? - Management believes the market is expected to be flat, with a projected growth of 10% for the company, driven by strong demand in leading-edge processes and new products [28][30] Question: Are there any risks of delays in the rollout of new systems? - Management indicated that while there are challenges, there is a high degree of urgency from customers to incorporate new solutions due to issues with older technology [54][56] Question: What steps are being taken to improve the industrial and medical business? - Management noted that the industrial medical segment has been challenging, but they are optimistic about long-term growth due to a strong design win pipeline and potential acquisitions [41][45] Question: How is the company positioned regarding tariffs? - Management stated that the company is relatively well-positioned to mitigate tariff impacts, with most products compliant with USMCA and a favorable manufacturing footprint [4][34] Question: What is the margin profile of the backlog? - Management indicated that while the backlog is not particularly meaningful, they expect higher margins from new products and improved product mix [70][71]