Core Viewpoint - Arm has established itself as a dominant player in the chip architecture market, transitioning from a focus on general computing solutions to developing infrastructure-specific technologies with its Neoverse product line, which caters to data centers, edge computing, and high-performance computing (HPC) [2][3][4]. Group 1: Arm's Market Position and Product Lines - Arm was founded in 1990 and began licensing its processor IP in 1993, later acquired by SoftBank for $32 billion in 2016, and went public again in 2023 while remaining under SoftBank's majority ownership [2]. - The Neoverse product line is categorized into three main series: the V series for high-performance general computing, the N series for server markets, and the E series for edge computing [3][4]. - The V2 series is utilized by major companies like AWS, Google, and Nvidia, while the N2 series is used in Microsoft's Cobalt chips, highlighting Arm's integration into significant cloud and AI workloads [4][8]. Group 2: Industry Trends and Challenges - The industry is shifting focus from traditional computing to encompass networking and storage, driven by the emergence of Data Processing Units (DPUs) and the need for more integrated solutions [5][10]. - Arm's approach to Neoverse has evolved to provide integrated subsystems that allow for rapid customization without significant investment, changing the game for data center optimization [7][12]. - The demand for performance is increasing, with a blurred line between power and performance in AI systems, necessitating a focus on optimizing infrastructure to meet these demands [10][11]. Group 3: Future Directions and Innovations - Arm aims to facilitate seamless workload migration across infrastructures, emphasizing the importance of efficiency and performance in a system-level world [13]. - The company is recognized for its partnerships with major hyperscale companies, which enhances its reputation and assures new clients of the longevity and reliability of its products [12]. - By 2025, a significant portion of infrastructure investments is expected to concentrate on a few technology providers, most of whom collaborate with Arm, indicating a trend towards customizable chips designed for specific workloads [11][12].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported total revenue of $1,050,000,000 for Q1, marking the highest revenue quarter and the second highest revenue quarter overall [6][12] - Royalty revenue reached $585,000,000, up 25% year on year, with strong momentum across all end markets [6][12] - Licensing revenue was $468,000,000, showing a slight decrease of 1% year on year, as expected [12][13] - Non-GAAP operating profit was $412,000,000, with non-GAAP EPS of $0.35, above the midpoint of guidance [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - ARM Neoverse data center chips saw a 40% year-on-year increase in enterprises running AI workloads, now exceeding 70,000 [6] - The compute subsystems (CSS) are driving double the royalty of RMV9, with three new CSS licenses signed this quarter [9][13] - The average contract value (ACV) increased by 28% year on year, significantly above previous expectations [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The smartphone segment grew faster than the overall market, although growth was slower than anticipated [12][28] - ARM's market share in AI workloads is expected to reach nearly 50% this year, up from approximately 18% last year [7][34] - ARM's China business accounted for 21% of revenue, showing growth from previous quarters [67] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on expanding into full end solutions and exploring opportunities in ASICs and chiplets [20][24] - Continued investment in R&D is prioritized to support customer needs and capitalize on AI demand [10][18] - The company aims to maintain its leadership in AI by leveraging its extensive developer ecosystem of over 22 million developers [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in healthy growth driven by visibility into customer design pipelines and rising demand for custom silicon [18][61] - The ongoing increase in CapEx from hyperscalers is viewed as a strong tailwind for ARM's royalty growth [61] - Management acknowledged potential indirect impacts from macroeconomic conditions but expects limited direct effects on royalty and licensing revenues [16] Other Important Information - The company is seeing significant adoption of its V9 architecture, with royalties stepping up from 18% to 25% [71] - The CSS platforms are expected to deliver the highest royalty rates seen to date, with new deals indicating strong future growth [13][51] Q&A Session Summary Question: ARM's strategy in ASICs and full end solutions - Management indicated that further integration is a direction of travel, with insights into chiplet development and the potential for full solutions [20][24] Question: Royalty growth expectations - Management noted that royalty growth was slightly below expectations due to slower growth in the smartphone sector, but overall forecasts remain stable [28][30] Question: Market share context for Neoverse chips - Management highlighted significant share gains in AI workloads, moving from sub-20% to nearly 50% market share [34] Question: FX impact on EPS - Management expects approximately $0.01 impact on EPS for the next three quarters, with a hedging strategy in place [40][41] Question: ACV drivers - The increase in ACV was driven by new CSS deals and expanded licensing with SoftBank, contributing to a 28% year-on-year growth [49] Question: ARM China business impact - Management stated that ARM's China business continues to grow consistently with the global market, unaffected by recent export controls [66][67] Question: Adoption of ARM V9 - Management confirmed that V9 adoption continues to grow, with royalty rates increasing faster than adoption rates [71] Question: CSS applications in automotive - Management indicated that CSS is well-suited for automotive applications, particularly in ADAS, with strong customer interest [78]

Core Viewpoint - Arm Holdings experienced a significant stock price decline of 44% since reaching a high on January 22, 2025, despite delivering stronger-than-expected results, primarily due to high valuation and economic uncertainties [1][2]. Company Overview - Arm does not manufacture semiconductor chips but develops technology and maintains intellectual property (IP) that is licensed to various companies for chip design and manufacturing [3]. - Major customers include Apple, Qualcomm, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Samsung, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, with Arm holding over 99% market share in mobile application processors [4]. Market Position and Growth Potential - Arm aims to capture a 50% share of the data center CPU market in 2025, a significant increase from 15% in 2024, driven by adoption from major tech companies [5]. - The lower power consumption of Arm's designs has attracted chipmakers like Nvidia and Amazon, who are utilizing Arm's architecture for their custom AI processors [6]. Strategic Initiatives - Arm is involved in the Stargate Project, which anticipates $500 billion investment in AI infrastructure over the next four years, potentially boosting its cloud revenue [8]. - The cloud CPU market was valued at $21 billion at the end of fiscal 2024, with expectations for growth in the current fiscal year [9]. Financial Performance and Valuation - Analysts expect Arm's earnings growth to accelerate following a 26% increase in fiscal 2025, with a significant jump in data center CPU revenue anticipated due to increased licensing deals [9]. - The stock's pullback has made it relatively cheaper, trading at 132 times trailing earnings, down from 205 times at the end of 2024, with a forward earnings multiple of 50 [10]. - The median price target for Arm stock is $177.50, suggesting potential gains of 77% over the next 12 months [11].