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Back From Bankruptcy, Is the New Wolfspeed a Buy?
Yahoo Financeยท 2025-10-06 11:00
Emergence from Bankruptcy - Wolfspeed has emerged from a prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy, successfully reducing its debt by approximately 70% and its annual cash-interest expense by around 60% [3][4]. Manufacturing Challenges - The company faced significant debt issues while expanding its manufacturing capabilities, particularly with the John Palmour Materials facility in North Carolina and the Mohawk Valley semiconductor fabrication plant in New York [4]. - Wolfspeed's strategy to become vertically integrated to control its supply chain was poorly executed, leading to negative gross margins and a staggering negative free cash flow of $2 billion for the fiscal year ending in June [5][6]. Future Prospects - With reduced debt, Wolfspeed must now focus on improving the efficiency and yield of its manufacturing facilities, particularly in the complex area of silicon carbide wafer production [6][7]. - The company is transitioning to larger 200mm silicon carbide wafers, which could lower unit costs if yield issues can be resolved, although initial defect rates are expected to be higher [7]. Stock Performance - Following its emergence from bankruptcy, Wolfspeed's shares experienced a significant increase, although long-term shareholders faced substantial losses [2][8].