Semtech(SMTC) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q1, net sales reached a record $251.1 million, up 22% year over year and above the midpoint of the outlook [21] - Adjusted gross margin was 53.5%, up 30 basis points sequentially and up 370 basis points year over year [21] - Adjusted operating income was$ 47.6 million, resulting in an adjusted operating margin of 19%, up 680 basis points year over year [22] - Adjusted EBITDA was $55.4 million, up 68% year over year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 22.1%, up 600 basis points year over year [22] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share were$ 0.38, up from $0.06 a year ago [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Infrastructure net sales were$ 72.8 million, up 5% sequentially and up 30% year over year [8] - Data center net sales were a record $51.6 million, up 3% sequentially and up 143% year over year [8] - High-end consumer net sales were$ 35.4 million, flat sequentially and up 3% year over year [12] - Industrial net sales were $142.8 million, down 3% sequentially but up 24% year over year [16] - LoRa enabled solutions within the industrial market had net sales of$ 38.9 million, up 5% sequentially and up 81% year over year [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company expects short-term demand gaps in the CopperEdge segment but anticipates sustainable growth in the data center business due to capital expenditure growth by hyperscalers [9] - The IoT cellular portfolio is expected to benefit from growing 5G adoption rates, particularly in North America [18] - Connected services net sales remained stable, showcasing the deployment of AI tools for anomaly detection [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company focuses on portfolio optimization, strategic investment in R&D, and driving margin expansion [7] - Management emphasizes the importance of solidifying a winning culture, accelerating innovation, and leveraging technology leadership to enhance shareholder value [20] - The company is optimistic about the second half of the fiscal year, expecting growth driven by fiber edge products and incremental opportunities from LPO and CopperEdge [90][94] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges macroeconomic uncertainties that may impact the timing of portfolio optimization initiatives but remains committed to strategic priorities [68] - The company is confident in its ability to navigate through dynamic tariff policies and maintain stable product flow across the semiconductor supply chain [7] - Management expects net sales for Q2 to be around $256 million, reflecting a 19% year-over-year increase at the midpoint [25] Other Important Information - The company recorded a net debt decrease of$ 14.8 million to $396.2 million, with a focus on debt reduction [24] - The company successfully amended its revolving credit facility to increase total borrowing capacity by$ 117.5 million [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on the cellular module business - Management noted that the cellular module business experienced a seasonal decline but expects revenue to accelerate in future quarters due to competitive dynamics [32][34] Question: Update on AI connectivity and CopperEdge - Management highlighted strong engagement with over 20 customers for CopperEdge, with expectations for revenue ramp-up by Q4 [41][44] Question: Trends in the core data center business - Management expressed optimism for growth in the core data center business, driven by fiber edge products and expected incremental revenue from LPO [55] Question: LoRa market outlook - Management indicated that while LoRa sales may moderate slightly, the business remains strong with a projected quarterly run rate of $30 million to$ 35 million [60] Question: Expectations for seasonality in the second half - Management noted that seasonality is expected in the high-end consumer segment, while other markets may not show obvious seasonal trends [80] Question: Insights on surge switch product - Management explained that surge switch provides additional protection and is being designed into various applications, enhancing dollar content compared to typical protection products [97][100]