CEVA(US:CEVA)2025-08-11 13:30Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q2 2025 was $25.7 million, down 10% from $28.4 million in Q2 2024 [15] - Licensing and related revenue totaled $15 million, representing 59% of total revenue, reflecting a 13% year-over-year decline [15][16] - Royalty revenue for the quarter was $10.7 million, accounting for 41% of total revenues, with a 16% sequential increase but a 5% year-over-year decrease [17][18] - GAAP net loss for Q2 was $3.7 million, with a diluted loss per share of $0.15, compared to a net loss of $0.3 million and diluted loss per share of $0.01 in the same period last year [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company secured 13 license agreements, including five first-time customers and four OEM customers, indicating strong licensing execution [4] - Royalty revenue saw a sequential growth of 16%, driven by increased shipments from consumer and smartphone customers [11] - Consumer IoT shipments were up 21% sequentially and 60% year-over-year, reflecting strong demand [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Shipments by CEVA's licensees during Q2 2025 were 488 million units, up 16% sequentially and 6% year-over-year [20] - Cellular IoT shipments reached an all-time record high at 66 million units, up 66% year-over-year [21] - WiFi shipments were 62 million units, up 80% from 35 million units a year ago, with WiFi 6 shipments up 113% year-over-year [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to expand its NPU business into infrastructure and data center markets, indicating a strategic shift towards AI integration [9][13] - CEVA is focused on deepening relationships through multiple IP agreements, enhancing product capabilities and increasing royalty per device [6][10] - The company views the milestone of over 20 billion devices shipped as a launchpad for future growth in the Smart Edge Era [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the licensing pipeline and potential deal flow, particularly around Edge AI prospects [23] - The company anticipates stronger royalty revenue in the second half of the year due to seasonality and new product deployments [23][24] - Management reiterated confidence in achieving a double-digit percentage increase in non-GAAP net income and fully diluted non-GAAP EPS relative to 2024 [25] Other Important Information - Total GAAP operating expenses for Q2 were $26.6 million, above guidance due to higher employee-related benefits [18] - The company repurchased 300,000 shares for approximately $6.2 million during the quarter [22] - CEVA's cash and cash equivalents were approximately $157 million as of June [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Will increased licensing in NPUs lead to higher royalty revenues? - Management confirmed that higher complexity in technology will lead to better economics and a meaningful increase in royalty per unit as these devices are deployed [28][29] Question: What is the expected timing for royalties from more complex designs? - Management indicated that the time from licensing to royalty reporting is typically 18 to 24 months, but may be shorter for consumer devices due to rapid market needs [30][31] Question: What is the outlook for flagship smartphone customers in 2026? - Management did not provide specific guidance for 2026 but expressed confidence in technology penetration and expected strong performance in the second half of the year [39][40] Question: What is the scalability of CEVA's AI offerings? - Management highlighted the scalability of their NPU solutions and the comprehensive software stack provided to customers, which supports various applications including edge and cloud inference [42][44] Question: What contributed to the decline in Bluetooth shipments this quarter? - Management noted that the decline was not due to specific issues but expected good sequential growth in the second half of the year as new Bluetooth technologies are adopted [57][58]