Semtech(SMTC) - 2026 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q2, the company reported record net sales of $257.6 million, up 20% year over year and marking the sixth consecutive quarter of growth [25][27] - Adjusted gross margin was 53.2%, down 30 basis points sequentially but up 280 basis points year over year [25][26] - Adjusted operating income was $48.6 million, resulting in an adjusted operating margin of 18.8%, up 460 basis points year over year [27] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased to $0.41, up from $0.11 a year ago [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Infrastructure net sales reached $73.4 million, up 1% sequentially and up 39% year over year, driven by record revenues in the data center business [9][10] - Data center net sales were $52.2 million, up 1% sequentially and up 92% year over year [10] - High-end consumer net sales were $41.2 million, up 16% sequentially and up 11% year over year [17] - Industrial net sales were $143 million, slightly up sequentially and up 14% year over year [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted strong demand in the data center market, with expectations for continued growth driven by increased CapEx spending from cloud service providers [41][42] - The industrial end market showed growth in applications including home security systems and smart appliances, with LoRa-enabled solutions net sales at $36.9 million, down 5% sequentially but up 29% year over year [19][20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on strengthening its balance sheet, having reduced debt significantly, resulting in an adjusted debt leverage ratio of 1.6, down from 8.8 a year ago [7][30] - The strategy includes rationalizing the portfolio and increasing investment in core assets such as data center, LoRa, and Persei, which have contributed to net sales momentum [7][9] - The company aims to transform into a higher growth and more profitable entity, with a focus on portfolio optimization and strategic investments in R&D [8][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism regarding the data center market, citing strong forecasts for 2026 and beyond, despite some caution in the Chinese market due to GPU availability [41][42] - The company anticipates continued strong demand for its fiber edge products and is preparing for significant volume ramps in 2026 [11][12] - Management highlighted the importance of low power and low latency solutions in meeting the increasing bandwidth requirements [12][16] Other Important Information - The company recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $41.9 million from its Connected Services business, reflecting a reassessment of this business's goodwill balance [28][29] - Operating cash flow for Q2 was $44.4 million, up 60% from the previous quarter and up from negative $5 million a year ago [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the outlook for LPO opportunities and timing? - Management indicated that LPO deployment is expected to start in Q4, with various customers at different stages of testing and qualification [36][38] Question: How is the general state of data center spending? - Management noted strong conviction among cloud service providers to increase CapEx spending for data center capacity and AI capabilities, with optimistic forecasts for 2026 [40][41] Question: What is the outlook for CopperEdge and broader adoption? - Management reported strong traction with over 20 customers engaged, with expectations for high volume ramps in Q4 or 2026 [46][48] Question: What is the expected performance of LoRa in the coming quarters? - Management expressed confidence in LoRa's demand, expecting quarterly revenue between $30 million to $40 million, driven by new product capabilities [56][58] Question: What are the expectations for the ACC revenue ramp? - Management clarified that the volume ramp for ACC is expected to start in Q4, with specific applications driving demand [94] Question: How does the company view the general business environment and bookings? - Management reported strong booking activities across various segments, indicating positive momentum for future quarters [101][102]