Rambus(RMBS) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
RambusRambus(US:RMBS)2026-02-02 23:02

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Rambus achieved record revenue and earnings for fiscal year 2025, with product revenue reaching $348 million, a 41% increase year-over-year [12][8] - Cash from operations for 2025 was $360 million, up 56% from 2024, indicating strong financial health [12][5] - Fourth quarter revenue was $190.2 million, exceeding expectations, with product revenue of $96.8 million, reflecting 32% year-over-year growth [13][12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Product revenue for the full year was $348 million, driven by gains in DDR5 market share and new product contributions [12][8] - Silicon IP is focused on delivering solutions for AI hardware, with increasing design wins for high-speed memory and interconnect technologies [9][10] - The company reported strong traction in new products, with expectations for double-digit contributions to total product revenue in 2026 [40][41] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The AI and traditional server markets remained strong, driving demand for higher compute and memory performance [6][10] - Rambus increased its market share in DDR5 RCDs to the mid-40% range, reflecting growth in the DDR5 segment [30][66] - The company anticipates that the ongoing expansion of AI will reshape memory and interconnect requirements, positioning Rambus to grow faster than the market in 2026 [10][11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Rambus aims to capitalize on trends in AI and memory technology, focusing on high-performance memory and interconnect solutions [6][10] - The company is committed to investing in its product roadmap and expanding market opportunities to drive long-term growth [5][12] - Rambus plans to maintain a diversified portfolio, with a focus on patent licensing and Silicon IP to address the accelerating demand for AI solutions [18][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in returning to strong growth in Q2 after resolving a supply chain issue that impacted Q1 revenue [11][24] - The company expects to grow faster than the market in 2026, despite challenges in the supply chain [11][30] - Management highlighted the importance of quality management and collaboration with suppliers and customers in addressing operational challenges [57][58] Other Important Information - The company experienced a one-time supply chain issue affecting product revenue for Q1, but corrective actions have been implemented [11][22] - Rambus anticipates Q1 revenue between $172 million and $178 million, with expectations for recovery in subsequent quarters [15][16] - The company maintains a gross margin target of 60%-65%, with expectations to remain in the low 60% range moving forward [95][96] Q&A Session Summary Question: Will there be catch-up in Q2 for the revenue loss in Q1 due to the supply chain issue? - Management confirmed that the supply chain issue has been resolved and expects strong growth in Q2, with the lower Q1 revenue not changing the business trajectory [21][24] Question: What was the estimated revenue impact from the supply chain issue? - The estimated impact was around low double-digit million dollars, with expectations to recover inventory by the end of Q1 [25][59] Question: How did the RCD market share finish for 2025? - Management indicated that the company ended the year with a mid-40% share in DDR5 RCDs, with expectations to continue growing faster than the market in 2026 [30][66] Question: What is the expected contribution of PMIC to total product revenue? - PMIC is expected to grow from upper single digits in Q4 to about double-digit contributions in 2026, driven by strong customer demand [40][41] Question: How is the company positioned in the client market? - The client market contribution remains minimal, with a long-term goal of achieving 20% share, but the focus remains on the data center space [75][76] Question: Are there signs of a slowdown in new chip design starts impacting the IP business? - Management expressed optimism about the IP business, expecting continued growth in line with demand for AI solutions [81][82]