Financial Data and Key Metrics - Group revenues for Q2 2024 amounted to €3.632 billion, in line with expectations, with a segment result of €700 million, yielding a segment result margin of 19.5% [49] - Adjusted gross margin declined to 41.1% in Q2 2024 from 44.9% in the previous quarter, reflecting lower revenues, pricing adjustments, and reduced government funding receipts [72] - Free cash flow from continuing operations showed a small positive amount of €82 million, compared to a negative €1.6 billion in the previous quarter, which included acquisition costs and bonus payouts [40] - Inventory days outstanding (DIO) decreased from 185 days to 178 days in Q2 2024, with expectations of further reductions by the end of the fiscal year [40] - The company expects annual idle costs to exceed €800 million, up from the previously assumed €700 million, with 60% of these costs expected in the second half of the fiscal year [57] Business Line Data and Key Metrics - Automotive division revenues in Q2 2024 were €2.078 billion, stable compared to the previous quarter, with a segment result margin of 24.6%, down from 27.1% in Q1 2024 [17] - Power and Sensor Systems (PSS) segment revenues declined by 7% sequentially to €730 million, with a segment result margin of 9%, down from 12.9% in the previous quarter [69] - Green Industrial Power (GIP) segment revenues decreased by 4% to €469 million, with a segment result margin of 19%, down from 26.7% in the previous quarter [136] - Connected Secure Systems (CSS) segment revenues increased slightly to €371 million, with a segment result margin of 11.3% [53] Market Data and Key Metrics - The company expects global car production to remain stable at around 90 million units in 2024, with slower EV adoption in Western markets but continued growth in China, where NEV sales penetration reached 39% in March 2024 [50] - The photovoltaic market is expected to grow by 24% in 2024, with annual installations reaching 500 gigawatts, while wind power installations are expected to grow by 18% to over 100 gigawatts [51] - The AI server market is a significant growth opportunity, with the company expecting mid-double-digit growth rates, driven by the transition to vertical backside-mounted power supply, which could increase the bill of material by a factor of three to five [47] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - The company is focusing on structural growth opportunities in electromobility, ADAS, renewable energy, AI data centers, and IoT, supported by its Step Up program aimed at enhancing competitiveness and profitability [16][59] - Infineon is well-positioned in the AI server market, with design wins from three major AI processor companies and hyperscale data center players, leveraging its expertise in digital power control, silicon carbide, and gallium nitride technologies [47][61] - The company is adjusting its silicon carbide revenue growth expectations to 20% for FY 2024, down from previous estimates, due to cautious demand in industrial and automotive markets [38] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The company acknowledges a challenging macroeconomic and geopolitical environment, with a cyclical correction affecting automotive and industrial applications, while consumer-related segments are bottoming out [56] - Management expects a gradual recovery in the second half of 2024, with green shoots appearing in areas like AI servers and smartphones, but visibility into the timing and magnitude of the rebound remains limited [56] - The company has de-risked its guidance for FY 2024, lowering revenue expectations to €15.1 billion, reflecting weaker dynamics in automotive, industrial markets, and tempered recovery in consumer computing and communications [106] Other Important Information - The company launched the Xiaomi SU7 family, providing CoolSiC modules and over 60 components, including MCUs, marking a significant design win in the automotive sector [31] - Infineon is progressing with its silicon carbide capacity ramp-up at its Kulim site, with plans to transition to 200 mm wafers, positioning the company for mid- and long-term growth [38] - The Step Up program is expected to deliver high-triple-digit million euro annual impacts on segment results, with benefits starting to materialize in FY 2025 and full effects visible by the first half of FY 2027 [59] Summary of Q&A Session Question: Confidence in the last guidance cut for the year [5] - Management confirmed that the latest guidance cut is expected to be the last for FY 2024 [5] Question: Inventory levels and shipping to end demand [6] - Inventory levels vary by market, with excess inventory in photovoltaic and classical automotive, while microcontroller shipments for automotive are aligned with end demand [6] Question: Order trajectory and FY 2025 outlook [8] - The company has seen sideways movement in orders and does not provide specific guidance for FY 2025, but expects an industry upswing following the current downturn [114] Question: Step Up program and its impact [9] - The Step Up program aims for high-triple-digit million euro annual impacts, with benefits starting in FY 2025 and full effects by FY 2027 [9] Question: Strategic inventories and idle costs [10] - Strategic inventories are primarily for manufacturing footprint optimization and geopolitical risk mitigation, with idle costs expected to peak in Q3 2024 [11][63] Question: MCU business and AI server design wins [12] - The MCU business grew over 60% last year, with potential for cost reduction through Chinese manufacturing, while AI server design wins are based on advanced silicon MOSFETs [12][20] Question: Silicon carbide market position [19] - The company is confident in its silicon carbide market position, with strong customer interest and plans to ramp up capacity at its Kulim site [38] Question: AI server market and vertical power delivery [26] - Infineon has a strong position in vertical power delivery for AI servers, with design wins from major hyperscalers and AI processor makers [26][61] Question: Automotive market dynamics and MCU sustainability [62] - The company expects low-to-mid single-digit growth in automotive for FY 2024, driven by MCU strength and growth in China, with MCU market share gains seen as sustainable [62][90] Question: Silicon carbide growth and capacity adjustments [83] - Silicon carbide growth expectations have been adjusted to 20% for FY 2024, with reductions more pronounced in the industrial sector, and capacity adjustments are being made to align with demand [110] Question: Green shoots and inventory restocking [118] - The company has seen green shoots in smartphone and AI server demand, with rush orders increasing, but inventory restocking behavior between OEMs and Tier 1s remains unclear [118] Question: Competitors in vertical power delivery [116] - Infineon sees no direct competitors in vertical power delivery for high-power GPU usage in the cloud, given its unique capabilities in wide bandgap materials, digital power control, and module technology [120]
Infineon(IFNNY) - 2024 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript