Cohu Inc

NASDAQ:COHU

Earnings Call Analysis

Cohu Delivers Strong Q4, Plans for 2024 Recovery

Cohu achieved Q4 results that matched or exceeded expectations, with non-GAAP gross margin at 48.5% and EPS of $0.23, contributing to a record non-GAAP gross margin of ~48% for 2023. Full year non-GAAP EPS was $1.62, upheld by a resilient recurring revenue of $310 million with a 3-year CAGR of 5%. Test cell utilization dipped to 71% in Q4, but Cohu’s technologies, like the DI-Core thermal subsystems and Diamondx mix signal tester, are well-aligned with industry trends towards edge AI applications. The company forecasts a semiconductor recovery in H2 2024. Cohu repaid $29.3 million of Term Loan B, maintaining a strong balance sheet for strategic investments. For Q1 2024, revenue is guided at ~$107 million with 45% gross margin, reflecting sustained market softness.

Fiscal 2023: A Record Year Amidst Upcoming Challenges

Cohu, a provider of test and inspection equipment for the semiconductor industry, has delivered a year of record-setting financial performance. The year 2023 concluded with a notable full-year gross margin of approximately 48% and an adjusted EBITDA margin around 18% of revenue, aligning with or surpassing previous guidance. In particular, the fourth quarter gross margin was strong at 48.5%, about 250 basis points higher than expected, while non-GAAP earnings per share stood at $0.23. The company's resilience comes through its diversified product offerings and its expanding recurring business, which has grown at a compound rate of 5% over the last three years.

Strategic Acquisitions and Facility Expansions Fueling Growth

As part of its quest for sustained profitability across varying industry cycles, Cohu pursued strategic growth initiatives, including the acquisition of Equipped Test Engineering (EQT). Cohu envisions this move to augment its range of test interface products and boost its recurring revenue streams. In a similar vein, the company has recently ramped up its manufacturing capabilities by moving contactor production to a new, spacious facility in the Philippines, poised to cater to Q1 deliveries.

Innovation Leading the Way in a Soft Market

Cohu has continued to innovate despite facing softer demand for test and inspection systems, particularly from industrial semiconductor device customers and Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDMs). The introduction of a new solution under the Di-Core analytics platform exemplifies Cohu’s commitment to growth through innovation, addressing the high demand for AI inspection capabilities.

Financial Fortitude Amidst Decreased Demand

In light of the recent decline in test cell utilization to 71%, which signifies a dip in demand, Cohu reported robust profitability with Q4 revenue of $137.2 million, and full-year revenue reaching $636.3 million. Notably, the company attained strong profitability with non-GAAP operating income at 12.2% of revenue for Q4 and a full-year adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.9%. The continued delivery of resilient and profitable recurring revenue, forming 49% of the total yearly revenue, underlines the company’s financial strength amid market fluctuations.

Cash Flow and Investments: Strategic Outlook

Cohu's cash and investment position saw a decrease by $52 million in Q4, primarily due to the cash outlay of $43 million for the EQT acquisition, as the company tactically invests in expanding its product and service scope.

Guidance and Outlook for Q1 of 2023 Amidst Industry Cycles

Looking ahead to Q1 of 2023, Cohu has set guidance for revenue to fall within the range of $107 million, plus or minus $6 million, reflecting ongoing end market weakness and stagnant test cell utilization. Yet, a relatively optimistic gross margin forecast of approximately 45% is expected, thanks to the cushion provided by differentiated products and a stable, high-margin recurring business. Even as operating expenses are predicted to swell slightly due to payroll tax resets, the company is taking measures to streamline costs without compromising new product development. Q1 is also anticipated to bring an adjusted EBITDA of roughly 2%.

Earnings Call Transcript 2023-Q4

[Operator]

[Audio Gap]

available via the same page after the call concludes. Now to the safe harbor. During today's call, we will make forward-looking statements reflecting management's current expectations concerning Cohu's future business. These statements are based on current information that we have assessed, but which, by its nature, is subject to rapid and even abrupt changes. We encourage you to review the forward-looking statements section of the slide presentation and the earnings release as well as Cohu's filings with the SEC, including the most recently filed Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.

Our comments speak only as of today, February 15, 2024, and Cohu assumes no obligation to update these statements for developments occurring after this call. Finally, during this call, we will discuss certain non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to our earnings release and slide presentation for reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures.

Now I'd like to turn the call over to Luis Muller, Cohu's President and CEO. Luis?

[Luis Müller, executive]

Hi, and good afternoon. Fourth quarter results were in line or better than guidance with non-GAAP gross margin of 48.5% and EPS of $0.23. The fiscal 2023 non-GAAP gross margin set a new Cohu record at approximately 48% and adjusted EBITDA was approximately 18% of revenue. .

Despite softening market conditions, Cohu was able to deliver strong profitability and full year non-GAAP EPS of $1.62 per share. On October 2, we announced the acquisition of Equipped test engineering, which we refer to as EQT with the goal to expand our test interface products and recurring revenue that continues to deliver resilient profitability through industry cycles. Late last quarter, we completed construction and transferred all contactor manufacturing to a new 92,000 square foot facility in the Philippines. We held an opening event with customers on January 17 and the facility is already ramping manufacturing of test contactors to make Q1 deliveries.

The goal is to improve efficiency and quality, lower cost and lead time of interface products, positioning the company to quickly respond to demand and to capitalize on the next wave of growth. A significant aspect of our strategy continues to be to expand Cohu's recurring business, which delivered revenue of $310 million over the last 12 months with a 3-year compound growth rate of 5%. Part of this is growing our software revenue. And at the end of last year, we introduced a new solution under Cohu's Di-Core analytics platform, our AI inspection software. We are pleased to receive initial orders from 2 customers for this new AI vision capability that delivers higher first pass inspection yield.

However, estimated test cell utilization dropped another 2 points to 71% at the end of fourth quarter. The sequential decline was entirely with IDM customers, while low Sats utilization held flat quarter-over-quarter. Similar to recent announcements from our automotive and industrial semiconductor device customers, Cohu is experiencing softer demand for test and inspection systems in these markets. Utilization across other market segments also remained low at the end of Q4, with computing at 68%, consumer at 69% and mobile at 76%.

We know well the semiconductor cycles and the important sustained focus on new product development and customer qualifications between up cycles to position the company for the recovery in ramp. We recently introduced MicroSense, which is a new MEMS tester for high signal to noise ratio microphones, in other words, precision microphones. And we received initial orders from a major U.S. manufacturer for lab and production test starting in the second half of this year. Our Diamondx tester inhalers, we're also qualified for several new customers in China, supporting local automotive and display driver IC manufacturing. We're also pursuing stronger strategic alignment with computing customers. particularly hyperscalers expanding data center infrastructure.

Our proprietary thermal technology is key to testing future large data center processors, also ADAS and other intelligent devices as AI migrate to the edge applications. There is a clear trend to higher power dissipation during test which lends itself well to Cohu's DI-Core thermal subsystems. Similarly, our Diamondx is a cost-effective personal mixed signal tester that is being considered by several customers for the intelligent edge. Diamondx is an excellent solution for microcontrollers and digital devices at the edge node, offering low to mid-range digital device SaaS capabilities are a very affordable cost. As AI grows in mobile devices, so will RF with the continuation of 5G deployment. We're very excited about the proliferation of new AI-capable products like next-generation smartphones or goggles and other types of devices. These are an excellent fit for [indiscernible] Diamondx and for customers pursuing a broad portfolio of devices for edge applications.

Although near-term demand is likely to remain subdued, our major customers have been forecasting a semiconductor recovery for the second half of 2024. With lead times now back to normal, Cohu is well positioned to quickly respond to customers' needs as test cell utilization improves through the second half of this year and into 2025. We'll continue executing our strategy to grow recurring business, broaden the use of Diamondx into automotive and industrial and data center customers and to our inspection and metrology portfolio, and increased subscriptions to our emerging software business.

We're pretty excited about what lays ahead with market forecasts indicating secular growth in semiconductors for automotive, industrial and mobile applications. and the new opportunities being created for AI at the edge node.

Let me now turn it over to Jeff to provide further details on fourth quarter results. and first quarter 4 guidance. Jeff?

[Jeffrey Jones, executive]

Thanks, Luis. Before I walk through the Q4 results and Q1 guidance, please note that my comments that follow, I'll refer to non-GAAP figures. Information about the non-GAAP financial measures, including the GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliations and other disclosures are included in the accompanying earnings release and investor presentation, which are located on the Investor page of our website. Now turning to the Q4 financial results. Cohu delivered strong profitability on revenue of $137.2 million, which is above the midpoint of our guidance. Full year 2023 revenue was $636.3 million. Recurring revenue, which is largely consumable-driven and more stable than Systems revenue represented 54% total revenue in Q4 and 49% of full year 2023 revenue. During the fourth quarter, 1 customer in the automotive market accounted for more than 10% of sales. And for full year 2023, One customer in the automotive market accounted for more than 10% of sales. Q4 gross margin was strong at 48.5%, about 250 basis points higher than guidance driven by lower-than-forecasted manufacturing costs and Cohu's resilient recurring business and differentiated products.

Full year 2023 gross margin was 47.9% which is 70 basis points higher year-over-year and sets a new annual record for Cohu. Operating expenses for Q4 were in line with guidance at $50 million. Fourth quarter non-GAAP operating income was 12.2% of revenue, and adjusted EBITDA was 13%. Full year operating income was 16.2% and adjusted EBITDA for 2023 was 17.9%. FX loss in Q4 was $2.9 million, driven mainly by the U.S. dollar weakening against the euro and Swiss franc and a onetime currency exposure that will not repeat in future quarters.

The non-GAAP effective tax rate for Q4 was approximately 30% and and higher than guidance due to discrete tax items and true-ups flowing through the Q4 tax provision. The non-GAAP effective tax rate for the full year 2023 was approximately 26%. Non-GAAP EPS for the fourth quarter was $0.23 and full year 2023 EPS was $1.62. In summary, Q4 and full year 2023 gross margin and adjusted EBITDA were strong, exceeding the midterm financial targets at this level of revenue. Moving to the balance sheet. Cash and investments decreased by $52 million during Q4 to $336 million because we used cash of approximately $43 million to acquire EQT and approximately $13 million to repurchase 390,000 shares of Cohu common stock.

Debt repayment in the fourth quarter totaled $1 million and we ended Q4 with net cash of $6.17 per share. CapEx in Q4 was $3.9 million with approximately $2 million related to construction of the new Philippines facility to support long-term growth prospects in our interface business. Total CapEx for 2023, including the new building was approximately $16 million.

Overall, Cohu continues to maintain a strong balance sheet to support debt reduction, the share repurchase program and investment opportunities like EQT to expand our served markets and technology portfolio in line with our growth strategy. Last week, we repaid the Term Loan B outstanding balance of $29.3 million. The Term Loan B was scheduled to mature in October of 2025 and and the accelerated payment will increase net interest income by approximately $200,000 per quarter at current interest rates.

Now moving to our Q1 outlook. We're guiding Q1 revenue to be in the range of $107 million, plus or minus $6 million, reflecting continued weakness across end markets and low test cell utilization at customers' production facilities. Q1 gross margin is forecasted to be approximately 45% better than the financial target model at this level of revenue, due in part to Cohu's differentiated products and our stable, high-margin recurring business which adds resilience to profitability and provides consistent cash flow through the industry cycles. Operating expenses for Q1 are projected to increase $1 million quarter-over-quarter to approximately $51 million due to the annual reset of payroll taxes and other labor benefits, we continue to exercise tight control over operating expenses and in light of subdued customer demand for the first half of 2024. We've taken action to reduce operating expenses without sacrificing critical new product investments while navigating through the trough of this cycle. As a result, we're modeling operating expenses to average approximately $48.5 million per quarter in Q2 through Q4. We're projecting Q1 interest expense to be approximately $700,000 and offset by interest income of approximately $2 million at current interest rates. We expect Q1 adjusted EBITDA to be approximately 2%. The Q1 and full year 2024 forecasted non-GAAP tax rate is approximately 23%. The diluted share count for Q1 is expected to be approximately 47.9 million shares.

And that concludes our prepared remarks. And now we'll open the call to questions.

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from the line of Craig Ellis with B. Riley Securities.

[Unknown Analyst]

This is Ethan Lydall calling in for Craig Ellis. Start, I was wondering, as you look into the back half of the year, what gives and takes are you seeing? It sounds like equipment spend may be back half weighted? And also, how do you see the relative performance between systems recurring?

[Luis Müller, executive]

Ethan, this is Luis. At this point, we're relying on the information we're getting from our customers that are generally expecting a recovery towards the back half of the year. And this is predominantly automotive and industrial customers recovery. If you look at the mobile market, we've seen largely a correction already on the inventories in the mobile space, particularly in the Android and have seen some start of order pattern already again into the mobile device market.

So you put the 2 things together and the expectation here is, again, a recovery pattern in the second half of the year. I don't know, Jeff, if you can add some of the distribution revenue.

[Jeffrey Jones, executive]

Yes. So based on that trajectory, systems revenue would come in somewhere around probably 45% with recurring revenue being 5%, somewhere in that ratio.

[Unknown Analyst]

That's helpful. And then we seem to be seeing some green shoots in the Android ecosystem, as mentioned. Can you speak to any read-throughs there for utilization or demand for mobile?

[Luis Müller, executive]

Utilization level in mobile is I think in a second. I think it's about 76% across the collection of mobile customers. So that's not only Android, but all of them. .

[Operator]

And our next question comes from the line of Brian Chin with Stifel.

[Brian Chin, analyst]

Maybe first question, have you kind of monitor against sort of your customer indications in the back half of the year for some recovery, particular utilization threshold that you'll be monitoring in terms of improvement and a crossover point to maybe solidify that view that the pickup will occur towards second half?

[Luis Müller, executive]

Yes. If that was a question there, Brian. Yes, we will be monitoring utilization across. I think as I commented here, utilization is down a couple of points to 71% at the end of Q4. It was actually pretty stable at that 71% throughout Q4. So we had 3 months in the fourth quarter quite honestly, January, which I can speak to here on the call was also 71%. So we've got 4 quarters -- 4 months in a row now at 71%. We got to monitor that utilization increase. It is pockets of strength and pockets of weakness in it. I mentioned mobile a second ago at about 76%. Consumer is at 69%, computing at 68% and .

[Audio Gap]

Auto industrial despite coming down 2 points quarter-over-quarter [ ended ] Q4 at 81%.

[Audio Gap]

[Operator]

And I'm showing no further questions at this time. So with that, I'll hand the call back over to Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Jones for any closing remarks.

[Jeffrey Jones, executive]

Yes. I just want to say thank you to everybody for joining today's call, and we look forward to speaking with you soon. Take care. .

[Operator]

Thank you. and thank you all for participating. This concludes today's program. You may now disconnect.