X-FAB Silicon Foundries SE (XFABF) Q3 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Market ...

• Revenue: $206.4 million, down 12% year-on-year, up 1% quarter-on-quarter.

• Gross Margin: Increased by 14% quarter-on-quarter.

• EBITDA: $50.3 million with a margin of 24.4%.

• Cash and Cash Equivalents: Approximately $316 million at the end of the third quarter.

• Automotive Business Growth: 8% year-on-year, with China automotive business up 55% year-on-year and 38% quarter-on-quarter.

• Industrial and Medical Business: Decreased 41% and 29% respectively year-on-year.

• Consumer Communication and Computer Business: Grew 13% compared to the previous quarter.

• Silicon Carbide Sales: Decreased 60% year-on-year.

• Capital Expenditure: EUR 150 million in the first quarter, with a full-year projection of EUR 550 million.

• Fourth Quarter Revenue Guidance: Expected to be in the range of $195 to $205 million.

• Full Year Revenue Guidance: Adjusted to $822 to $832 million.

• Full Year EBITDA Margin Guidance: Adjusted to 23.4% to 24%.

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with XFABF.

Release Date: October 24, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

• X-FAB Silicon Foundries SE (XFABF) recorded a 4% year-on-year increase in bookings with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.05, indicating a healthy demand pipeline.

• The company's automotive business in China showed significant growth, with a 55% year-on-year and 38% quarter-on-quarter increase.

• The consumer communication and computer business grew by 13% compared to the previous quarter, with a strong book-to-bill ratio above two.

• X-FAB Silicon Foundries SE (XFABF) successfully increased its quarter-on-quarter gross margin by 14% and EBITDA by 5%, despite only a 1% increase in revenue.

• The company is making progress with its capacity expansion programs, particularly in its 180 nanometer and 110 nanometer technologies, preparing for future demand.

• Revenues for the third quarter were down 12% year-on-year, reflecting challenges in the market.

• The industrial and medical business segments saw significant declines of 41% and 29% respectively, due to market uncertainties and de-stocking activities.

• Silicon carbide sales continued to decline, with a 60% year-on-year decrease, and visibility in this market remains low.

• An operational incident in the Malaysian factory caused a three-day production slowdown, shifting revenue from the fourth quarter into the first quarter of 2025.

• The overall silicon carbide revenue target for 2026 is no longer achievable due to lower installed capacity and changes in customer consignment strategies.