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Cree (CREE) Q4 Loss Narrower Than Estimated, Revenues Beat
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Cree Inc. reported non-GAAP loss of 18 cents per share for fourth-quarter fiscal 2020, which was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 20 cents. Notably, the company had reported earnings of 11 cents per share in the year-ago quarter.
Revenues were $205.7 million, which surpassed the consensus mark by 3.5%. However, the top line fell 18% year over year on declining Wolfspeed and LED Products revenues.
Quarter Details
Wolfspeed revenues declined 19% year over year to $108.4 million, accounting for 53% of total revenues. The downside was due to supply constraints. The company's Wolfspeed segment's products comprises power devices and RF devices, and silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) materials. In materials domain, deferred shipments and weaker demand impacted revenues in the fiscal fourth quarter. Strength in the power and automotive business, and improved sales of RF devices failed to offset the decline in revenues.
Management is banking on synergies from partnership with Arrow Electronics (ARW - Free Report) , and incremental adoption of SiC products in new applications.
The company’s expertise in SiC technology and expanding clientele despite coronavirus-induced business headwinds is instilling confidence in the stock. Shares of Cree have returned 48.3% year to date, compared with the industry’s growth of 21.1%.
LED Products revenues were $97.3 million, down 17% on a year-over-year basis. Notably, it accounted for 47% of total revenues. The company's LED Products segment's products consist of LED chips and LED components. Supply disruption associated with manufacturing facilities affected LED revenues.
Non-GAAP gross margin contracted to 26% from 37% reported in the year-ago quarter. Segment wise, LED Products gross margin contracted to 35% from 50% reported in the year-ago quarter, owing to lower revenue base.
Wolfspeed gross margin contracted 100 basis points (bps) to 23%. Wolfspeed gross margin was impacted by reduction in factory efficiency on account of the pandemic induced safety measures. Management noted that decrease in yields and factory transitions are headwinds to gross margin performance until production shifts to new Mohawk Valley Fab.
Non-GAAP operating loss during the quarter was $28.3 million against operating income of $9.9 million in the year-ago quarter.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
Cree had cash, cash equivalents & short-term investments of $1.252 billion as of Jun 28, 2020 compared with $852.9 million as of Mar 29, 2020.
During the fiscal fourth quarter, cash provided by operating activities was $10.5 million compared with $27.7 million cash utilized in the prior quarter.
Free cash outflow was $59.7 million, compared with free cash outflow of $97.5 million in the prior quarter. Capital expenditure amounted to $70 million in the fiscal fourth quarter.
Fiscal 2020 at a Glance
The company generated revenues of $903.9 million in fiscal 2020, down 16% from fiscal 2019. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was pegged at $897 million.
Wolfspeed revenues (52% of fiscal 2020) of $470.7 million declined 13% year over year. LED Products revenues (48%) of $433.2 million declined 20% year over year.
The company reported loss per share of 45 cents in fiscal 2020, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of loss of 48 cents.
Guidance
For first-quarter fiscal 2021, Cree expects revenues in the range of $203 million to $217 million. The mid-point of the guided range of $210 million is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The figure is currently pegged at $205.6 million.
LED Products revenues are projected in the range of $96-$100 million. LED Products business is anticipated to gain from improving dynamics in supply chain. Wolfspeed revenues are anticipated between $107 million and $117 million. Wolfspeed business is anticipated to gain from momentum in the device business and improving factory utilization.
Non-GAAP loss is projected in the range of 20-24 cents per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is currently pegged at loss of 15 cents per share.
Non-GAAP gross margin is expected in the range of 25-27%. Wolfspeed and LED margins are expected to be in the range of 35.5-37.5% and 19.5-21%, respectively.
Long-term earnings growth rate for Apple and Blackbaud is currently pegged at 10.7% and 7.6%, respectively.
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Cree (CREE) Q4 Loss Narrower Than Estimated, Revenues Beat
Cree Inc. reported non-GAAP loss of 18 cents per share for fourth-quarter fiscal 2020, which was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 20 cents. Notably, the company had reported earnings of 11 cents per share in the year-ago quarter.
Revenues were $205.7 million, which surpassed the consensus mark by 3.5%. However, the top line fell 18% year over year on declining Wolfspeed and LED Products revenues.
Quarter Details
Wolfspeed revenues declined 19% year over year to $108.4 million, accounting for 53% of total revenues. The downside was due to supply constraints. The company's Wolfspeed segment's products comprises power devices and RF devices, and silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) materials. In materials domain, deferred shipments and weaker demand impacted revenues in the fiscal fourth quarter. Strength in the power and automotive business, and improved sales of RF devices failed to offset the decline in revenues.
Management is banking on synergies from partnership with Arrow Electronics (ARW - Free Report) , and incremental adoption of SiC products in new applications.
The company’s expertise in SiC technology and expanding clientele despite coronavirus-induced business headwinds is instilling confidence in the stock. Shares of Cree have returned 48.3% year to date, compared with the industry’s growth of 21.1%.
LED Products revenues were $97.3 million, down 17% on a year-over-year basis. Notably, it accounted for 47% of total revenues. The company's LED Products segment's products consist of LED chips and LED components. Supply disruption associated with manufacturing facilities affected LED revenues.
Non-GAAP gross margin contracted to 26% from 37% reported in the year-ago quarter. Segment wise, LED Products gross margin contracted to 35% from 50% reported in the year-ago quarter, owing to lower revenue base.
Wolfspeed gross margin contracted 100 basis points (bps) to 23%. Wolfspeed gross margin was impacted by reduction in factory efficiency on account of the pandemic induced safety measures. Management noted that decrease in yields and factory transitions are headwinds to gross margin performance until production shifts to new Mohawk Valley Fab.
Non-GAAP operating loss during the quarter was $28.3 million against operating income of $9.9 million in the year-ago quarter.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
Cree had cash, cash equivalents & short-term investments of $1.252 billion as of Jun 28, 2020 compared with $852.9 million as of Mar 29, 2020.
During the fiscal fourth quarter, cash provided by operating activities was $10.5 million compared with $27.7 million cash utilized in the prior quarter.
Free cash outflow was $59.7 million, compared with free cash outflow of $97.5 million in the prior quarter. Capital expenditure amounted to $70 million in the fiscal fourth quarter.
Fiscal 2020 at a Glance
The company generated revenues of $903.9 million in fiscal 2020, down 16% from fiscal 2019. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was pegged at $897 million.
Wolfspeed revenues (52% of fiscal 2020) of $470.7 million declined 13% year over year. LED Products revenues (48%) of $433.2 million declined 20% year over year.
Cree, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Cree, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Cree, Inc. Quote
The company reported loss per share of 45 cents in fiscal 2020, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of loss of 48 cents.
Guidance
For first-quarter fiscal 2021, Cree expects revenues in the range of $203 million to $217 million. The mid-point of the guided range of $210 million is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The figure is currently pegged at $205.6 million.
LED Products revenues are projected in the range of $96-$100 million. LED Products business is anticipated to gain from improving dynamics in supply chain. Wolfspeed revenues are anticipated between $107 million and $117 million. Wolfspeed business is anticipated to gain from momentum in the device business and improving factory utilization.
Non-GAAP loss is projected in the range of 20-24 cents per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is currently pegged at loss of 15 cents per share.
Non-GAAP gross margin is expected in the range of 25-27%. Wolfspeed and LED margins are expected to be in the range of 35.5-37.5% and 19.5-21%, respectively.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Cree currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the broader sector are Apple (AAPL - Free Report) and Blackbaud (BLKB - Free Report) , both flaunting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Long-term earnings growth rate for Apple and Blackbaud is currently pegged at 10.7% and 7.6%, respectively.
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The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. They’re also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.
Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +50%, +83% and +164% in as little as 2 months. The stocks in this report could perform even better.
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