We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Ambarella (AMBA) Q2 Earnings Beat, Soft Auto Hurts Top Line
Read MoreHide Full Article
Ambarella (AMBA - Free Report) reported second-quarter fiscal 2021 non-GAAP earnings of 6 cents per share against the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 2 cents. However, earnings plunged 72.7% year over year.
Meanwhile, revenues of $50.1 million marginally beat the consensus mark but declined 11.1% year over year and 8% sequentially.
Softness in the automotive and other markets hurt Ambarella’s top-line growth in the reported quarter. However, the security-camera business increased low single digits sequentially. Home security also increased sequentially.
The momentum in AI business continued as CV revenues represented mid-to-high single-digit percent of total second-quarter revenues. Ambarella witnessed increase in blended average selling price (ASP) due to solid demand for CV SoC which carries higher ASP compared with non-CV solutions.
Customer & Market Details
Ambarella had two customers that contributed more than 10% in the reported quarter. WT Microelectronics, a fulfillment partner serving multiple customers, accounted for 56% of revenues. Chicony, a Taiwanese OEM which manufactures for multiple customers, contributed 20%.
Moreover, the company noted that it continues to gain SoC share in the professional security-camera market outside China. Momentum in Ambarella’s CVflow SoCs in professional IP cameras across all geographies continued in the reported quarter.
During the reported quarter, Japanese camera supplier PTZ continued to introduce more new models based on Ambarella’s CVflow SoCs.
Outside China, the company has a very strong pipeline of new-customer introductions planned over the next 12 months.
Within China, Ambarella is now seeing additional opportunities, particularly at the high and middle ends of the market. Markedly, Chinese IP camera makers have resurrected evaluation of Ambarella-based camera designs including CVflow AI SoCs.
Further, in the consumer IP camera market, Ambarella witnessed a rebound in orders from the major home monitor camera makers.
In July, Taiwanese baby-monitor and sleep-analytics company Cubo introduced its Cubo Ai Plus monitor base on Ambarella’s H.263 SoC.
Additionally, Ambarella held two online webinars to promote its Janus access control reference platform, which has been jointly developed with Lumentum and ON Semiconductor (ON - Free Report) , and features CV25 SoC. Janus enables contact-free access control face recognition.
In the automotive space, Ambarella witnessed strong interest for its SoC solutions with various new OEM applications including ADAS, Level 2+ autonomous vehicles, electronic mirrors and car-recorder applications.
Since the beginning of 2020, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company has won a number of contracts from automotive OEMs. These contracts are estimated to generate roughly $200 million in revenues over the lifetime of their production. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
During the reported quarter, Ambarella also won two contracts from Japanese automaker Nissan.
Operating Details
Ambarella reported non-GAAP gross margin of 62.4%, up 430 basis points (bps) year over year in the quarter under review. The gross-margin figure was better than management’s guidance of 59-60.5% range. On a GAAP basis, gross margin expand 430 bps to 61.8%.
The healthy customer and product mix supported by strong operational execution benefited gross-margin expansion in second quarter.
Total operating expenses on a GAAP basis increased 7.9% year over year to $46.2 million. On a non-GAAP basis, operating expenses were $30.2 million, below management’s guided range of $31-$33 million due to reduced employee expenses, lower depreciation from deferred capital expenditures and a one-time foreign subsidy related to COVID-19.
Research & development expenses increased 7.8% year over year to $32.8 million. Moreover, selling, general and administrative expenses of $13.4 million were up 8.2% year over year.
Total headcount at the end of the second quarter was 758, with about 81% of the employees dedicated to engineering. Roughly 69% of Ambarella’s total headcount is located in Asia.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
As of Jul 31, 2020, Ambarella had cash and cash equivalents & marketable securities of $410.7 million compared with $411 million as of Apr 30.
The company reported operating cash outflow of $2.4 million primarily due to increases in operating assets, while current liabilities were flat sequentially.
Ambarella’s board approved an extension of the current $50 million repurchasing program for an additional 12 months ending Jun 30, 2021. Currently, $49 million is available under the program.
Key Q3 Developments
Markedly, in August, Ambarella selected the Lattice Semiconductor’s (LSCC - Free Report) ECP5 FPGA to enable MIPI bridging capabilities in systems using former’s CVflowSoCs.
Moreover, Motorola Solutions (MSI - Free Report) announced the availability of Ambarella-based Avigilon H4 thermal elevated temperature-detection solution.
Further, U.K. and European dash-cam provider Nextbase launched its next-generation 622GW 4K dash cam based on Ambarella’s H22 SoC.
Guidance
For third-quarter fiscal 2021, revenues are expected between $52 million and $56 million. Non-GAAP gross margin is anticipated to be 60-62%. Non-GAAP operating expenses are projected at $31-$33 million.
Management anticipates security-camera revenues to be down sequentially. Automotive revenues are expected to remain unchanged. Other revenues are expected to increase sequentially.
Ambarella also stated that the rate of order push-out and cancellations has slowed down and design activity has started to recover.
Moreover, Ambarella expects CV products to contribute 10% of revenues in fiscal 2021. Additionally, higher gross profit dollars per CV unit (due to solid demand for CV Soc) is expected to drive the bottom line.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
Image: Bigstock
Ambarella (AMBA) Q2 Earnings Beat, Soft Auto Hurts Top Line
Ambarella (AMBA - Free Report) reported second-quarter fiscal 2021 non-GAAP earnings of 6 cents per share against the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 2 cents. However, earnings plunged 72.7% year over year.
Meanwhile, revenues of $50.1 million marginally beat the consensus mark but declined 11.1% year over year and 8% sequentially.
Softness in the automotive and other markets hurt Ambarella’s top-line growth in the reported quarter. However, the security-camera business increased low single digits sequentially. Home security also increased sequentially.
The momentum in AI business continued as CV revenues represented mid-to-high single-digit percent of total second-quarter revenues. Ambarella witnessed increase in blended average selling price (ASP) due to solid demand for CV SoC which carries higher ASP compared with non-CV solutions.
Customer & Market Details
Ambarella had two customers that contributed more than 10% in the reported quarter. WT Microelectronics, a fulfillment partner serving multiple customers, accounted for 56% of revenues. Chicony, a Taiwanese OEM which manufactures for multiple customers, contributed 20%.
Moreover, the company noted that it continues to gain SoC share in the professional security-camera market outside China. Momentum in Ambarella’s CVflow SoCs in professional IP cameras across all geographies continued in the reported quarter.
Ambarella, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Ambarella, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Ambarella, Inc. Quote
During the reported quarter, Japanese camera supplier PTZ continued to introduce more new models based on Ambarella’s CVflow SoCs.
Outside China, the company has a very strong pipeline of new-customer introductions planned over the next 12 months.
Within China, Ambarella is now seeing additional opportunities, particularly at the high and middle ends of the market. Markedly, Chinese IP camera makers have resurrected evaluation of Ambarella-based camera designs including CVflow AI SoCs.
Further, in the consumer IP camera market, Ambarella witnessed a rebound in orders from the major home monitor camera makers.
In July, Taiwanese baby-monitor and sleep-analytics company Cubo introduced its Cubo Ai Plus monitor base on Ambarella’s H.263 SoC.
Additionally, Ambarella held two online webinars to promote its Janus access control reference platform, which has been jointly developed with Lumentum and ON Semiconductor (ON - Free Report) , and features CV25 SoC. Janus enables contact-free access control face recognition.
In the automotive space, Ambarella witnessed strong interest for its SoC solutions with various new OEM applications including ADAS, Level 2+ autonomous vehicles, electronic mirrors and car-recorder applications.
Since the beginning of 2020, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company has won a number of contracts from automotive OEMs. These contracts are estimated to generate roughly $200 million in revenues over the lifetime of their production. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
During the reported quarter, Ambarella also won two contracts from Japanese automaker Nissan.
Operating Details
Ambarella reported non-GAAP gross margin of 62.4%, up 430 basis points (bps) year over year in the quarter under review. The gross-margin figure was better than management’s guidance of 59-60.5% range. On a GAAP basis, gross margin expand 430 bps to 61.8%.
The healthy customer and product mix supported by strong operational execution benefited gross-margin expansion in second quarter.
Total operating expenses on a GAAP basis increased 7.9% year over year to $46.2 million. On a non-GAAP basis, operating expenses were $30.2 million, below management’s guided range of $31-$33 million due to reduced employee expenses, lower depreciation from deferred capital expenditures and a one-time foreign subsidy related to COVID-19.
Research & development expenses increased 7.8% year over year to $32.8 million. Moreover, selling, general and administrative expenses of $13.4 million were up 8.2% year over year.
Total headcount at the end of the second quarter was 758, with about 81% of the employees dedicated to engineering. Roughly 69% of Ambarella’s total headcount is located in Asia.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
As of Jul 31, 2020, Ambarella had cash and cash equivalents & marketable securities of $410.7 million compared with $411 million as of Apr 30.
The company reported operating cash outflow of $2.4 million primarily due to increases in operating assets, while current liabilities were flat sequentially.
Ambarella’s board approved an extension of the current $50 million repurchasing program for an additional 12 months ending Jun 30, 2021. Currently, $49 million is available under the program.
Key Q3 Developments
Markedly, in August, Ambarella selected the Lattice Semiconductor’s (LSCC - Free Report) ECP5 FPGA to enable MIPI bridging capabilities in systems using former’s CVflowSoCs.
Moreover, Motorola Solutions (MSI - Free Report) announced the availability of Ambarella-based Avigilon H4 thermal elevated temperature-detection solution.
Further, U.K. and European dash-cam provider Nextbase launched its next-generation 622GW 4K dash cam based on Ambarella’s H22 SoC.
Guidance
For third-quarter fiscal 2021, revenues are expected between $52 million and $56 million. Non-GAAP gross margin is anticipated to be 60-62%. Non-GAAP operating expenses are projected at $31-$33 million.
Management anticipates security-camera revenues to be down sequentially. Automotive revenues are expected to remain unchanged. Other revenues are expected to increase sequentially.
Ambarella also stated that the rate of order push-out and cancellations has slowed down and design activity has started to recover.
Moreover, Ambarella expects CV products to contribute 10% of revenues in fiscal 2021. Additionally, higher gross profit dollars per CV unit (due to solid demand for CV Soc) is expected to drive the bottom line.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
See 8 breakthrough stocks now>>