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.
IPG Photonics Corporation (IPGP - Free Report) delivered fourth-quarter 2020 earnings of 92 cents per share, reversing the loss of 8 cents reported a year ago. Management projected earnings between 75 cents and $1.05 per share.
Notably, an unfavorable foreign-exchange movement curtailed 7 cents from bottom line and a goodwill impairment charge reduced it by 20 cents.
Revenues of $336.6 million improved 10% on a year-over-year basis. IPG Photonics anticipated revenues in the range of $290-$320 million.
The company delivered better-than-anticipated results as strong bookings growth for frame agreements in China drove its performance.
The company anticipates gaining from strength in new products, low-cost production capabilities, technology differentiation and an expanding global presence in 2021.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter earnings and revenues was pegged at 96 cents and $310.8 million, respectively.
Notably, shares of IPG Photonics have returned 81.3% in the past year compared with the industry’s rally of 48.9%.
Revenues by Application
Materials processing (90% of total revenues) increased 10% year over year to $302.7 million on higher demand for cutting applications.
Revenues from other applications (10%) improved 12% year over year to almost $34 million, driven by the growing traction from advanced applications and a solid uptick in devices utilized in medical procedures.
Quarter in Detail
Sales of high-power continuous wave (CW) lasers (55% of total revenues) were up 17% from the year-ago quarter’s tally.
Management noted growth in ultra-high power fiber lasers (6 kilowatts of power or greater), which represented 56% of all high-power CW laser sales.
By geography, sales surged 52% in China and declined 5% in Europe, 29% in Japan and 11% in North America on a year-over-year basis.
During the fourth quarter, emerging product and application sales contributed 28% to total revenues and climbed 22% year over year as well.
IPG Photonics reported a gross margin of 43.6%, which expanded 310 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis. This can be attributed to low-cost production capabilities, higher revenue base and a favorable product mix. Management noted that an additional inventory charge of $14 million contracted the gross margin by 410 bps.
Operating expenses declined 34.1% to $81.6 million. As a percentage of revenues, operating expenses contracted from 40.4% reported in the year-ago quarter to 24.3%.
Operating margin came in at 19.4% compared with the year-ago quarter’s figure of 0.1%.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
As of Dec 31, 2020, IPG Photonics had $1.391 billion in cash & cash equivalents and short-term investments compared with $1.302 billion as of Sep 30, 2020.
As of Dec 31, 2020, total debt (including current portion) came in at almost $38 million compared with $38.9 million as of Sep 30, 2020.
The company generated $85 million as cash flow from operations compared with the prior-quarter figure of $70 million.
The company did not repurchase any stock during the fourth quarter. Capital expenditures came in at $26 million compared with $25 million in the prior quarter.
Upbeat Guidance
Challenging business environment due to global economic downturn amid coronavirus-induced crisis remains a headwind. Nevertheless, management anticipates gaining from a solid order flow for frame agreements and bookings in China, which was strong “in the first weeks of the year”.
Also, improving investment cycle, led by equipment upgrades, automation, growing demand for flexible processing and higher efficiency, remain tailwinds.
Revenues from the core materials processing market are expected to rise on the back of momentum in higher power products. The company is optimistic about its ability to grow in other applications beyond cutting and welding, which include budding avenues across electric vehicle battery processing and advanced applications as well as devices used in the medical and micro-processing industry. Moreover, strength in new solutions holds promise.
For first-quarter 2021, IPG Photonics anticipates sales to be $310-$340 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is currently pegged at $305.6 million.
Earnings are projected between 90 cents and $1.20 per share. The mid-point of this guided range — $1.05 — is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, which currently stands at 96 cents per share.
Shopify, Workday and CrowdStrike are scheduled to release earnings on Feb 17, Feb 25 and Mar 16, respectively.
Long-term earnings growth rate for Shopify, CrowdStrike and Workday is currently pegged at 32.5%, 25%, and 25.36%, respectively.
The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All
Last year, it generated $24 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $77.6 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.
Image: Bigstock
IPG Photonics (IPGP) Q4 Earnings & Revenues Improve Y/Y
IPG Photonics Corporation (IPGP - Free Report) delivered fourth-quarter 2020 earnings of 92 cents per share, reversing the loss of 8 cents reported a year ago. Management projected earnings between 75 cents and $1.05 per share.
Notably, an unfavorable foreign-exchange movement curtailed 7 cents from bottom line and a goodwill impairment charge reduced it by 20 cents.
Revenues of $336.6 million improved 10% on a year-over-year basis. IPG Photonics anticipated revenues in the range of $290-$320 million.
The company delivered better-than-anticipated results as strong bookings growth for frame agreements in China drove its performance.
The company anticipates gaining from strength in new products, low-cost production capabilities, technology differentiation and an expanding global presence in 2021.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter earnings and revenues was pegged at 96 cents and $310.8 million, respectively.
Notably, shares of IPG Photonics have returned 81.3% in the past year compared with the industry’s rally of 48.9%.
Revenues by Application
Materials processing (90% of total revenues) increased 10% year over year to $302.7 million on higher demand for cutting applications.
Revenues from other applications (10%) improved 12% year over year to almost $34 million, driven by the growing traction from advanced applications and a solid uptick in devices utilized in medical procedures.
Quarter in Detail
Sales of high-power continuous wave (CW) lasers (55% of total revenues) were up 17% from the year-ago quarter’s tally.
Management noted growth in ultra-high power fiber lasers (6 kilowatts of power or greater), which represented 56% of all high-power CW laser sales.
By geography, sales surged 52% in China and declined 5% in Europe, 29% in Japan and 11% in North America on a year-over-year basis.
During the fourth quarter, emerging product and application sales contributed 28% to total revenues and climbed 22% year over year as well.
IPG Photonics Corporation Price and EPS Surprise
IPG Photonics Corporation price-eps-surprise | IPG Photonics Corporation Quote
Operating Details
IPG Photonics reported a gross margin of 43.6%, which expanded 310 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis. This can be attributed to low-cost production capabilities, higher revenue base and a favorable product mix. Management noted that an additional inventory charge of $14 million contracted the gross margin by 410 bps.
Operating expenses declined 34.1% to $81.6 million. As a percentage of revenues, operating expenses contracted from 40.4% reported in the year-ago quarter to 24.3%.
Operating margin came in at 19.4% compared with the year-ago quarter’s figure of 0.1%.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
As of Dec 31, 2020, IPG Photonics had $1.391 billion in cash & cash equivalents and short-term investments compared with $1.302 billion as of Sep 30, 2020.
As of Dec 31, 2020, total debt (including current portion) came in at almost $38 million compared with $38.9 million as of Sep 30, 2020.
The company generated $85 million as cash flow from operations compared with the prior-quarter figure of $70 million.
The company did not repurchase any stock during the fourth quarter. Capital expenditures came in at $26 million compared with $25 million in the prior quarter.
Upbeat Guidance
Challenging business environment due to global economic downturn amid coronavirus-induced crisis remains a headwind. Nevertheless, management anticipates gaining from a solid order flow for frame agreements and bookings in China, which was strong “in the first weeks of the year”.
Also, improving investment cycle, led by equipment upgrades, automation, growing demand for flexible processing and higher efficiency, remain tailwinds.
Revenues from the core materials processing market are expected to rise on the back of momentum in higher power products. The company is optimistic about its ability to grow in other applications beyond cutting and welding, which include budding avenues across electric vehicle battery processing and advanced applications as well as devices used in the medical and micro-processing industry. Moreover, strength in new solutions holds promise.
For first-quarter 2021, IPG Photonics anticipates sales to be $310-$340 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is currently pegged at $305.6 million.
Earnings are projected between 90 cents and $1.20 per share. The mid-point of this guided range — $1.05 — is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, which currently stands at 96 cents per share.
Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider
Currently, IPG Photonics carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Some other top-ranked stocks in the broader technology sector are Shopify (SHOP - Free Report) , CrowdStrike (CRWD - Free Report) and Workday (WDAY - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank of 2, currently. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Shopify, Workday and CrowdStrike are scheduled to release earnings on Feb 17, Feb 25 and Mar 16, respectively.
Long-term earnings growth rate for Shopify, CrowdStrike and Workday is currently pegged at 32.5%, 25%, and 25.36%, respectively.
The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All
Last year, it generated $24 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $77.6 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.
See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>