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Silicon Motion (SIMO) Preliminary Q3 Results Show Higher Revenues

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Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (SIMO - Free Report) recently issued preliminary third-quarter 2023 results. The selective preliminary metrics offer clarity regarding its business operations as it aims to navigate through a challenging macroeconomic environment.

In concurrence with the second-quarter 2023 results, Silicon Motion offered guidance for the third quarter. The company had then expected third-quarter revenues to be up 15-20% sequentially as end-market demand stabilized with the reduction in customer inventory levels. Management currently expects the soon-to-be-reported quarter’s revenues to exceed the higher end of its guided range. However, non-GAAP gross margin is likely to be relatively flat on a sequential basis — in line with the original guidance.

Silicon Motion is bullish about a more robust market recovery in the second half of 2023. It is taking several measures to enhance its gross margins, including reducing manufacturing costs, minimizing compensation-related expenses, discontinuing unprofitable product lines and streamlining research and development expenditures. Despite facing challenging market conditions, the company's management remains committed to providing cost-effective, high-quality, and unique solutions to its customers while maintaining a strong presence in the storage controller market.

The company appears to be well-equipped to adapt to industry changes. It has collaborated with flash vendors to develop proprietary controller technology to overcome the existing weakness of 3D NAND and outshine peers. It has commenced initial sales of 3D SSD controllers to flash partners. The company expects this controller to be a significant SSD controller growth driver for the next year, as NAND Flash partners’ 3D capacity expands. Also, the company commenced mass production of PCIe NVMe client SSD controller for flash partners. We believe accelerated product sales and favorable industry trends signal bright prospects for Silicon Motion.

Silicon Motion has expanded its SSD controller program engagements with PC OEMs and eMMC/UFS controllers for smartphones, automotive applications and IoT/smart devices. The company is adding to this momentum with the upcoming launch of its next-generation enterprise-class SSD controllers. Silicon Motion’s eMMC is showing strong signals of rebound, thereby adding to the strength of its overall embedded storage market that comprises both SSD controllers and eMMC embedded memory.

As market trends suggest the tilting of balance from eMMC 4.5 toward eMMC 5.0, the company foresees lucrative prospects for eMMC 5.1 controller sales. We believe an expanding customer base and innovative products will likely act as tailwinds for the company’s top-line growth, going forward. Notably, over the last 10 years, Silicon Motion has shipped more than five billion controllers cumulatively – more than any other company in the world. On a yearly basis, Silicon Motion ships more than 750 million NAND controllers.

Shares of the company have lost 10.3% in the past year against the industry’s growth of 71.2%.

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Silicon Motion presently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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