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KLA-Tencor (KLAC) Beats Earnings and Revenue Estimates in Q3
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KLA-Tencor Corporation (KLAC - Free Report) reported third-quarter fiscal 2019 earnings of $1.80 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 17 cents. The figure surged 325% year over year but was down 29.2% sequentially.
Revenues increased 7.4% from the year-ago quarter to $1.097 billion, comfortably surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.07 billion. The figure was at the high end of the company’s updated guided range of $1.025-$1.115 billion.
Products revenues (accounting for almost 72% of the total revenues) decreased 0.6% year over year to $793.2 million.
Services revenues (28% of the total revenues) increased 36.1% from the year-ago quarter to $304.1 million.
During the fiscal third quarter, KLA-Tencor completed the acquisition of Orbotech, an Israeli firm that develops yield management and process-enabling solutions for electronic products. The deal is in sync with the company’s strategy to strengthen business by expanding into adjacent markets. This will allow KLA-Tenor to diversify its revenue base.
The chip maker will now expand its reach in the global electronics value chain, serving customers in fast-growing end markets such as 5G infrastructure, smart mobile and automotive, among others.
Management expects overall process control intensity to grow this year, driven by the expanding value of inspection and measurement in addressing critical customer problems, along with semiconductor industry expansion in China.
However, memory weakness will likely continue to impact customers’ caution toward their equipment investment plans. Management expects WFE to be down approximately 15-20% year over year in 2019, largely due to weaker DRAM demand. Also, NAND investment is expected to decrease this year.
Shipments Detail
Shipments in the fiscal third quarter were $957 million, down sequentially but above the company’s guided range of $860-$940 million.
Memory accounted for 38% of fiscal third-quarter shipments, 54% of foundry customers and 8% of logic.
In terms of end market, Wafer Inspection, Patterning (including shipments from reticle inspection business), Service and Non semi (comprising back-end component inspection business) contributed 42%, 30%, 24% and 4% of shipments, respectively.
KLA Tencor continues to experience strong growth for Wafer Inspection solutions. Management stated that new capacity addition by Wafer manufacturers and the adoption of more complex architectures by IC customers are driving demand for new bare wafer products. These are needed to support more stringent wafer flatness and process tool cleanliness specifications in advanced technologies.
Management expects foundry and logic investment to increase, driven by the 7-nanometer ramp, EUV development, as well as the steady edge demand to support 5G infrastructure, IoT and automotive applications.
Operating Details
KLA Tencor’s gross margin contracted 830 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis to 55.6%.
Total operating expenses increased 37.8% year over year to $367.1 million. As a percentage of sales, both research and development, and selling, general and administrative expenses increased.
As a result, non-GAAP operating margin contracted 1,560 bps to 20.2%.
Balance Sheet
KLA Tencor ended the quarter with cash, cash equivalents and a marketable securities balance of $1.90 billion compared with $2.69 billion in the fiscal second quarter.
Cash from operations was $163.6 million in the fiscal third quarter versus $282.2 million in the prior quarter.
Fiscal Fourth-Quarter 2019 Guidance
For fourth-quarter fiscal 2019, KLA Tencor expects shipments within $1.235-$1.315 billion. Revenues are expected between $1.21 billion and $1.29 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $1.23 billion.
Memory is expected to be approximately 47% of shipments in the fiscal fourth quarter. Foundry and Logic are expected to constitute around 41% and 12% of its total shipments, respectively, in the quarter.
The company expects non-GAAP gross margin in the range of 58-59% and non-GAAP EPS within $1.55-$1.85. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.96 per share.
GAAP EPS is projected within $1.90-$1.39.
KLA-Tencor Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Long-term earnings growth for Facebook, Shopify and AXT is currently projected at 20.2%, 23.7% and 15%, respectively.
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KLA-Tencor (KLAC) Beats Earnings and Revenue Estimates in Q3
KLA-Tencor Corporation (KLAC - Free Report) reported third-quarter fiscal 2019 earnings of $1.80 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 17 cents. The figure surged 325% year over year but was down 29.2% sequentially.
Revenues increased 7.4% from the year-ago quarter to $1.097 billion, comfortably surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.07 billion. The figure was at the high end of the company’s updated guided range of $1.025-$1.115 billion.
Products revenues (accounting for almost 72% of the total revenues) decreased 0.6% year over year to $793.2 million.
Services revenues (28% of the total revenues) increased 36.1% from the year-ago quarter to $304.1 million.
During the fiscal third quarter, KLA-Tencor completed the acquisition of Orbotech, an Israeli firm that develops yield management and process-enabling solutions for electronic products. The deal is in sync with the company’s strategy to strengthen business by expanding into adjacent markets. This will allow KLA-Tenor to diversify its revenue base.
The chip maker will now expand its reach in the global electronics value chain, serving customers in fast-growing end markets such as 5G infrastructure, smart mobile and automotive, among others.
Management expects overall process control intensity to grow this year, driven by the expanding value of inspection and measurement in addressing critical customer problems, along with semiconductor industry expansion in China.
However, memory weakness will likely continue to impact customers’ caution toward their equipment investment plans. Management expects WFE to be down approximately 15-20% year over year in 2019, largely due to weaker DRAM demand. Also, NAND investment is expected to decrease this year.
Shipments Detail
Shipments in the fiscal third quarter were $957 million, down sequentially but above the company’s guided range of $860-$940 million.
Memory accounted for 38% of fiscal third-quarter shipments, 54% of foundry customers and 8% of logic.
In terms of end market, Wafer Inspection, Patterning (including shipments from reticle inspection business), Service and Non semi (comprising back-end component inspection business) contributed 42%, 30%, 24% and 4% of shipments, respectively.
KLA Tencor continues to experience strong growth for Wafer Inspection solutions. Management stated that new capacity addition by Wafer manufacturers and the adoption of more complex architectures by IC customers are driving demand for new bare wafer products. These are needed to support more stringent wafer flatness and process tool cleanliness specifications in advanced technologies.
Management expects foundry and logic investment to increase, driven by the 7-nanometer ramp, EUV development, as well as the steady edge demand to support 5G infrastructure, IoT and automotive applications.
Operating Details
KLA Tencor’s gross margin contracted 830 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis to 55.6%.
Total operating expenses increased 37.8% year over year to $367.1 million. As a percentage of sales, both research and development, and selling, general and administrative expenses increased.
As a result, non-GAAP operating margin contracted 1,560 bps to 20.2%.
Balance Sheet
KLA Tencor ended the quarter with cash, cash equivalents and a marketable securities balance of $1.90 billion compared with $2.69 billion in the fiscal second quarter.
Cash from operations was $163.6 million in the fiscal third quarter versus $282.2 million in the prior quarter.
Fiscal Fourth-Quarter 2019 Guidance
For fourth-quarter fiscal 2019, KLA Tencor expects shipments within $1.235-$1.315 billion. Revenues are expected between $1.21 billion and $1.29 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $1.23 billion.
Memory is expected to be approximately 47% of shipments in the fiscal fourth quarter. Foundry and Logic are expected to constitute around 41% and 12% of its total shipments, respectively, in the quarter.
The company expects non-GAAP gross margin in the range of 58-59% and non-GAAP EPS within $1.55-$1.85. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.96 per share.
GAAP EPS is projected within $1.90-$1.39.
KLA-Tencor Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
KLA-Tencor Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | KLA-Tencor Corporation Quote
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Currently, KLA Tencor carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the broader technology sector include Facebook, Inc. , Shopify Inc. (SHOP - Free Report) and AXT, Inc. (AXTI - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Long-term earnings growth for Facebook, Shopify and AXT is currently projected at 20.2%, 23.7% and 15%, respectively.
Radical New Technology Creates $12.3 Trillion Opportunity
Imagine buying Microsoft stock in the early days of personal computers… or Motorola after it released the world’s first cell phone. These technologies changed our lives and created massive profits for investors.
Today, we’re on the brink of the next quantum leap in technology. 7 innovative companies are leading this “4th Industrial Revolution” - and early investors stand to earn the biggest profits.
See the 7 breakthrough stocks now>>