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Cree (CREE) Q3 Loss Narrower Than Estimates, Revenues Lag
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Cree Inc. reported non-GAAP loss of 14 cents per share for third-quarter fiscal 2020, which was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 15 cents. The company had reported earnings of 20 cents per share in the year-ago quarter.
Revenues came in at $215.5 million, which lagged the consensus mark by 0.2%. Moreover, the figure fell 21% year over year on declining Wolfspeed and LED Products revenues.
Notably, shares of Cree have returned 0.2% year to date, against the industry’s decline of 7.1%.
Quarter Details
Wolfspeed revenues declined 19% year over year to $113.9 million and accounted for 53% of total revenues. The drop in revenues was due to weakness in the power business and sluggish sales of RF devices. Further, temporary shutdown of Morgan Hill facility led to the decline.
LED Products revenues were $101.6 million, down 23% on a year-over-year basis. Notably, it accounted for 47% of total revenues. Softness in China amid the COVID-19 outbreak and disruption associated with manufacturing facilities affected LED revenues.
Non-GAAP gross margin was 28%, which contracted 900 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis. Segment wise, LED Products gross margin contracted 800 bps to 20% from the year-ago quarter, while Wolfspeed gross margin contracted 900 bps to 40%.
Non-GAAP operating loss during the quarter was $21.4 million against operating income of $23.8 million reported in the year-ago quarter.
Cree had cash, cash equivalents & short-term investments of $852.9 million as of Mar 29, 2020 compared with $951.5 million as of Dec 29, 2019.
During the fiscal third quarter, cash used in operations was $27.7 million compared with$11.8 million cash utilized in the prior quarter.
Free cash outflow was $97.5 million, compared with free cash outflow $53 million in the prior quarter. Capital expenditure was reported at $70 million in the third quarter.
Guidance
For fourth-quarter fiscal 2020, Cree expects revenues in the range of $185-$215 million.
LED Products revenues are projected in the range of $85-$100 million, due to the coronavirus outbreak-led supply constraints.
Wolfspeed revenues are projected in the range of $100-$115 million. Wolfspeed business is anticipated to be affected by coronavirus outbreak-induced lower factory utilization.
Non-GAAP loss is projected in the range of 15-23 cents per share.
Non-GAAP gross margin is expected to be in the range of 25-28%. Wolfspeed and LED margins are expected to be in the range of 33-35% and 19-21%, respectively.
Long-term earnings growth rate for both Netlist and InterDigital is pegged at 15%, while the same for Pixelworks is 20%.
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Cree (CREE) Q3 Loss Narrower Than Estimates, Revenues Lag
Cree Inc. reported non-GAAP loss of 14 cents per share for third-quarter fiscal 2020, which was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 15 cents. The company had reported earnings of 20 cents per share in the year-ago quarter.
Revenues came in at $215.5 million, which lagged the consensus mark by 0.2%. Moreover, the figure fell 21% year over year on declining Wolfspeed and LED Products revenues.
Notably, shares of Cree have returned 0.2% year to date, against the industry’s decline of 7.1%.
Quarter Details
Wolfspeed revenues declined 19% year over year to $113.9 million and accounted for 53% of total revenues. The drop in revenues was due to weakness in the power business and sluggish sales of RF devices. Further, temporary shutdown of Morgan Hill facility led to the decline.
LED Products revenues were $101.6 million, down 23% on a year-over-year basis. Notably, it accounted for 47% of total revenues. Softness in China amid the COVID-19 outbreak and disruption associated with manufacturing facilities affected LED revenues.
Non-GAAP gross margin was 28%, which contracted 900 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis. Segment wise, LED Products gross margin contracted 800 bps to 20% from the year-ago quarter, while Wolfspeed gross margin contracted 900 bps to 40%.
Non-GAAP operating loss during the quarter was $21.4 million against operating income of $23.8 million reported in the year-ago quarter.
Cree, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Cree, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Cree, Inc. Quote
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
Cree had cash, cash equivalents & short-term investments of $852.9 million as of Mar 29, 2020 compared with $951.5 million as of Dec 29, 2019.
During the fiscal third quarter, cash used in operations was $27.7 million compared with$11.8 million cash utilized in the prior quarter.
Free cash outflow was $97.5 million, compared with free cash outflow $53 million in the prior quarter. Capital expenditure was reported at $70 million in the third quarter.
Guidance
For fourth-quarter fiscal 2020, Cree expects revenues in the range of $185-$215 million.
LED Products revenues are projected in the range of $85-$100 million, due to the coronavirus outbreak-led supply constraints.
Wolfspeed revenues are projected in the range of $100-$115 million. Wolfspeed business is anticipated to be affected by coronavirus outbreak-induced lower factory utilization.
Non-GAAP loss is projected in the range of 15-23 cents per share.
Non-GAAP gross margin is expected to be in the range of 25-28%. Wolfspeed and LED margins are expected to be in the range of 33-35% and 19-21%, respectively.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Cree currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Netlist, Inc. (NLST - Free Report) , Pixelworks, Inc. (PXLW - Free Report) and InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC - Free Report) are some better-ranked stocks worth considering in the broader computer and technology sector, each flaunting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Long-term earnings growth rate for both Netlist and InterDigital is pegged at 15%, while the same for Pixelworks is 20%.
Today's Best Stocks from Zacks
Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2019, while the S&P 500 gained and impressive +53.6%, five of our strategies returned +65.8%, +97.1%, +118.0%, +175.7% and even +186.7%.
This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 – 2019, while the S&P averaged +6.0% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +54.7% per year.
See their latest picks free >>