What were the key takeaways from Photronics's earnings call?

What is the market's earnings forecast for Photronics next quarter?

What is Photronics's gross profit margin?

What is Photronics's latest dividend and current dividend yield?

What is the revenue and EPS growth rate for Photronics year over year?

What does Photronics do and what are its main business segments?

What were the key takeaways from Photronics’s earnings call?

What factors drove the changes in Photronics's revenue and profit?

- **Q4 2025 Strong Performance**: $216M revenue (3% sequential growth), 42% high-end IC mix, $0.60 Non-GAAP EPS beat.
- **2026 Growth Drivers**: $330M CapEx for U.S. (mid-range 2026) and Korea (8nm+ 2028) expansions.
- **Tax Benefit Boost**: $16.8M tax reversal drove GAAP EPS to $1.07.
- **Mainstream Shift**: 12% YoY decline but strategic capacity reallocation to high-end nodes.
- **Outsourcing Trend**: 10-20% captive masks now outsourced, accelerating in 2026 with hyperscale AI builds.

**【CEO Summary Section】**
- Q4 2025 revenue of $216 million exceeded expectations, up 3% sequentially and 42% of IC revenue from high-end nodes.
- Record high-end IC revenue driven by U.S. and Asia, with Non-GAAP EPS of $0.60 beating guidance.
- 2026 strategic expansions: Allen, TX (mid-range nodes, Q1 2026 revenue) and Korea (8nm+ capacity, 2028+ revenue).
- Tax allowance reversal of $16.8 million boosted GAAP net income.
- FPD revenue rebound expected in Q1 2026, with G8.6 AMOLED adoption accelerating.

**【CFO Financial Commentary】**
- Q4 2025: GAAP EPS $1.07, Non-GAAP EPS $0.60; gross margin 35%, operating margin 24%.
- 2026 CapEx $330 million for U.S. and Korea expansions, targeting 20%+ high-end mix growth.
- Mainstream IC down 12% YoY due to China geopolitical challenges, but shifting capacity to high-end.
- Operating cash flow $88 million (41% of revenue), cash position $588 million.

**【Q&A Key Highlights】**
- Market share: Photronics ~30% of merchant photomask market, leading in U.S. high-end (Boise is only U.S. trusted source).
- Mainstream strategy: China captive outsourcing growing, but Photronics focuses on high-value nodes (22/28nm+).
- Captive outsourcing trend: 10-20% of captive masks now outsourced, driven by regionalization and complexity.
- Customer sentiment: Long-term planning improving, with 2026 high-end demand supported by hyperscale AI builds.
- Korea expansion: No long-term contracts, but customer roadmaps indicate 2027+ 8nm+ demand.


Photronics, Inc. (PLAB) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

- **Revenue resilience**: Flat Q3 2025 revenue ($210M) with FPD strength offsetting IC challenges, driven by Korea/China demand.
- **Strategic investments**: $200M+ annual CapEx for U.S. expansion (Texas/Idaho) and Asian 6-8nm node capabilities, targeting 2027+ growth.
- **FPD upside**: G8.6 AMOLED ASPs poised to rise 50%+, with strong customer traction in Korea and China.
- **Geopolitical tailwind**: U.S. semiconductor reshoring and Intel support could boost demand for trusted photomask solutions.
- **Cash discipline**: $576M cash balance with cautious 2026 buyback approach, prioritizing growth investments.

**【CEO Summary Section】**
- Q3 2025 revenue of $210 million was flat year-over-year, with Non-GAAP EPS of $0.51 exceeding guidance. FPD revenue ($63 million) offset IC challenges, driven by strong demand in Korea and China.
- **Geographic diversification strategy**: U.S. expansion in Texas for midrange nodes and Idaho for leading-edge capabilities (new multi-beam mask writer). Evaluating 6-8nm extensions in Asia, targeting 2027-2028 contributions.
- **Cash management**: $576 million in cash, $21 million in Q3 stock buybacks, and $97 million YTD. Capital allocation prioritizes growth investments over buybacks in 2026.
- **Operational focus**: Enhancing global sales leadership and optimizing cost structure for efficiency, with no major organizational changes.

**【CFO Financial Commentary】**
- Gross margin of 34% and operating margin of 23% exceeded expectations, driven by U.S. and Korea operations. IC revenue ($148 million) saw high-end recovery in the U.S., offsetting 12% decline in Asia. FPD growth of 14% year-over-year.
- Q3 operating cash flow of $15 million (24% of revenue) and CapEx of $25 million. FY2025 CapEx guidance of $200 million for capacity and capability upgrades.
- Q4 2025 guidance: Revenue $201-209 million, EPS $0.42-0.48, reflecting cautious outlook amid geopolitical uncertainty.

**【Q&A Highlights】**
- **IC market dynamics**: U.S. high-end recovery, stable mainstream in U.S./Europe, but muted demand in Asia due to trade restrictions.
- **CapEx outlook**: Elevated levels ($200 million+ annually) for 3+ years due to end-of-life tool replacements and strategic investments.
- **FPD growth**: G8.6 AMOLED ASPs expected to rise 50%+ due to layer count increases, with strong positioning in Korea and China.
- **U.S. government support**: Intel's U.S. manufacturing expansion could boost demand for trusted photomask solutions.
- **Multi-beam adoption**: 3-5 customers qualified in Boise, with U.S. customers showing strong interest in leading-edge capabilities.

Photronics, Inc. (PLAB) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

- **Stable Q2 Performance**: $211M revenue, $0.40 non-GAAP EPS, with $72M share buybacks to boost future earnings.
- **Strategic US Expansion**: Aligning with semiconductor reshoring to capture high-end mainstream demand.
- **Node Migration Growth**: Higher-end IC designs (22nm/28nm) driving ASP growth; FPD segment benefiting from G8.6 AMOLED adoption.
- **Cautious Q3 Outlook**: $200-208M revenue guidance reflects macroeconomic uncertainty and mainstream demand weakness.
- **Leadership Transition**: George Macricostas to focus on operational execution and market share gains post-Frank Lee's retirement.

**【CEO Summary Section】**
- Q2 2025 revenue of $211 million, with non-GAAP EPS of $0.40, reflecting stable performance amid macroeconomic uncertainty.
- **Strategic Investments**: $72 million in share repurchases to enhance future earnings leverage; US capacity expansion aligns with semiconductor reshoring trends.
- **Market Trends**: Node migration to higher-end IC designs (e.g., 22nm/28nm) driving ASP growth; FPD segment benefits from G8.6 AMOLED adoption.
- **Global Footprint Advantage**: 11 cleanroom facilities across Asia, US, and Europe enable tariff mitigation and rapid customer response.
- **Leadership Transition**: Frank Lee retiring as CEO after 3 years; George Macricostas appointed to lead operational execution and market share growth.

**【CFO Financial Commentary】**
- **Revenue & Margin**: Q2 gross margin 37% (stable vs. historical average); operating margin 26% (up 180bps sequentially) driven by cost control.
- **Cash Flow & Capital Allocation**: $31M operating cash flow; $61M Q2 CapEx (FY25 total $200M) for US expansion and end-of-life tool upgrades.
- **Q3 Guidance**: Revenue $200-208M (down 5-6% YoY); non-GAAP EPS $0.35-0.41, reflecting cautious outlook on mainstream demand.

**【Q&A Key Takeaways】**
- **Mainstream Weakness**: Wafer fab underutilization in power/industrial sectors; capacity additions from end-of-life tool replacements creating short-term supply-demand imbalance.
- **US Expansion Focus**: Targeting high-end mainstream applications (e.g., 5nm node layers) for regionalized foundry demand.
- **Tariff Impact**: Minimal direct financial impact, but macroeconomic uncertainty delaying customer orders.
- **Share Repurchases**: $23M remaining under current authorization; future buybacks will balance growth investments.
- **Long-Term Growth Drivers**: Node migration, captive mask outsourcing, and G8.6 AMOLED adoption in FPD.


Photronics Inc. (PLAB) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

- **Q1 Strong Execution**: $212M revenue, $0.52 EPS beat, 25% operating margin highlight operational resilience.
- **High-End Growth**: 39% IC revenue from advanced nodes (14-22nm), up from 36% in FY24, driving ASP expansion.
- **AI Inflection**: G8.6 AMOLED orders mark entry into high-margin display tech, aligning with AI-driven silicon photonics demand.
- **Cash Power**: $642M cash, $200M CapEx for US expansion, positioning for post-2026 AI infrastructure growth.
- **Risks**: Macro weakness in automotive/industrial, geopolitical tensions, and limited visibility on Q2 recovery.

**【CEO Summary Section】**
- Q1 2025 revenue of $212 million, in-line with expectations, driven by stable FPD demand and high-end IC growth.
- Non-GAAP EPS of $0.52 exceeded guidance, supported by strong cash flow and cost control.
- IC segment challenges: 2% YoY decline due to mainstream weakness in Asia and Europe, offset by 39% high-end IC mix (up from 36% in FY24).
- FPD milestone: First orders for G8.6 AMOLED masks with higher ASPs, leveraging IC-like phase shift technology.
- AI trends: Long-term growth driver as new applications drive demand for advanced nodes (14-22nm) and packaging solutions.
- Regionalization strategy: US expansion to mitigate tariffs, with 6% YoY growth in US IC.

**【CFO Financial Commentary】**
- Q1 GAAP net income $0.68, Non-GAAP EPS $0.52 (vs. $0.48-$0.52 guidance). Operating margin 25% (high end of 23-25% range).
- Gross margin 36% (down 100bps vs. Q4) due to lower sales volumes; OpEx down $2.9M sequentially from cost control.
- Cash flow: $78M (37% of revenue), total cash $642M. FY25 CapEx $200M for US expansion and node migration.
- Q2 guidance: Revenue $208-216M (flat YoQ), EPS $0.44-$0.50 (23-25% margin). FY25 outlook cautious due to macro uncertainty.

**【Q&A Key Highlights】**
- Mainstream weakness: 6"/8" wafer fab utilization low, impacting automotive/industrial demand. Pricing held firm but market share shifted to high-end.
- China competition: Local suppliers focus on low-end; PLAB maintains 39% high-end mix in China with stable ASPs.
- G8.6 AMOLED orders: Production-level volumes for laptops, potential scale-up as fabs ramp capacity.
- CapEx allocation: $200M for US expansion (AI-driven nodes) and regional capacity. No take-or-pay agreements, but customer commitments support investments.
- Risks: Macroeconomic weakness, geopolitical tensions, and customer delays. R&D costs expected to stabilize at 10% of revenue.


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