April 29-2025 — TESSENDERLO-HAM, Belgium-Regulatory News:
X-FAB (BOURSE:XFAB):
Highlights Q1 2025:
Outlook:
Business development
In the first quarter of 2025, X-FAB recorded revenues of USD 204.1 million, down 6% year-on-year and up 8% quarter-on-quarter. Excluding the impact from revenue recognized over time in the amount of USD 1.8 million, quarterly revenue was USD 202.3 million, which is well within the guidance of USD 195‑205 million.
First quarter revenue in X-FAB’s core markets – automotive, industrial, and medical – was at USD 188.6 million*, down 7% year-on-year and up 4% quarter-on-quarter, representing a share of 93%* of total revenue.
The quarterly bookings totaled USD 174.7 million, reflecting a 36% decrease compared to the exceptionally strong corresponding quarter of the previous year, but a 26% increase quarter-on-quarter. This growth is primarily related to strong bookings in the automotive and industrial end market. In general, customers are still placing orders later than usual in reaction to the currently shortened lead times. The backlog for the first quarter amounted to USD 386.7 million, compared to USD 414.0 million at the end of the previous quarter.
In the first quarter, X-FAB recorded automotive revenue of USD 135.4 million*, flat year-on-year and up 5% sequentially. Main drivers for X-FAB’s automotive business in the first quarter were EV-related applications. Industrial revenue in the first quarter came in at USD 39.3 million*, down 25% year-on-year and up 9% quarter-on-quarter. The industrial business in particular is benefiting from increased demand following the last-time-buy announcement for some of X-FAB’s 150mm CMOS technologies. Revenue in the medical end market amounted to USD 13.8 million*, down 4% year-on-year, while the quarter-on-quarter decline of 16% is attributable to high shipments of a medical application in the prior quarter.
X-FAB recorded a sequential revenue increase across all technologies. CMOS revenue went up 2%* quarter-on-quarter, silicon carbide 5%* and X-FAB’s microsystems business 14%*. X-FAB’s silicon carbide revenue in the first quarter came in at USD 6.0 million*. SiC order intake increased 17% sequentially and for the second consecutive quarter, signaling the market’s gradual recovery. The main growth driver was data center applications.
Quarterly prototyping revenue was USD 16.1 million*, down 31% year-on-year and 32% quarter-on-quarter. As the transition of major customer-specific projects to volume production was successfully completed in 2024, the associated safe launch and start-up costs as part of prototyping revenue disappeared, which had an effect on the prototyping revenue in the first quarter. In general, X FAB’s prototyping revenue tends to be more variable as the number of customer-specific projects increases. In these projects, development and prototyping services are billed in tranches based on milestones achieved rather than on a linear basis.
Prototyping and production revenue* per quarter and end market:
The megatrends “electrification of everything” and “sensing everywhere” will drive sustainable demand for the comprehensive set of specialty technologies that X-FAB offers, enabling viable solutions that contribute to the mitigation of climate change and more efficient digital healthcare in aging societies. With the phase-out of inventory corrections and the expected gradual recovery of demand in the course of 2025, X-FAB reiterates its full-year guidance with a revenue range of USD 820-870 million and an EBITDA margin in the range of 24-27%.
Geopolitical tensions and related customs regulations do not currently impact X-FAB’s business directly, as X‑FAB sells its goods ex-works. The indirect effects of these tensions can be either positive or negative and cannot be estimated. This guidance accounts for all identified effects as of the date of this press release.
Operations update
X-FAB progressed well in expanding its 180nm CMOS capacity, which is crucial for supporting its future CMOS and microsystems business. During the first quarter, all outstanding tools for the newly constructed clean room in Malaysia were delivered, installed, and are now being qualified.
This marks the approaching completion of X-FAB’s major capacity expansion program. The associated capital expenditures are anticipated to be finalized within the first half of 2025. In the first quarter, capital expenditures totaled USD 101.7 million, representing a decrease of 23% compared to the previous quarter.
Financial update
First quarter EBITDA was USD 49.1 million with an EBITDA margin of 24.0%. Excluding the impact from revenues recognized over time, the EBITDA margin for the first quarter would have been 23.8%, within the guided range of 22-25%.
For the net financial result in the first quarter X-FAB recorded a loss of USD 7.2 million, which includes unrealized foreign exchange effects totaling USD -3.4 million.
Profitability remains unaffected by exchange rate fluctuations as X-FAB’s business is naturally hedged. At a constant USD/Euro exchange rate of 1.09 as experienced in the previous year’s quarter, the EBITDA margin would have been 0.1 percentage points higher.
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the first quarter amounted to USD 157.2 million, down 27% against the previous quarter in accordance with the planned allocation of funds to capital expenditures.
Management comments
Rudi De Winter, CEO of X-FAB Group, said: “I am pleased to present the quarterly results reflecting X-FAB’s resilient business with an 8% sequential increase in revenue and a robust EBITDA margin of 24%. Although geopolitical tensions pose challenges for the semiconductor industry, they also offer new opportunities for X‑FAB due to our global presence across all major continents. I am confident in our capacity to navigate these challenges, as our specialty technologies address societal megatrends and will continue to be in demand.”
About X-FAB
X-FAB is a global foundry group providing a comprehensive set of specialty technologies and design IP to enable its customers to develop world-leading semiconductor products that are manufactured at X-FAB’s six wafer fabs located in Malaysia, Germany, France, and the United States. With its expertise in analog/mixed-signal technologies, microsystems/MEMS and silicon carbide (SiC), X-FAB is the development and manufacturing partner for its customers, primarily serving the automotive, industrial and medical end markets. X-FAB has approximately 4,500 employees and has been listed on Euronext Paris since April 2017 (XFAB). For more information, please visit www.xfab.com.
Forward-looking information
This press release may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements regarding or based upon our management’s current intentions, beliefs or expectations relating to, among other things, X-FAB’s future results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies, or developments in the industry in which we operate. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied thereby. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein.
Forward-looking statements contained in this press release regarding trends or current activities should not be taken as a report that such trends or activities will continue in the future. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless legally required. You should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
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