AD
ANALOG DEVICES INC (ADI)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- ADI delivered Q3 FY2025 revenue of $2.88B and adjusted EPS of $2.05, both above guidance and consensus; gross margin (adj) was 69.2% and operating margin (adj) 42.2% .
- Industrial led the quarter with 45% of revenue and double-digit sequential and YoY growth; communications and consumer were strong; automotive grew YoY but softened sequentially amid China pull-ins .
- Q4 FY2025 guidance: revenue $3.0B ±$0.1B, adjusted operating margin ~43.5% ±100 bps, adjusted EPS $2.22 ±$0.10; industrial, communications, consumer up; automotive down .
- Stock reaction catalysts: broad-based cyclical recovery (industrial strength, ATE/AI tailwinds), path back to ~70% gross margin in Q4, and disciplined cash returns ($1.6B in Q3 via dividends/repurchases) .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Broad-based growth: Revenue up 9% sequentially and 25% YoY; double-digit YoY growth across all end markets; communications up 18% seq and 40% YoY; consumer up 16% seq and 21% YoY .
- Industrial recovery: Industrial up 12% seq and 23% YoY; ATE fueled by AI investment; aerospace & defense had a record quarter; channel inventories remain lean (“under-shipping real consumption”) .
- Strategic robotics/AI positioning: CEO emphasized humanoid robotics content opportunity (multi-thousand dollars per unit), NVIDIA collaboration on digital twin simulation, and broad sensing/power stack leverage: “Our content in a humanoid robot is likely to be several thousands of dollars…a 10x increase over today’s AMRs” .
What Went Wrong
- Gross margin modestly below implied 70% target due to a one-time European fab utilization disruption; mix still constrained by 45% industrial share in Q3 (expected ~49% in Q4) .
- Automotive sequential decline expected in Q4: Q3 benefited from China pull-ins; unwind anticipated in Q4; management adopting a more conservative near-term view amid tariff/EV credit risks .
- Opex growth pressure from variable comp normalization vs trough year; FY2026 expected to see leverage improve as variable comp growth moderates, contingent on revenue growth .
Financial Results
Headline Results (GAAP and Non-GAAP)
End-Market Revenue Mix
Cash Flow KPIs
Actuals vs Consensus and Guidance
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
- Q3 beat: Revenue +$0.12B (~4%) and adjusted EPS +$0.10 vs consensus. Q4 guidance midpoint is modestly below consensus on both revenue and EPS but within ranges .*
Guidance Changes
Segment directional Q4 guide: Industrial, communications, consumer increasing; automotive declining .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO: “Our third-quarter revenue and earnings per share exceeded the high end of our expectations… demand for ADI’s products remains robust… positioned to capitalize on the growth of the intelligent physical edge” .
- CEO on robotics: “Our content in a humanoid robot is likely to be several thousands of dollars… basically a 10x increase over… AMRs… collaborating with NVIDIA… to substantially shorten our customers’ innovation timelines” .
- CFO: “Backlog growth and healthy bookings trends, notably in the Industrial end market… strong results and outlook for continued growth… position us well to finish fiscal 2025 from a position of strength” .
- CFO on Q4 guide: “Industrial, communications and consumer to increase… automotive is expected to decline… adjusted EPS $2.22 ± $0.10; tax rate 11–13%” .
Q&A Highlights
- Industrial vs auto: Industrial strength broad-based and not pull-forward; auto benefited from China pull-ins in Q3 and will unwind in Q4; cautious near-term stance given tariffs/EV credit dynamics .
- Gross margin/utilization: One-time European fab issue constrained GM; utilization back on track; expect ~70% GM in Q4 as mix shifts toward industrial (~49% mix exit) .
- Supply constraints: Aerospace & defense experiencing surging demand and is supply-limited; tools being deployed in Q3/Q4 to alleviate constraints; rest of industrial in good supply shape .
- OpEx/variable comp: FY2025 OpEx higher from variable comp normalization; FY2026 expected leverage as variable comp growth moderates, assuming revenue growth .
- China: Premium positioning supports ASPs; industrial end markets still 35–50% below prior peaks, implying medium-term runway; auto strong in China .
Estimates Context
- Q3 FY2025: Revenue $2.88B vs $2.76B consensus; adjusted EPS $2.05 vs $1.95 consensus. Both beats; narrative supported by industrial strength and AI-related ATE/comms tailwinds .*
- Q4 FY2025: Guidance revenue midpoint $3.0B vs $3.02B consensus; adjusted EPS $2.22 vs $2.23 consensus—slightly below midpoints but within ranges; segments guided up (industrial/comms/consumer) with auto down .*
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Broad-based cyclical recovery with industrial as the anchor (record A&D, strong ATE/data center), supporting multi-quarter momentum into Q4 and FY2026 .
- Margin expansion back toward ~70% GM in Q4 as utilization normalizes and industrial mix rises—watch for execution on utilization and mix to confirm durability .
- Near-term risk: automotive unwind after Q3 China pull-ins and tariff/EV credit uncertainty—expect sequential auto decline in Q4 per guide .
- Strategic long-term upside: humanoid robotics content opportunity (10x vs AMRs) and NVIDIA collaboration could materially expand ADI’s SAM/ASP over 3–5 years .
- Cash return discipline remains intact: $1.6B returned in Q3; dividend maintained at $0.99; FCF robust at 35% of TTM revenue—supporting buybacks/dividends through cycle .
- Trading implications: Q4 print likely driven by industrial upside and margin trajectory; watch commentary on auto normalization and tariff impacts for volatility cues .
- Estimate revisions: Expect upward adjustments to industrial/communications models; modest caution for automotive near-term; margin forecasts likely to tighten around ~70% GM in Q4 .