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ALPHA & OMEGA SEMICONDUCTOR Ltd (AOSL)·Q4 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q4 FY2025 revenue was $176.5M, up 7.2% q/q and 9.4% y/y, landing at the high-end of guidance; non-GAAP gross margin improved to 24.4% on richer Power IC mix, while GAAP results were impacted by a $76.8M impairment tied to the planned CQJV equity sale .
- Versus consensus, AOSL beat on both revenue ($176.5M vs $170.0M*) and EPS ($0.02 vs -$0.01*), continuing a three-quarter streak of top-line upside as AI/graphics, tariff-driven PC pull-ins, and wearables outperformed .
- Guidance for Q1 FY2026 (Sep-25): revenue $183M ±$10M; GAAP GM ~23.8% (non-GAAP ~24.4%); GAAP opex ~$47.5M (non-GAAP ~$41.0M); net interest +$0.5M; tax $1.0–$1.3M, signaling sequential growth led by PCs, smartphones, and wearables .
- Strategic catalysts: monetization of CQJV stake ($150M cash inflow expected in installments) to fund growth/M&A, and resolution of BIS investigation ($4.25M settlement), reducing legal overhang .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Computing strength: Segment rose to 52.6% of revenue, +17.9% q/q and +29.7% y/y, driven by AI/graphics at record levels and PC pull-ins amid tariff uncertainty. “Our fiscal Q4 results came in at the high-end of our guidance, led by strength in Computing as A.I. and graphics revenue reached record levels… as well as continued momentum in wearables” — CEO Stephen Chang .
- Power IC mix: Power IC revenue reached $68.7M (+25.8% q/q, +30.2% y/y) and ~40% of product revenue, benefiting margins and diversified end-market exposure (graphics, AI, gaming, PCs) .
- Legal/strategic clarity: BIS matter resolved with $4.25M payment; CQJV partial sale ($150M) strengthens liquidity and supply flexibility; management emphasized reinvestment into technology/capacity and potential M&A .
What Went Wrong
- GAAP net loss widened to -$77.1M due to the $76.8M CQJV impairment; GAAP opex rose to $52.9M, including elevated legal costs and SB compensation; EBITDAS fell to $10.5M q/q .
- Communications and PS&I underperformed guidance: Communications -5.2% q/q (China smartphone softness); PS&I -9.8% q/q (power tools, e-mobility weakness), though quick chargers increased .
- Cash metrics tightened: Operating cash flow was -$2.8M (refund of customer deposits) and cash & equivalents declined to $153.1M; DSO lengthened to 15 days; CapEx elevated to $14.3M .
Financial Results
Quarterly Financials
Product Mix and Segment Metrics
Operating KPIs
Actual vs Consensus (S&P Global)
Values with asterisk retrieved from S&P Global. Primary EPS actuals align with reported non-GAAP diluted EPS in company materials for these periods .
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Our fiscal Q4 results came in at the high-end of our guidance, led by strength in Computing as A.I. and graphics revenue reached record levels… as well as continued momentum in wearables.” — CEO Stephen Chang .
- “Power IC revenue increased 25.8% sequentially and 30.2% year-over-year to a record quarterly high and now represents nearly 40% of total product revenue.” — CEO Stephen Chang .
- “Based on the valuation of this sale, we recorded an impairment charge of $76.8 million in the June quarter on the U.S. GAAP basis… With this sale, our ownership in CQJV will reduce to 18.9% from 39.2%.” — CFO Yifan Liang .
- “We anticipate non-GAAP gross margin to be 24.4%, plus or minus 1%… Non-GAAP operating expenses are expected to be $41.0 million, plus or minus $1.0 million.” — CFO Yifan Liang (Q1 FY2026 guidance) .
Q&A Highlights
- Computing digestion: Management expects a digestion period for the new AI program shipments in September, while design-ins for additional AI programs remain active; graphics demand “better than expectations” at add-in card makers .
- Gross margin dynamics: Q4 GM improved on mix; Q1 GM guided flattish as product mix and production levels remain similar despite higher revenue; longer-term margin improvement tied to growth areas and richer mix .
- CQJV proceeds/use of cash: $150M expected in installments by year-end; priorities include investing in technology/talent/capacity and selective M&A; board to evaluate potential capital returns; supply flexibility to balance internal vs third-party foundries .
- Tariffs: Direct tariff impact limited due to low US shipments, but PC demand pull-ins are prominent; customers accelerating builds before potential changes .
Estimates Context
- Q4 FY2025: Revenue beat ($176.5M vs $170.0M*); EPS beat ($0.02 vs -$0.01*). Q3 FY2025: Revenue beat ($164.6M vs $157.2M*); EPS beat (-$0.10 vs -$0.167*). Q2 FY2025: Revenue beat ($173.2M vs $170.1M*); EPS beat ($0.09 vs $0.08*) .
- With licensing revenue gone, consensus likely underestimated richer Power IC-driven mix and AI/graphics ramp; near-term estimates may need to reflect Q1 guidance implying sequential revenue growth with stable margins and segment commentary (PCs/smartphones/wearables strength; communications up >10% q/q) .
Values with asterisk retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Non-GAAP operational recovery: Despite GAAP impairment, the core business delivered margin improvement and EPS positivity on a richer Power IC mix and AI/graphics strength; monitor mix sustainability post-digestion .
- Guidance implies sequential growth: Q1 FY2026 revenue guide ~$183M ±$10M with flattish margins; upside hinges on PCs, Tier-1 US smartphone launch, wearables, and seasonality .
- Strategic liquidity and flexibility: $150M CQJV monetization enhances balance sheet and supply optionality; potential reinvestment into capacity/M&A and eventual capital return consideration .
- Watch transitory PC pull-ins: Tariff-driven PC demand pulled forward in Q4; expect digestion in AI programs and potential normalization risk in computing volumes near term .
- Segment mix matters: Communications expected >10% q/q in Q1; PS&I mixed with quick chargers positive but tools/e-mobility variable; Consumer down mid-single-digit in Q1 offset by wearables .
- Legal overhang reduced: BIS settlement ($4.25M) removes multi-year investigation uncertainty, supporting focus on execution .
- Trading setup: Narrative skewed to AI/graphics momentum and Q1 sequential growth; watch for margin progression vs mix, CQJV cash timing, and tariff policy developments as catalysts .