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AVIAT NETWORKS, INC. (AVNW)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- AVNW delivered a strong rebound in Q2 FY25: revenue $118.2M (+26.2% YoY), non-GAAP gross margin 35.3%, and a company-record adjusted EBITDA $14.8M; non-GAAP EPS was $0.82. Management cited Pasolink contributions, mix improvement (North America, software), and disciplined OpEx as key drivers .
- Guidance was maintained: FY25 revenue $430–$470M and adjusted EBITDA $30–$40M, with seasonality implying a softer Q3 (March quarter) and stronger Q4 (June quarter) relative to Q2 .
- Operating execution and cash improved: book-to-bill 1.08, cash from operations $20.8M (best in at least seven years), net debt reduced by $10M to $22.3M, and 34.6k shares repurchased .
- Strategic update: Pasolink bookings ~$40M in Q2 (run-rate trajectory to $140M by FY25 exit); first Pasolink radio shipped from new Thailand CM, which should support lead times and margins; private networks steady; U.S. Tier 1 muted but sequentially better; Europe strengthening; Africa constrained by FX/interest rates .
- Consensus estimates (S&P Global) for Q2 FY25 were unavailable at time of analysis due to an S&P Global request limit; comparison vs Street is not included. Values from S&P Global could not be retrieved this cycle.
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
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What Went Well
- Record profitability: “highest quarterly adjusted EBITDA” at $14.8M driven by healthy sales, margins and cost discipline; non-GAAP EPS $0.82 and book-to-bill >1 support quality of demand .
- Pasolink execution: Q2 bookings ~$40M with Q2 revenue “just shy of” $35M; three-quarter average orders at $35M support exiting FY25 at ~$140M annualized, with first Thailand CM shipment to improve lead times and margins .
- Cash and working capital: CFOA $20.8M in Q2 (best in ≥7 years), net debt improved by $10M to $22.3M; repurchased 34.6k shares .
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What Went Wrong
- Margin pressure vs prior year: GAAP gross margin 34.6% and non-GAAP 35.3% declined ~420bps/350bps YoY due to Pasolink addition and product mix; gross margins, however, rebounded sharply from Q1 .
- U.S. Tier 1 remains muted: management emphasized the softness is “between projects” and timing-related; Q2 sequentially improved but outlook still conservative in FY25 .
- Africa remains weak: demand constrained by currencies and elevated USD/EUR rates; management expects modest activity through calendar 2025 .
Financial Results
Product vs. Services revenue
Geographic revenue
KPIs and balance sheet snapshots
Notes on non-GAAP: Management excludes share-based compensation, M&A and other nonrecurring items, and restructuring from non-GAAP operating results; reconciliations are provided in the press release tables .
Guidance Changes
Management commentary on swing factors: upside drivers include faster private networks conversion, stronger rural broadband, and global MNO upgrades; downside risks include tariff-induced supply chain ripples, Tier 1 pushouts, and slower backlog conversion .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “The highest quarterly revenue the company has had in over a decade and record quarterly adjusted EBITDA… profitability… strong… thanks to a higher level of revenue and margin as well as disciplined spending.” – CEO Pete Smith .
- “Pasolink orders for the last 3 quarters have averaged $35 million, setting us up for continued growth… and giving us confidence we will meet our $140 million run rate target by the end of the fiscal year.” – CEO .
- “Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter was $14.8 million… This marks a record quarterly adjusted EBITDA for Aviat.” – CFO Michael Connaway .
- On mix and margins: “Gross profits rebounded… improved revenue mix… North America improved… better product and software mix… 4RF trades at more favorable gross margins.” – CFO .
- On supply chain/tariffs: “We’ve dusted off the COVID playbook… well positioned to deal with potential supply chain interruptions… customers value our U.S. basis.” – CEO .
Q&A Highlights
- Demand/bookings: Q2 book-to-bill 1.08; Pasolink bookings “upwards of $40M”; 4RF performance also above plan .
- U.S. Tier 1: Still muted and timing-driven; sequentially up in Q2; faster recovery would be upside to guide .
- Pasolink margins: Improving; further runway as CM transfer completes, likely more in Q4; company GM in mid-30s in Q2 .
- Working capital/cash: CFOA $20.8M; first material working capital reduction since Pasolink ownership; inventory peaks in Q3 then converts to cash into Q4/FY26 .
- Geographic/segment color: Europe improving (China vendor restrictions a tailwind); Africa weak on FX/rates; private networks strong (public safety, utilities) .
- Guidance sensitivities: Upside—faster private networks conversion, rural broadband, global MNO upgrades; Downside—tariff-related supply chain ripples, Tier 1 pushouts, slower backlog conversion .
Estimates Context
- Wall Street consensus for Q2 FY25 (revenue and EPS) from S&P Global was unavailable at the time of analysis due to an S&P Global request limit. As a result, we cannot quantify beats/misses versus Street for this quarter. Please note: S&P Global consensus values could not be retrieved this cycle; revisit when access restores.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Execution inflection: Q2 delivered a sharp snapback from Q1, with record adjusted EBITDA, resilient mid-30s non-GAAP gross margin, and robust bookings—evidence that mix normalization and Pasolink scale are taking hold .
- Pasolink on track: Three consecutive quarters of ~$35M average orders and the first CM shipment validate integration progress and underpin the $140M run-rate exit target for FY25; continued CM transition should aid margins and lead times into Q4 .
- Private networks steady; U.S. Tier 1 timing: Public safety/utilities remain healthy while U.S. Tier 1 is still between projects but improved sequentially; management frames Tier 1 headwinds as timing, not structural .
- Cash discipline improving: Record quarterly CFOA ($20.8M), net debt reduction, and working-capital actions signal improving balance sheet optionality into the back half and FY26 .
- Guidance intact with seasonal cadence: FY25 guide maintained with softer Q3 (weather/install timing) and stronger Q4; upside hinges on faster conversion and Tier 1 timing, while tariffs/supply chain remain the key watch item .
- Margin watch: YoY GM compression (Pasolink mix) persists vs Q2 FY24 but rebounded meaningfully vs Q1; further improvement likely as CM transfer completes and mix (NA/software/4RF) stays favorable .
- Governance/controls: Added audit expertise to the Board; management continues to remediate FY24 material weaknesses—monitor for updates and potential completion in 2025 .
Additional Relevant Press Releases in Q2 FY25 Window
- Cybersecurity enhancements: Strengthened Secure SDLC and Software Vulnerability Alert services to meet latest requirements, including proactive CVE notifications—supporting critical infrastructure customer needs .
- Board: Appointment of Scott K. Halliday (independent; Audit Committee) adds deep finance/audit governance experience .