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DI

DATA I/O CORP (DAIO)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Bookings inflected: Q2 bookings rose to $5.8M from $4.6M in Q1 (+~$1.2M) as auto EV demand in China offset tariff-driven CapEx delays; backlog ended at $2.8M and includes a 10-system UFS 4.0 order (> $1.4M) slated for 2H delivery .
  • Revenue of $5.95M grew 17% y/y but fell 3.7% q/q; gross margin compressed to 49.8% on lower-options system mix and prototype costs; GAAP EPS was ($0.08) vs ($0.09) y/y and ($0.04) in Q1 .
  • Non-GAAP lens: ~$480k one-time platform/IT/leadership costs in Q2 drove Adjusted EBITDA to ($0.44M); excluding these, AEBITDA would have been +$0.04M and operating loss would improve from ($0.84M) to ($0.36M) .
  • Catalysts into 2H: first UFS 4.0 win in China; multiple product launches (LumenX-M8/FCIII-M4 rolling into broader roadmap), six large trade shows, and management-identified ~$512k annual IT savings underway; management expects a broader product mix and improved margins in 2H while noting some CFO transition “double spend” in Q3/Q4 .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

  • What Went Well

    • Bookings momentum returned: Q2 bookings climbed to $5.8M (from $4.6M in Q1) despite tariff uncertainty; automotive represented 66% with Asia/China strength, and backlog ended at $2.8M with 10 PSV systems (> $1.4M) for 2H delivery .
    • Strategic UFS 4.0 milestone and EV win: Data I/O received its first UFS 4.0 order and booked 10 systems with LumenX heads for a leading China EV supplier after demonstrating improved UFS capabilities .
    • Cash and cost actions: Cash was ~$10.0M at Q2-end with no debt, while management is executing IT and cost initiatives that target ~$512k of annualized savings, roughly half implemented by Q2 .
  • What Went Wrong

    • Margin pressure: Gross margin fell to 49.8% vs 51.6% in Q1 and 54.5% y/y, driven by a low-options mix on shipped systems and prototype/V1 reskin costs not tied to revenue .
    • One-time costs weighed on profitability: ~$480k non-recurring platform, IT, and leadership transition expenses pushed operating loss to ($0.84M) and Adjusted EBITDA to ($0.44M) .
    • Demand uncertainty ex-Asia: Europe and the Americas remained pressured by tariff/trade uncertainty, with Korea notably stalling CapEx versus initial expectations .

Financial Results

P&L summary (oldest → newest)

MetricQ2 2024Q1 2025Q2 2025
Revenue ($M)$5.06 $6.18 $5.95
Gross Margin %54.5% 51.6% 49.8%
Operating Expenses ($M)$3.32 $3.57 $3.80
Operating Income ($M)($0.57) ($0.38) ($0.84)
Net Income ($M)($0.80) ($0.38) ($0.74)
Diluted EPS ($)($0.09) ($0.04) ($0.08)
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)$0.00 ($0.10) ($0.44)

Operating KPIs and mix

KPIQ2 2024Q1 2025Q2 2025
Bookings ($M)$5.6 $4.6 $5.8
Backlog ($M, period-end)N/A$2.9 $2.8
Deferred Revenue ($M, period-end)N/A~$1.5 ~$1.3
Revenue Mix – Consumables & ServicesN/A46% 50%
Auto Share of BookingsN/A66% 66%

Balance sheet snapshots

MetricDec 31, 2024Mar 31, 2025Jun 30, 2025
Cash & Equivalents ($M)$10.33 $10.49 $9.97
Working Capital ($M)16.1 >$16.0 15.6
DebtNone None None

Notes:

  • Q2 margin compression was attributed to low-options configurations in a large order mix and prototype/reskin costs; direct materials remained stable .
  • Q2 one-time expenses (~$480k) were tied to core platform/IT investments and HR/CFO transition; excluding these, Q2 AEBITDA would be ~$0.04M and operating loss would narrow to ~$0.36M .

Guidance Changes

No formal quantitative guidance was provided; management offered qualitative updates.

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent Guidance/CommentaryChange
Revenue/Profitability2H 2025Not providedExpect delivery of 10 PSV systems (> $1.4M) from China EV order in 2H; broader product mix expected to aid margins Qualitative uplift
Gross Margin2H 2025Not providedMix expected to normalize with more balanced 3k/5k/7k systems; margin should improve vs Q2 trough Positive qualitative
Operating Expenses2H 2025Not providedCFO transition to cause “double spend” in Q3 and possibly Q4; identified ~$512k annual IT savings, ~half implemented by Q2 Mixed (temp up, run-rate down)
Product Roadmap2H 2025N/AMultiple launches/events (China, Germany Productronica, India, Mexico) to drive leads; UFS 4.0 capability established New info
End-Market/Region2H 2025N/AAsia/China EV strong; Europe/Americas pressured by tariffs; mitigation through dual manufacturing, sourcing/logistics shifts Ongoing headwinds

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q4’24 and Q1’25)Current Period (Q2’25)Trend
AI/Tech & PlatformQ4: AI-agent for support; focus on optimizing core platform . Q1: Unified Programming Platform; LumenX-M8, FCIII-M4 showcased; semi partnerships forming .First UFS 4.0 order; heavy focus on UFS/NVMe yields; platform redesign (M8/M4), bench equipment, target 99.8–99.9% yields .Accelerating execution
Supply Chain/TariffsQ4: Tariff/trade headwinds; dual US/China manufacturing . Q1: Bookings slowed late quarter on tariff uncertainty; mitigation via sourcing/logistics .Demand impacted early Q2; improved in June; ongoing mitigation; minor tariff cost creep in inputs like aluminum .Persistent but managed
Product PerformanceQ1: Manual lineup refreshed (M8/M4); strong trade show interest .Broader H2 launches; equal-weight mix of 3k/5k/7k systems expected; margin rebound expected on mix .Product cycle building
Regional TrendsQ1: Asia down 40% y/y; Americas/Europe recovered sequentially .Asia/China EV strength; Europe/Americas CapEx delays .China-led rebound
R&D/Cost StructureQ4: Cost reductions; optimization initiatives . Q1: Sequential expense reduction; Q1 public company costs .Q2 one-time ~$480k investments/transition; identified ~$512k annual IT savings; ABC costing to refine margin visibility .Near-term spend to enable savings
DiversificationQ1: Building beyond auto; consultative sales .Still auto-heavy (66%); pipeline building, EMS/service initiatives, Salesforce Service Cloud rollout to monetize field service .In progress

Management Commentary

  • “We received an order for 10 systems valued at over $1.4 million from one of the largest EV manufacturing suppliers in China due to our robust support for UFS 4.0 technology.” — CEO .
  • “Gross margin…49.8%… A lower margin product mix and configuration of automated systems driven by a large customer order led to reduced margins.” — CFO .
  • “Total one-time investments and expenses in the second quarter…approximately $480,000…Backing [them] out…Adjusted EBITDA would have been $43,000.” — CFO .
  • “We have six major events between September and November…These are big announcements that really drive…where Data I/O is going with its technology and its roadmap overall.” — CEO .
  • “We’ve already identified about $512,000 worth of spend reduction in our IT annually…about halfway…implemented.” — CFO .

Q&A Highlights

  • One-time costs and OpEx trajectory: ~$480k Q2 non-recurring spending primarily in G&A (IT, finance, HR/CFO); expect Q3–Q4 CFO transition overlap; identified ~$512k annual IT savings, ~50% implemented by Q2 .
  • UFS yield and platform redesign: Targeting 99.8–99.9% memory yields; bench equipment added; socket/contact strategy evaluated; moving from 8-site to 4-site architecture to increase per-pin power for UFS; near-term focus on 3.1 and 4.0 protocols .
  • Gross margin outlook: Q2 trough due to small systems with fewer options and prototype costs; 2H mix expected to be more balanced across 3k/5k/7k SKUs, aiding margins .
  • Bookings trajectory: Q2 bookings improved; management expects bookings to continue rising with product launches and show activity; ability to book-and-ship within quarter aided Q2 .
  • Diversification and field service monetization: Intensifying consultative sales, EMS penetration, and Salesforce Service Cloud rollout to convert service into recurring revenue via “milk runs” and health checks .

Estimates Context

S&P Global consensus for DAIO in Q2 2025 was not published; we found no EPS or revenue consensus figures to compare against actuals (microcap coverage appears limited). As a result, no beat/miss vs consensus can be determined for Q2 2025.

  • Consensus EPS: No published consensus*
  • Consensus Revenue: No published consensus*
  • Actual EPS (diluted): ($0.08)
  • Actual Revenue: $5.95M

*Values retrieved from S&P Global.

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Bookings inflection and first UFS 4.0 win are tangible demand signals; 2H deliveries (10 systems, >$1.4M) and expanded event cadence should support order momentum and pipeline depth .
  • Q2 looks like a margin trough driven by mix and prototype costs; management expects mix normalization and margin improvement in 2H as product launches broaden the SKU/options mix .
  • Near-term OpEx noise from one-time platform/IT/leadership costs and CFO overlap should abate; identified ~$512k annual IT savings can aid 2026 run-rate profitability if executed .
  • Strategic focus on UFS/NVMe complexity plays to DAIO’s strengths; if yield targets are met and socket strategy executed, the company can differentiate in high-density memory programming across auto and beyond .
  • End-market concentration in auto (66% of bookings) remains a risk; watch for diversification progress via EMS/service initiatives and manual programmer uptake in 2H .
  • Cash (~$10M) and no debt provide resilience to navigate tariff headwinds and fund the roadmap; working capital remains solid .
  • Trading setup: Absent consensus benchmarks, narrative catalysts (UFS progress, 2H margin recovery, product launches) are likely to drive sentiment; monitor Q3 gross margin trajectory and bookings cadence for confirmation .