F
Fabrinet (FN)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Record Q2 FY2025 revenue of $833.6M and GAAP EPS $2.38; non-GAAP EPS $2.61, both above company guidance; Q/Q revenue +3.7% and Y/Y +17.0% .
- Telecom outperformed (driven by DCI and early systems wins), while datacom moderated ahead of next-gen ramp; management guided another record revenue quarter for Q3 ($850–$870M) with non-GAAP EPS $2.55–$2.63 and GAAP EPS $2.32–$2.40 .
- Building 10 (2M sq ft) broke ground, adding ~$2.4B annual revenue capacity when fully utilized; near-term CapEx to rise ~$20M over the next 6–8 quarters .
- Share repurchase authorization expanded by $100M to $534.3M; Q2 buybacks totaled 292K shares at ~$235 for $69M, signaling confidence and capital return .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
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What Went Well
- “Record quarter for both revenue and profitability” with non-GAAP EPS $2.61; momentum expected to continue into Q3 and beyond .
- Telecom strength (+24% Y/Y, +17% Q/Q) driven by DCI and early systems wins; 400ZR reached ~10% of total revenue in Q2 .
- Strong non-optical performance: automotive +32% Y/Y, industrial lasers +24% Y/Y; operating leverage offset FX headwinds to keep operating margin ~10.6% .
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What Went Wrong
- Datacom softness sequentially (-9% within optical) as a major customer transitioned to next-gen products; management expects near-term moderation before next-gen ramp later CY2025 .
- FX headwinds pressured gross margin (GAAP 12.1% vs 12.7% in Q1); effective GAAP tax rate elevated to 8.7% due to discrete items .
- Component tightness: EMLs remain in short supply, a potential constraint into the 800G/1.6T cycle .
Financial Results
Segment and mix
KPIs and Cash Flow
Guidance Changes
Note: Q2 FY2025 actuals exceeded Q1-issued Q2 guidance (Revenue $800–$820M; non-GAAP EPS $2.44–$2.52) with $833.6M and $2.61 respectively .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Our telecom performance was very strong and benefited from both increasing demand for datacenter interconnect products as well as early progress from recent systems wins… we continue to anticipate more rapid growth as next-generation products ramp production” — Seamus Grady .
- “Optical Communications revenue was $647 million… datacom $299M… telecom $348M… 400 ZR products… reached 10% of total revenue in the quarter” — Csaba Sverha .
- “We broke ground on Building 10… 2 million square foot facility… about a $2.4 billion capacity addition” — Seamus Grady .
- “Effective GAAP tax rate was elevated in the quarter at 8.7% due to discrete items. We continue to expect an effective tax rate in the mid-single digits for the fiscal year” — Csaba Sverha .
- “We repurchased 292,000 shares… average price of $235 per share for a total… $69 million… Board authorized an additional $100 million” — Csaba Sverha .
Q&A Highlights
- Telecom trajectory and visibility: Strength driven by DCI/ZR and early systems wins; additional systems wins still not fully reflected; Ciena meaningful from late CY2025 into FY2026 .
- Datacom timing and pricing: Next-gen ramp tied to customer schedule; steep ramp expected; ASP uplift vs 800G muted given cost focus and redesign .
- ZR evolution: 400ZR dominant in 2025; 800ZR qualified and shipping; 400ZR ~10% of Q2 total revenue .
- Tariffs: No direct negative impact observed; possible share gains if customers re-shore/shift; benefits would materialize over months/quarters .
- Capacity & CapEx cadence: Building 10 lead time ~18 months; CapEx uplift ~$20M over 6–8 quarters as construction progresses .
Estimates Context
- S&P Global Wall Street consensus for FN EPS and revenue was unavailable at time of request due to SPGI rate limits; as a result, we cannot quantify beats/misses vs consensus. Values would ordinarily be retrieved from S&P Global.
- Company results exceeded its own Q2 guidance ranges (Revenue $800–$820M vs actual $833.6M; non-GAAP EPS $2.44–$2.52 vs actual $2.61) indicating internal beat strength even without consensus comparison .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Q2 delivered record revenue/EPS above guidance; Q3 guide implies another record top line ($850–$870M) with resilient margins despite FX headwinds — supportive near-term setup .
- Telecom recovery is real and accelerating (DCI/ZR, early systems wins), offsetting datacom transition softness and de-risking the near-term mix .
- Datacom next-gen (1.6T) remains a mid/late-2025 catalyst; management prepared for a steep ramp contingent on customer launch timing .
- Building 10 materially expands capacity (~$2.4B potential), signaling confidence; expect CapEx tailwind to FCF in medium term but strategic leverage longer term .
- Capital return remains active: $100M authorization increase; Q2 repurchases $69M at ~$235, providing downside support while growth investments proceed .
- Watch EML supply tightness and FX headwinds; management expects operating leverage to offset margin pressure, but components/FX could add volatility .
- Potential tariff-driven share shifts could benefit FN over months/quarters as customers reassess manufacturing locations .