PI
POWER INTEGRATIONS INC (POWI)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2025 delivered modest upside: revenue $105.5M (+15% y/y), GAAP diluted EPS $0.15, non-GAAP EPS $0.31; non-GAAP gross margin 55.9% at the top end of guidance . Versus consensus, both revenue ($105.53M vs $105.44M*) and EPS ($0.31 vs $0.285*) slightly beat.*
- Mix skewed to consumer (44%) with industrial at 34%; sequential strength in appliances and air conditioning was aided by low channel inventory and some tariff-related pull-in, while computer and communications were seasonally softer .
- Management guided Q2 2025 revenue to $115M ± $5M, GAAP GM ≈55%, non-GAAP GM ≈55.5%, and raised non-GAAP OpEx to ≈$46M; other income expected to decline by ~$0.5M sequentially . Dividend maintained at $0.21/share and a new $50M buyback authorization announced after completing the prior $50M .
- Stock-relevant catalysts: continued buybacks, normalization of channel inventory (7.9 weeks), and accelerating GaN adoption in TVs, AI server auxiliary power, metering, and automotive; watch tariff policy for second-half demand risks .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Non-GAAP margin execution and EPS beat: non-GAAP GM 55.9% (top end) and EPS $0.31; CEO: “order trends have remained steady… channel inventories are at normal levels… we expect healthy sequential growth in the second quarter” .
- Consumer and computer y/y growth >20% each; TVs and game consoles wins with GaN-based InnoSwitch/InnoMux-2; appliances/air conditioning drove consumer upside .
- Strategic capital returns: 404K shares repurchased for $23.1M in Q1; completed remaining $25M in April; board authorized another $50M; dividend $0.21/share with next payment June 30, 2025 .
What Went Wrong
- Sequential softness in industrial (–3%) due to seasonality in tools/home automation and timing of high-power program; communications and computer down mid‑20s and mid‑teens sequentially on seasonal dynamics .
- Inventory days remain elevated at 326 (expected to taper in 2H); CFO flagged Q2 non-GAAP OpEx step-up and lower other income, tempering EPS leverage .
- Macro/trade-policy uncertainty: management explicitly cited tariff volatility and potential demand pressure; Q2 consumer outlook modeled below-seasonal following Q1 pull-in .
Financial Results
Core financials vs prior periods
Note: Management rounded Q1 revenue to “$106M” verbally; the 8‑K reports $105.5M .
Segment revenue mix (% of total)
KPIs
Q1 2025 vs Wall Street consensus (S&P Global)
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO on demand and outlook: “Bookings have been stable… distribution inventory is healthy… we expect a seasonally higher second quarter… trade policy adds uncertainty” .
- CFO on margins and OpEx: “For the year… non-GAAP gross margin ~55.5%… Q2 non-GAAP gross margin ~55.5%… non-GAAP OpEx ~$46M… other income down ~$0.5M” .
- Strategic focus: “We are utilizing our strong balance sheet to buy back shares… focusing on trends… energy efficiency, AI, electrification, and a cleaner, more modern power grid” .
- Product momentum: GaN wins in TVs/accessories; India metering and locomotives; high‑power HVDC projects in North Sea, Baltic Sea, Japan .
Q&A Highlights
- Industrial timing and growth drivers: A one‑quarter delay in a specific high‑power customer program; ramp in Q2; confidence in HVDC, renewables, locomotives driving 2025 growth .
- Consumer pull-in ahead of tariffs: Management estimates “a few million dollars” of Q1 upside in major appliances; subtracted from Q2 forecast .
- Automotive breakthrough: Sole‑sourced 900V GaN InnoSwitch design in U.S. EV; potential uptake in Europe; platform approach across 400V and 800V systems .
- Currency impact on margin: 10% yen move impacts GM by ~100–120 bps; currently ~200 bps benefit due to yen levels; buffer from inventory timing .
Estimates Context
- Q1 2025: Revenue $105.5M vs consensus $105.44M*; Primary EPS $0.31 vs $0.285* — both modest beats. Number of estimates: 5 for EPS and revenue.* Actuals: revenue and non-GAAP EPS per 8‑K .
- Q2 2025: Consensus revenue $115.02M* aligns with the company’s $115M ± $5M guide; consensus EPS $0.345* could face modest pressure from higher OpEx and lower other income . Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Revenue/earnings quality improved: non-GAAP GM at 55.9% and EPS beat despite seasonal softness in compute/communications; watch Q2 mix as consumer normalizes .
- Buyback and dividend underpin capital returns; new $50M authorization after completing prior $50M, with ~964K shares bought YTD through April (~2% outstanding) .
- GaN adoption is accelerating across TVs, chargers, AI server auxiliary power and metering; automotive GaN win signals multi-year content expansion .
- Industrial remains the 2025 growth engine (HVDC, renewables, locomotives); high‑power program ramps through Q2–Q4; monitor execution and project timing .
- Channel inventory normalization (7.9 weeks) reduces downside in a trade-related downturn; replenishment could be a tailwind if second-half macro is benign .
- Near-term model tweaks: raise Q2 revenue within the $110–$120M band; incorporate non-GAAP OpEx ~$46M, other income down ~$0.5M, tax rate ~5% .
- Risk monitor: tariff escalation and appliance demand; yen volatility effects on GM; elevated inventory days to taper in 2H — key watch points for margin and cash conversion .