SC
SANMINA CORP (SANM)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 FY25 delivered revenue of $1.98B and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $1.41; both exceeded the company’s outlook and beat Wall Street consensus on revenue and EPS. Consensus EPS was ~$1.375 and revenue ~$1.965B; actuals were $1.41 and $1.984B, respectively, a beat on both metrics (consensus values from S&P Global)* .
- Non-GAAP operating margin was 5.6% and non-GAAP gross margin 9.1%, modestly higher year over year, driven by favorable mix and operational efficiencies .
- Q3 FY25 guidance calls for revenue of $1.925–$2.025B and non-GAAP EPS of $1.35–$1.45, a slight raise versus prior quarter’s guidance ranges, with CFO detailing margin, OpEx, OIE and tax guardrails; management still sees FY25 as a growth year .
- Stock reaction catalysts: accelerating Communications Networks & Cloud Infrastructure demand (+20.3% YoY), the push into full rack integration and liquid cooling, and a strategic acquisition announced May 19 to acquire ZT Systems’ data center manufacturing business from AMD to deepen AI/Cloud infrastructure exposure .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
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What Went Well
- Strong end-market performance: Communications Networks & Cloud Infrastructure revenue was $733M (+20.3% YoY), 37% of total, as high-end routing/switching and optical networks strengthened; “AI requirements continue to evolve…we are expanding our capabilities to meet present and future demand” .
- Margins edged up: Non-GAAP gross margin was 9.1% (up ~20 bps YoY) and non-GAAP operating margin was 5.6% (up ~20 bps YoY), driven by mix and operational efficiencies; “either met or exceeded all of our outlook commitments” .
- Robust cash generation and capital returns: Cash from operations $157M; FCF $126M; repurchased ~1.03M shares for ~$84M; ending cash $647M .
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What Went Wrong
- Elevated OpEx: Non-GAAP operating expenses were $70.7M, above outlook due to targeted investments to drive future growth .
- Tariff uncertainty persists: Management emphasized scenario planning and agility; “uncertainty remains…we remain in constant communication with our customers,” with costs passed through to customers, but potential demand impacts remain a risk .
- Program timing: One major customer program was pushed out for redesign until late Q4 FY25 timing, tempering near-term growth cadence despite longer-term optimism .
Financial Results
- Year-over-year (Q2 FY24 → Q2 FY25)
- Sequential trend (Q4 FY24 → Q1 FY25 → Q2 FY25)
- Segment Breakdown (Q2 FY24 → Q2 FY25)
- KPIs (Q2 FY25)
- Results vs. Wall Street Consensus (S&P Global)
Values marked with * retrieved from S&P Global.
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We delivered solid financial results for the second quarter, with revenue at the high end and non-GAAP earnings per share exceeding our outlook… We remain confident that fiscal 2025 will be a growth year.” — Jure Sola, CEO .
- “Our revenue of $1.98 billion and our non-GAAP operating margin of 5.6%, each came in towards the high end of our outlook… puts us on the right path towards achieving our long-term financial goals of driving growth and expanding margins.” — Jon Faust, CFO .
- “AI requirements continue to evolve at a rapid pace and is driving technology advancement. We are expanding our capabilities to meet present and future demand… our goal is to provide industry-leading capabilities from design to full system end-to-end solution for the data center and cloud infrastructure.” — Jure Sola, CEO .
- “Our third quarter outlook… non-GAAP gross margin of 8.6% to 9.0%… OpEx of $62M to $66M… non-GAAP EPS in the range of $1.35 to $1.45… we expect revenue to grow between 6.0% and 8.0% on a full year basis.” — Jon Faust, CFO .
Q&A Highlights
- Tariffs: No major changes in last 90 days; multiple customer discussions on options; footprint enables local/global shifts; costs are passed through, but demand could be impacted .
- Demand cadence: Guidance prudence amid dynamics; one major program pushed out for redesign to late Q4 timing; longer-term opportunities remain robust (FY26–27) .
- Inventory: Sequential gross inventory up as stockpiles build for growth; focus remains on net inventory and improving turns (target ~6x; achieved 5.9x) .
- Communications end-market: Strength led by high-end routers/switches and optical packaging; inventory correction largely near end; demand seen strong in next couple of quarters .
- Capacity/technology investments: Targeted capacity/tech additions in India (data center), Mexico, North America; expansion in high-tech PCBs and mechanical capacity; CapEx ~2% of revenue for FY25 .
Estimates Context
- Q2 FY25 beats: Actual EPS $1.41 vs consensus $1.375*; revenue $1.984B vs $1.965B*. Q1 FY25 also beat EPS ($1.44 vs $1.37*) and revenue ($2.006B vs $1.978B*) (consensus values from S&P Global)* .
- Implications: Margins and mix are trending slightly higher; targeted OpEx indicates ongoing investment. With Q3 guide midpoint slightly above prior quarter’s guide, revisions may bias modestly upward on EPS for near term if execution/mix hold .
Values marked with * retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Momentum in Communications Networks & Cloud Infrastructure and AI-related systems integration is the core growth engine near term; watch continued mix shifts and pipeline ramps .
- Margins are stable-to-improving on non-GAAP basis (gross 9.1%, operating 5.6%); favorable mix and efficiencies offset higher OpEx investments .
- Cash generation remains strong (CFO $157M; FCF $126M) enabling both growth investments (US/India/Mexico) and buybacks ($84M in Q2; $253M remaining authorization) .
- Near-term risk: tariff outcomes and program timing (one redesign push-out); management’s diversified footprint and pass-through mechanisms mitigate, but demand volatility remains a watch item .
- Q3 guide is a slight raise vs Q2 guide midpoint (revenue and EPS), supporting FY25 growth narrative; monitor gross margin range (8.6–9.0%) and OpEx containment against investments .
- Strategic M&A: planned acquisition of ZT Systems’ manufacturing business from AMD should expand scale and hyperscaler exposure in AI/Cloud, with expected non-GAAP EPS accretion post-close; monitor regulatory timeline and integration execution .
- Trading setup: Positive estimate surprise pattern and AI/Cloud momentum vs tariff macro overhang; catalysts include data center program ramps, India capacity come-online, and transaction updates .