AXT, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2015 Financial Results
FREMONT, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/30/15 -- AXT, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXTI), a leading manufacturer of compound semiconductor substrates, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015.
First Quarter 2015 Results Revenue for the first quarter of 2015 was $20.1 million compared with $19.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Gross margin was 23.7 percent of revenue for the first quarter of 2015, compared with 25.4 percent of revenue in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Operating expenses were $6.5 million in the first quarter of 2015, compared with $5.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. The increase was largely the result of professional fees in the first quarter totaling $1.2 million associated with an internal investigation of certain potential related-party transactions, which was completed during the first quarter. Investigation fees in the fourth quarter of 2014 were $0.6 million.
Operating loss for the first quarter of 2015 was $1.7 million compared with $592,000 in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Net interest and other income for the first quarter of 2015 was $930,000, compared with $260,000 in the fourth quarter of 2014. The first quarter 2015 total was primarily attributable to $200,000 from equity earnings of the company's unconsolidated joint ventures, $368,000 from the sale of IntelliEpi stock, $180,000 from a gain on foreign exchange and $182,000 from interest income and other income.
Net loss in the first quarter of 2015 was $1 million or a loss of $0.03 per diluted share compared with $311,000 or $0.01 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Management Qualitative Comments "As we move into 2015, our goal is to take advantage of developing market conditions in our business," said Morris Young, chief executive officer. "Gallium arsenide has stabilized and addresses a market with numerous applications and dynamic opportunities. Indium phosphide is growing and we are investing in ways to capitalize on industry demand. Additionally, we see catalysts for growth this year in several of our target markets and believe that we continue to benefit from our unique vertical integration. In total, our diversified revenue base, solid competitive positioning and lower cost structure give us renewed optimism for our direction and prospects."
Conference Call The company will host a conference call to discuss these results today at 1:30 p.m. PT. The conference call can be accessed at (719) 325-2458 (passcode 2515056). The call will also be simulcast on the Internet at www.axt.com. Replays will be available at (719) 457-0820 (passcode 2515056) until May 6, 2015. Financial and statistical information to be discussed in the call will be available on the company's website immediately prior to commencement of the call. Additional investor information can be accessed at http://www.axt.com or by calling the company's Investor Relations Department at (510) 683-5900.
About AXT, Inc. AXT designs, develops, manufactures and distributes high-performance compound and single element semiconductor substrates comprising gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium phosphide (InP) and germanium (Ge) through its manufacturing facilities in Beijing, China. In addition, AXT maintains its sales, administration and customer service functions at its headquarters in Fremont, California. The company's substrate products are used primarily in lighting display applications, wireless communications, fiber optic communications and solar cell. Its vertical gradient freeze (VGF) technique for manufacturing semiconductor substrates provides significant benefits over other methods and enabled AXT to become a leading manufacturer of such substrates. AXT has manufacturing facilities in China and invests in joint ventures in China producing raw materials. For more information, see AXT's website at http://www.axt.com.
Safe Harbor Statement The foregoing paragraphs contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal securities laws, including, for example, statements regarding the market demand for our products, our market opportunity, and our expectations with respect to our business prospects. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to the company's operations and business environment, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements contained in the foregoing discussion. These uncertainties and factors include but are not limited to: overall conditions in the markets in which the company competes; global financial conditions and uncertainties; policies and regulations in China; market acceptance and demand for the company's products; the impact of factory closures or other events causing delays by our customers on the timing of sales of our products; our ability to control costs, our ability to utilize our manufacturing capacity; product yields and their impact on gross margins; and other factors as set forth in the company's annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each of these factors is difficult to predict and many are beyond the company's control. The company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
AXT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
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2015 2014
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Revenue $ 20,064 $ 19,345
Cost of revenue 15,315 16,627
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Gross profit 4,749 2,718
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Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative 5,251 3,436
Research and development 1,241 775
Restructuring charge 0 907
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Total operating expenses 6,492 5,118
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Income (loss) from operations (1,743) (2,400)
Interest income, net 97 127
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint
ventures 200 487
Other expense, net 633 10
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Income (loss) before provision for income taxes (813) (1,776)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes 86 59
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Net income (loss) (899) (1,835)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling
interest (125) (205)
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Net income (loss) attributable to AXT, Inc. $ (1,024) $ (2,040)
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Net income (loss) attributable to AXT, Inc. per
common share:
Basic $ (0.03) $ (0.06)
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Diluted $ (0.03) $ (0.06)
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Weighted average number of common shares
outstanding:
Basic 32,553 32,364
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Diluted 32,553 32,364
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AXT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited, in thousands)
March 31, December 31,
2015 2014
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Assets:
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 33,285 $ 28,814
Short-term investments 3,590 12,340
Accounts receivable, net 18,787 17,864
Inventories 39,475 38,574
Related party notes receivable - current 173 171
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 4,312 5,430
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Total current assets 99,622 103,193
Long-term investments 10,612 7,783
Property, plant and equipment, net 33,223 33,862
Related party notes receivable - long-term 1,710 1,704
Other assets 15,128 14,975
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Total assets $ 160,295 $ 161,517
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Liabilities and stockholders' equity:
Current liabilities
Accounts payable $ 9,131 $ 7,137
Accrued liabilities 5,815 7,634
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Total current liabilities 14,946 14,771
Long-term portion of royalty payments 1,581 1,725
Other long-term liabilities 350 333
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Total liabilities 16,877 16,829
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Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock 3,532 3,532
Common stock 32 32
Additional paid-in capital 195,152 195,419
Accumulated deficit (69,417) (68,393)
Accumulated other comprehensive income 7,620 7,673
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Total AXT, Inc. stockholders' equity 136,919 138,263
Noncontrolling interest 6,499 6,425
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Total stockholders' equity 143,418 144,688
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Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 160,295 $ 161,517
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Contacts: Gary Fischer Chief Financial Officer (510) 683-5900 Leslie Green Green Communications Consulting, LLC (650) 312-9060
Source: AXT, Inc.