Core Viewpoint - Kulicke and Soffa (KLIC) is positioned as a strong investment opportunity due to its improving earnings outlook and analysts raising earnings estimates [1][2]. Estimate Revisions - The upward trend in earnings estimate revisions indicates growing analyst optimism regarding Kulicke and Soffa's earnings prospects, which is expected to positively impact its stock price [2]. - For the current quarter, the earnings estimate is $0.33 per share, reflecting a decrease of 10.8% from the previous year, but the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased by 280% over the last 30 days due to one upward revision [6]. - For the full year, the earnings estimate stands at $1.53 per share, representing a significant increase of 628.6% from the previous year, with two estimates moving higher recently and a 20% increase in the consensus estimate [7][8]. Zacks Rank - Kulicke and Soffa has achieved a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating strong agreement among analysts in raising earnings estimates, which historically correlates with stock price outperformance [3][9]. - Stocks with Zacks Rank 1 and 2 have shown significant outperformance compared to the S&P 500, reinforcing the potential for Kulicke and Soffa's stock to rise [9]. Stock Performance - The stock has gained 6.3% over the past four weeks, driven by solid estimate revisions, suggesting that its earnings growth prospects may lead to further price increases [10].

Core Viewpoint - Kulicke and Soffa (KLIC) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][4]. Earnings Estimates and Ratings - The Zacks rating system is primarily based on a company's changing earnings picture, specifically the Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS from sell-side analysts [2]. - The Zacks rating upgrade for Kulicke and Soffa indicates a positive outlook on its earnings, likely leading to increased buying pressure and a rise in stock price [4][6]. Impact of Earnings Estimate Revisions - Changes in a company's future earnings potential, as shown by earnings estimate revisions, are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [5]. - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of stocks, and their trading activities based on these estimates can significantly influence stock prices [5]. Performance Metrics - Kulicke and Soffa is projected to earn $1.53 per share for the fiscal year ending September 2026, with no year-over-year change expected [9]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kulicke and Soffa has increased by 20%, reflecting a positive trend in earnings estimates [9]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [8]. - Kulicke and Soffa's upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 places it in the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [11].

Core Insights - Kulicke & Soffa Industries reported impressive fourth-quarter performance, leading to a nearly 11% increase in share price despite general market sentiment against tech stocks [1][2][7] Financial Performance - The company's fiscal fourth quarter of 2025 net revenue was approximately $177.6 million, a decrease of 2% year-over-year, while non-GAAP net income rose by 42% to nearly $14.9 million [2][3] - Kulicke & Soffa exceeded analyst expectations for revenue, which was estimated at $168.3 million, and also surpassed the consensus earnings per share (EPS) estimate of $0.22 [3] Future Outlook - For the first quarter of fiscal 2026, the company anticipates revenue between $180 million and $200 million, with adjusted EPS projected at $0.30 to $0.36, compared to analyst estimates of $167 million in revenue and $0.23 EPS [6] - The company is focusing on multiple technology engagements and is optimistic about improving market dynamics and order activity [3][6]

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Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q4 2025 was $177.6 million, with GAAP earnings per share of $0.12 and non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.28 [8][15] - Gross margins were reported at 45.7%, with total operating expenses at $80.3 million on a GAAP basis and just below $70 million on a non-GAAP basis [15][16] - For the upcoming December quarter, revenue is expected to increase by approximately 7% sequentially to $190 million, with gross margins projected at 47% [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - General semiconductor revenue increased by 24% sequentially, with utilization rates over 80% [9] - Memory-related revenue increased by nearly 60% sequentially to $24.4 million, driven by NAND-related capacity additions [9] - Advanced packaging solutions saw a 17% sequential increase in APS, indicating improved production activity [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Utilization rates for general semiconductor and memory applications are improving, with memory utilization at approximately 82%-83% [40] - The automotive and industrial markets are expected to show sequential improvement in the December quarter, despite previous headwinds [10][66] - China’s utilization rates are close to 90%, indicating strong demand in that region [40][58] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its market presence in advanced packaging, advanced dispense, and power semiconductor opportunities [14][18] - There is a commitment to innovation and customer engagement, particularly in response to the rise of chiplet architectures and heterogeneous integration [6][7] - The company anticipates that half of its incremental growth in fiscal 2026 will stem from technology transitions and share gains in new markets [17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about improving end market dynamics and the potential for growth in fiscal 2026 [10][17] - The company is preparing for higher production levels and is confident in its operational efficiencies to navigate the current macro environment [17][18] - Management noted that the automotive and industrial markets are expected to recover, driven by technology transitions in power semiconductors [66] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $16.7 million worth of shares during the September quarter, totaling 2.4 million shares for the fiscal year [16] - The transition in leadership with Lester Wong as Interim CEO is expected to be seamless, maintaining strategic focus and operational stability [5][6] Q&A Session Summary Question: Guidance on segment growth for general semi, memory, and auto-industrial - Management indicated strong growth in general semi and memory, with expectations for sequential growth in auto-industrial as well [22][24] Question: Status of FTC plasma solution and competition - Management stated that they remain competitive in high-volume production and continue to feel strong about their FTC solution [25][26] Question: Details on HBM system shipment - The shipment is to a customer in the U.S., with the next milestone being system installation and qualification [31][32] Question: Insights into NAND market - Management reported high utilization rates in the NAND market, particularly in China, with increasing purchase orders [40] Question: Expectations for unit growth in general semi market - Management predicts unit growth of approximately 5%-7% for 2026, supported by high utilization rates [58] Question: Dynamics in the memory market - Management noted that memory utilization is high and sales are increasing, indicating a ramp in memory that will continue into FY 2026 [64]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q4 2025 was $177.6 million, with GAAP earnings per share of $0.12 and non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.28, reflecting a focus on operational efficiency [7][14] - Gross margins were reported at 45.7%, with total operating expenses at $80.3 million on a GAAP basis and just below $70 million on a non-GAAP basis [14] - For the upcoming December quarter, revenue is expected to increase by approximately 7% sequentially to $190 million, with gross margins projected at 47% [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - General semiconductor revenue increased by 24% sequentially, driven by technology and capacity needs, with utilization rates over 80% [8] - Memory-related revenue increased by nearly 60% sequentially to $24.4 million, primarily due to NAND-related capacity additions [8] - Advanced packaging solutions (APS) increased by 17% sequentially, indicating improved production activity across the high-volume install base [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Utilization rates for general semiconductor and memory applications are improving, with memory utilization rates reported at 82-83% [34] - The automotive and industrial markets are showing early signs of improvement, with expectations for sequential growth in Q1 2026 [9][52] - China’s utilization rates are close to 90%, indicating strong demand in the region [34] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its market presence in advanced packaging, advanced dispense, and power semiconductor opportunities [13][16] - There is a commitment to innovation and customer engagement, with preparations for higher production levels in response to improving end market dynamics [6][9] - The company anticipates that half of its incremental growth in fiscal 2026 will stem from technology transitions and share gains in new markets [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the recovery in end markets, particularly in general semiconductor and memory, while acknowledging ongoing challenges in automotive and industrial sectors [9][52] - The company is preparing for a production ramp through fiscal 2026, particularly in advanced heterogeneous logic applications [10] - Management remains cautiously optimistic about the outlook, citing ongoing improvements in utilization rates and customer engagement [13][16] Other Important Information - The company has initiated a share repurchase program, deploying $16.7 million to repurchase 464,000 shares during the September quarter [15] - Organizational changes were announced, with Lester Wong taking over as Interim CEO following Fusen Chen's retirement [4][5] Q&A Session Summary Question: Guidance on segment growth for general semi, memory, and auto-industrial - Management indicated strong growth in general semi and memory, with expectations for sequential growth in auto-industrial as well [20][21] Question: Status of FTC plasma solution and competition - Management confirmed they remain competitive in the foundry space with their FTC solution, which offers customers more options [22][23] Question: Details on HBM system shipment - The first HBM system is being shipped to a customer in the U.S. for qualification, targeting the 4E generation [27][29] Question: Insights into NAND market strength - High utilization rates in memory, particularly in China, are driving improvements in the NAND market [34] Question: Dynamics in the memory market and recovery trajectory - Management noted high memory utilization and sales, indicating a ramp in memory that is expected to continue into FY2026 [50][51] Question: Outlook for automotive and industrial markets - Management expressed optimism for sequential growth in auto-industrial revenue, driven by technology transitions in power semiconductors [52]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q4 2025 was $177.6 million, with GAAP earnings per share of $0.12 and non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.28, reflecting a focus on operational efficiency [8][14] - Gross margins were reported at 45.7%, with total operating expenses at $80.3 million on a GAAP basis and just below $70 million on a non-GAAP basis [14][15] - For the upcoming December quarter, revenue is expected to increase by approximately 7% sequentially to $190 million, with gross margins projected at 47% [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - General semiconductor revenue increased by 24% sequentially, driven by technology and capacity needs, with utilization rates over 80% [9] - Memory-related revenue increased by nearly 60% sequentially to $24.4 million, primarily due to NAND-related capacity additions [9] - Advanced packaging solutions saw a 17% sequential increase in APS, indicating improved production activity across the high-volume install base [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Utilization rates for general semiconductor and memory applications are improving, with general semiconductor utilization over 80% and memory utilization around 82-83% [9][25] - The automotive and industrial markets are showing early signs of improvement, with expectations for sequential growth in the upcoming quarters [10][34] - China’s utilization rates are close to 90%, indicating strong demand in the region [25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on advancing its technology in areas such as thermal compression, vertical wire, and advanced dispense, aiming to capture market share in high-potential technologies [5][10] - The transition to advanced packaging techniques is seen as crucial for supporting power efficiency and performance improvements [12] - The company anticipates that half of its incremental growth in fiscal 2026 will stem from technology transitions and share gains in new markets, with the other half from cyclical recovery [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about improving end market dynamics and strong traction in advanced packaging and power semiconductor opportunities [10][16] - The company is preparing for higher production levels while continuing to drive technology transitions [6][10] - Management noted that the automotive market, while previously soft, is expected to show sequential improvement in fiscal 2026 [10][34] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $16.7 million worth of shares during the September quarter, totaling 2.4 million shares for the fiscal year [15] - The transition in leadership with Lester Wong as Interim CEO is expected to be seamless, maintaining strategic focus and continuity [4][5] Q&A Session Summary Question: Guidance on segment growth for general semi, memory, and auto-industrial - Management confirmed strong growth in general semi and memory, with expectations for sequential growth in auto-industrial as well [18][19] Question: Status of FTC plasma solution and competition - Management stated they remain competitive in high-volume production and continue to feel strong about their FTC solution [19][20] Question: Details on HBM system shipment - The first HBM system is being shipped to a customer in the U.S. for qualification, with expectations for future updates post-installation [22][23] Question: Growth expectations for fiscal 2026 - Management is comfortable with consensus revenue expectations around $730 million to $740 million, with growth driven by technology transitions and cyclical recovery [24] Question: Insights into the NAND market - High utilization rates in memory, particularly in China, are driving improvements, with expectations for continued order increases [25] Question: Dynamics in the memory market - Management indicated that memory utilization is high and sales are increasing, signaling a ramp in memory recovery into FY2026 [32] Question: Outlook for automotive and industrial markets - Management expressed optimism for sequential growth in auto-industrial revenue, particularly in Southeast Asia and China [34]

Financial Performance - As of October 4, 2025, the company's total cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments were $510.7 million, a decrease of $66.4 million from the prior fiscal year end[49] - The backlog as of October 4, 2025, was $245.3 million, compared to $148.6 million as of September 28, 2024, indicating a significant increase in customer orders[64] - A 10.0% fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates could impact the company's financial position by $6.0 million to $7.0 million[289] - The company has foreign exchange forward contracts with a notional amount of $50.0 million outstanding as of October 4, 2025[290] Product Development and Innovation - The company has launched the Asterion-PW, a fast and precise ultrasonic pin welding solution, enhancing its leadership in power device applications[53] - The ATPremier MEM PLUS™ was introduced as a cutting-edge wafer level packaging solution, targeting advanced memory applications in the semiconductor market[55] - The company is developing advanced packaging solutions for the emerging 2.5D IC and 3D IC markets, which are expected to enhance performance and power efficiency[56] - The ACELON™ precision dispensing solution was launched, providing sub-20µm wet accuracy for critical applications[58] - The company maintains a strong focus on research and product development, regularly introducing improved versions of existing products and next-generation solutions[68] - The company has established technology partnerships with key customers and institutions to enhance its product development efforts[57] - The company holds a number of U.S. patents and believes that much of its important technology resides in trade secrets and proprietary software[69] Workforce and Employee Engagement - As of October 4, 2025, the company had 2,551 full-time employees and 41 temporary workers worldwide[83] - The company aims to ensure fair, equitable, and competitive pay by participating in multiple globally recognized compensation surveys annually[91] - The company has implemented a formalized career progression framework to provide clarity and guidance for employee advancement[90] - The company conducts a global employee engagement survey every two to three years to gather feedback on various aspects of work and corporate culture[92] - The company monitors workforce composition and retention trends to identify areas for improvement in employee engagement[92] Health, Safety, and Work Culture - The company has established Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) practices at key manufacturing and R&D sites, overseen by an EHS Committee[86] - The company has introduced flexible work arrangements as part of its culture, which were critical during the COVID-19 pandemic[93] - The company has a learning and development framework tailored to specific target groups, based on a 70/20/10 learning model[89] Manufacturing and Operations - The manufacturing operations are managed through a single organization, allowing the company to capture economies of scale and reduce costs[65]

Core Insights - Premarket trading is showing notable activity with significant price movements indicating potential trading opportunities before the market opens [1] Premarket Gainers - Mobile-Network Solutions (MNDR) is up 96% at $3.26 - PACS Group, Inc. (PACS) is up 44% at $24.37 - Cerence Inc. (CRNC) is up 28% at $10.16 - Magnera Corporation (MAGN) is up 26% at $10.07 - Oddity Tech Ltd. (ODD) is up 17% at $43.75 - Allot Ltd. (ALLT) is up 14% at $9.80 - Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc. (ARTV) is up 14% at $3.88 - Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (KLIC) is up 13% at $40.22 - Fossil Group, Inc. (FOSL) is up 12% at $2.29 - NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is up 5% at $195.84 [3] Premarket Losers - Brera Holdings PLC (SLMT) is down 33% at $3.84 - Bath & Body Works, Inc. (BBWI) is down 14% at $18.04 - Cemtrex, Inc. (CETX) is down 11% at $3.20 - Atkore Inc. (ATKR) is down 9% at $60.00 - Gloo Holdings, Inc. (GLOO) is down 9% at $7.30 - SMX (Security Matters) Public Limited Company (SMX) is down 9% at $4.60 - Sonim Technologies, Inc. (SONM) is down 8% at $7.31 - Psyence Biomedical Ltd. (PBM) is down 7% at $2.56 - MMTec, Inc. (MTC) is down 6% at $2.00 - Ridgetech, Inc. (RDGT) is down 5% at $4.78 [4]

Kulicke & Soffa Nasdaq: KLIC Quarterly Earnings Review November 20, 2025 Q4F25 Ended October 4, 2025 1 Earnings Review Safe Harbor In addition to historical statements, this presentation contains statements relating to future events and our future results based on management's expectations as of November 19, 2025. These statements are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While these forward-looking statements represent our judgments and fut ...