FREMONT, Calif., February 20, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AXT, Inc. (NasdaqGS: AXTI), a leading manufacturer of compound semiconductor wafer substrates, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
Management Qualitative Comments
"Our growth in 2024 showed a year of improvement for AXT in several key areas," said Morris Young, chief executive officer. "We delivered a 31 percent increase in revenue, a 21 percent improvement in non-GAAP gross profit, and a 40 percent improvement in non-GAAP net loss. Over the last twelve months we have aggressively advanced the technical specifications of our materials to help our global customer base solve complex, next-generation connectivity challenges. As such, 2024 marked a meaningful year of our revenue growth into the cloud and data center infrastructure market, as well as our successful penetration of the cell phone market, which is close to a $100M addressable market, and before now, largely untapped by AXT. Through our product success, world-class manufacturing, and unique supply chain, we have built a valuable company poised to address the rapidly growing market opportunities ahead of us."
Fourth Quarter 2024 Results
Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $25.1 million, compared with $23.6 million for the third quarter of 2024 and $20.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2023.
GAAP gross margin was 17.6 percent of revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared with 24.0 percent of revenue for the third quarter of 2024 and 22.6 percent for the fourth quarter of 2023.
Non-GAAP gross margin, after excluding charges for stock-based compensation, was 17.9 percent of revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared with 24.3 percent of revenue for the third quarter of 2024 and 23.2 percent for the fourth quarter of 2023.
GAAP net loss, after minority interests, for the fourth quarter of 2024 was a net loss of $5.1 million, or $0.12 per share, compared with a net loss of $2.9 million, or $0.07 per share, for the third quarter of 2024 and a net loss of $3.6 million, or $0.09 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2023.
Non-GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter of 2024 was a net loss of $4.3 million, or $0.10 per share, compared with a net loss of $2.1 million, or $0.05 per share, for the third quarter of 2024 and a net loss of $2.8 million, or $0.07 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2023.
Fiscal Year 2024 Results (January 1 to December 31, 2024)
Revenue for fiscal year 2024 was $99.4 million, compared with $75.8 million in fiscal year 2023.
GAAP gross margin for fiscal year 2024 was 24.0 percent of revenue, compared with 17.6 percent of revenue in fiscal year 2023.
Non-GAAP gross margin for fiscal year 2024 was 24.3 percent of revenue, compared with 18.1 percent of revenue in fiscal year 2023.
GAAP net loss for fiscal 2024 was a net loss of $11.6 million, or $0.27 per share, compared with a net loss of $17.9 million, or $0.42 per share for fiscal 2023.
Non-GAAP net loss for fiscal 2024 was a net loss of $8.5 million, or $0.20 per share, compared with net income of $14.3 million, or $0.34 per share for fiscal 2023.
STAR Market Listing Update
On January 10, 2022, AXT announced that Beijing Tongmei Xtal Technology Co., Ltd. ("Tongmei"), its subsidiary in Beijing, China, submitted to the Shanghai Stock Exchange (the "SSE") its application to list its shares in an initial public offering (the "IPO") on the SSE’s Sci-Tech innovAtion boaRd (the "STAR Market") and the application was accepted for review. Subsequently, Tongmei responded to several rounds of questions received from the SSE. On July 12, 2022, the SSE approved the listing of Tongmei’s shares in an IPO on the STAR Market. On August 1, 2022, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the "CSRC") accepted for review Tongmei’s IPO application. The STAR Market IPO remains subject to review and approval by the CSRC and other authorities. The process of going public on the STAR Market includes several periods of review and, therefore, is a lengthy process. Subject to review and approval by the CSRC and other authorities, Tongmei hopes to accomplish this goal in the coming months. AXT has posted a brief summary of the plan and the process on its website at http://www.axt.com.
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 (800) 715-9871 (passcode 4378083). The call will also be simulcast at www.axt.com. Replays will be available at (800) 770-2030 (Playback ID: 4378083 followed by # key) until March 6, 2025. 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) 438-4700.
About AXT, Inc.
AXT is a material science company that develops and manufactures high-performance compound and single element semiconductor substrate wafers comprising indium phosphide (InP), gallium arsenide (GaAs) and germanium (Ge). The company’s substrate wafers are used when a typical silicon substrate wafer cannot meet the performance requirements of a semiconductor or optoelectronic device. End markets include 5G infrastructure, data center connectivity (silicon photonics), passive optical networks, LED lighting, lasers, sensors, power amplifiers for wireless devices and satellite solar cells. AXT’s worldwide headquarters are in Fremont, California where the company maintains sales, administration and customer service functions. AXT has its Asia headquarters in Beijing, China and manufacturing facilities in three separate locations in China. In addition, as part of its supply chain strategy, the company has partial ownership in ten companies in China producing raw materials for its manufacturing process. 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 timing and completion of the proposed listing of shares of Tongmei on the STAR Market. Additional examples of forward-looking statements include statements regarding the market demand for our products, our product mix, our growth prospects and opportunities for continued business expansion, including technology trends, new applications and the ramping of Tier-1 customers, our market opportunity, our ability to lead our industry, our relocation, our expectations with respect to our business prospects and financial results, including our gross margin performance, and our development of larger diameter substrates that we believe will enable the next generation of technology innovation across a number of end-markets. 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: the requests for redemptions by private equity funds in China of investments in Tongmei, the administrative challenges in satisfying the requirements of various government agencies in China in connection with the listing of shares of Tongmei on the STAR Market, continued open access to companies to list shares on the STAR Market, investor enthusiasm for new listings of shares on the STAR Market and geopolitical tensions between China and the United States. Additional uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to: the timing and receipt of significant orders; the cancellation of orders and return of product; emerging applications using chips or devices fabricated on our substrates; end-user acceptance of products containing chips or devices fabricated on our substrates; our ability to bring new products to market; product announcements by our competitors; the ability to control costs and improve efficiency; the ability to utilize our manufacturing capacity; product yields and their impact on gross margins; the relocation of manufacturing lines and ramping of production; possible factory shutdowns as a result of air pollution in China or COVID-19; COVID-19 or other outbreaks of a contagious disease; tariffs and other trade war issues; the financial performance of our partially owned supply chain companies; policies and regulations in China; 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
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Revenue
$
25,105
$
20,429
$
99,361
$
75,795
Cost of revenue
20,697
15,802
75,525
62,477
Gross profit
4,408
4,627
23,836
13,318
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative
6,440
5,367
24,096
22,806
Research and development
4,133
2,820
14,543
12,081
Total operating expenses
10,573
8,187
38,639
34,887
Loss from operations
(6,165
)
(3,560
)
(14,803
)
(21,569
)
Interest expense, net
(318
)
(384
)
(1,340
)
(1,527
)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures
944
(460
)
3,439
1,884
Other income (expense), net
(5
)
897
2,047
2,179
Loss before provision for income taxes
(5,544
)
(3,507
)
(10,657
)
(19,033
)
Provision for income taxes
113
252
1,134
160
Net loss
(5,657
)
(3,759
)
(11,791
)
(19,193
)
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests
569
138
167
1,312
Net loss attributable to AXT, Inc.
$
(5,088
)
$
(3,621
)
$
(11,624
)
$
(17,881
)
Net loss attributable to AXT, Inc. per common share:
Basic
$
(0.12
)
$
(0.09
)
$
(0.27
)
$
(0.42
)
Diluted
$
(0.12
)
$
(0.09
)
$
(0.27
)
$
(0.42
)
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic
43,381
42,851
43,154
42,643
Diluted
43,381
42,851
43,154
42,643
AXT, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited, in thousands)
December 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
22,833
$
37,752
Restricted cash
10,978
12,362
Short-term investments
—
2,140
Accounts receivable, net
25,640
19,256
Inventories
85,077
86,503
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
13,744
12,643
Total current assets
158,272
170,656
Property, plant and equipment, net
159,721
166,348
Operating lease right-of-use assets
2,479
2,799
Other assets
18,842
18,898
Total assets
$
339,314
$
358,701
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
12,356
$
9,617
Accrued liabilities
14,556
19,019
Short-term loans
47,264
52,921
Total current liabilities
74,176
81,557
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities
1,977
2,351
Other long-term liabilities
8,253
5,647
Total liabilities
84,406
89,555
Redeemable noncontrolling interests
38,577
41,663
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock
3,532
3,532
Common stock
45
44
Additional paid-in capital
241,514
238,452
Accumulated deficit
(43,664
)
(32,040
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(8,657
)
(5,999
)
Total AXT, Inc. stockholders’ equity
192,770
203,989
Noncontrolling interests
23,561
23,494
Total stockholders’ equity
216,331
227,483
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholders’ equity
$
339,314
$
358,701
AXT, INC. Reconciliation of Statements of Operations Under GAAP and Non-GAAP (Unaudited, in thousands)
Three Months Ended
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
2024
2023
GAAP gross profit
$
4,408
$
4,627
$
23,836
$
13,318
Stock-based compensation expense
76
103
322
414
Non-GAAP gross profit
$
4,484
$
4,730
$
24,158
$
13,732
GAAP operating expenses
$
10,573
$
8,187
$
38,639
$
34,887
Stock-based compensation expense
677
719
2,775
3,126
Non-GAAP operating expenses
$
9,896
$
7,468
$
35,864
$
31,761
GAAP loss from operations
$
(6,165
)
$
(3,560
)
$
(14,803
)
$
(21,569
)
Stock-based compensation expense
753
822
3,097
3,540
Non-GAAP loss from operations
$
(5,412
)
$
(2,738
)
$
(11,706
)
$
(18,029
)
GAAP net loss
$
(5,088
)
$
(3,621
)
$
(11,624
)
$
(17,881
)
Stock-based compensation expense
753
822
3,097
3,540
Non-GAAP net loss
$
(4,335
)
$
(2,799
)
$
(8,527
)
$
(14,341
)
GAAP net loss per diluted share
$
(0.12
)
$
(0.09
)
$
(0.27
)
$
(0.42
)
Stock-based compensation expense per diluted share
$
0.02
$
0.02
$
0.07
$
0.08
Non-GAAP net loss per diluted share
$
(0.10
)
$
(0.07
)
$
(0.20
)
$
(0.34
)
Shares used to compute diluted net income per share
