ASML Q3 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Quartr
Provided by Quartr
October 18, 2023

There are 13 speakers on the call.

Operator

Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the ASML 2023 Third Quarter Financial Results Conference Call on October 18, 2023. Question during the session. To the question and answer session. Please be advised that today's conference is being recorded.

Operator

I would now like to hand the conference call over to Mr. Skip Miller. Please go ahead.

Speaker 1

Thank you, operator. Welcome everyone. This is Skip Miller, Vice President of Investor Relations at ASML. Joining me today on the call are ASML's CEO, Peter Winnick and our CFO, Roger Dawson. The subject of today's call is ASML's 2023 Third Quarter Results.

Speaker 1

The length of this call Will be 60 minutes and questions will be taken in the order that they are received. This call is also being broadcast live over the Internet at asml.com. A transcript of management's opening remarks and a replay of the call will be available on our website shortly following the conclusion of this call. Before we begin, I'd like to caution listeners that comments made by management during this conference call We'll include forward looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward looking statements involve material risks and uncertainties.

Speaker 1

For a discussion of risk factors, I encourage you to review the Safe Harbor statement contained in today's press release and the presentation found on our website atasml.com and in ASML's Annual Report on Form 20 F and other documents as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. With that, I'd like to turn the call over to Peter Wenig for a brief introduction.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Skip. Welcome to everyone. Thank you for joining us for our Q3 2023 results conference call. Before we begin the Q and A session, Roger and I would like to provide an overview and some commentary on Q3 2023 as well as provide our view of the coming quarters. Roger will start with a review of our 3rd quarter 2023 financial performance with added comments on our short term outlook.

Speaker 2

And I will complete the introduction with some additional comments on the current business environment and our future business outlook. Roger, if

Speaker 3

you will. Thank you, Peter, and welcome everyone. I will first review the Q3 financial accomplishments And then provide guidance in the Q4 of 2023. Let me start with our 3rd quarter accomplishments. Net sales came in at €6,700,000,000 which is around the midpoint of our guidance.

Speaker 3

We shipped 10 EUV systems €1,900,000,000 revenue from 11 systems this quarter. Net system sales of €5,300,000,000 Which was mainly driven by logic at 76% with the remaining 24% coming from memory. Installed base management sales for the quarter came in at €1,400,000,000 as guided. Gross margin for the quarter Came in at 51.9 percent, which is above our guidance, primarily driven by DPV product mix as well as some one off cost effects. On operating expenses, R and D expenses came in at €992,000,000 and SG and A expenses came in at €288,000,000 both basically as guided.

Speaker 3

Net income in Q3 was €1,900,000,000 Representing 28.4 percent of net sales and resulting in an EPS of €4.81 Turning to the balance sheet. We ended the Q3 with cash, cash equivalents and short term investments at a level of €5,000,000,000 Moving to the order book. Q3 net system bookings came in at €2,600,000,000 which is made up of €500,000,000 for EUV bookings And €2,100,000,000 for non EUV bookings. These values also include inflation corrections. Net system bookings in the quarter were driven by logic with 80% of the bookings, while memory accounted for the remaining 20%.

Speaker 3

As expected, we did see some moderation in orders this quarter. As the industry is working through a cycle, Customers remain cautious in the current environment, managing cash flows and delaying purchase orders. In addition, there were no high NA orders this quarter. While our bookings were lower than in previous quarters, our backlog at the end of Q3 remained strong at over €35,000,000,000 With that, I would like to turn to our expectations for the Q4 of 2023. We expect Q4 net sales to be between €6,700,000,000 7,100,000,000 We expect our Q4 installed base management sales to be around €1,400,000,000 Gross margin for Q4 is expected to be between 50% 51%.

Speaker 3

The positive impact of higher sales volume is more than offset by the diluted impact from a change in DPV mix and one off effects relative to last quarter. The expected R and D expenses for Q4 are around €1,030,000,000 and SG and A is expected to be around €285,000,000 Our estimated 2023 annualized effective tax rate is expected to be between 15% 16%. An interim dividend of €1.45 per ordinary share Will be made payable on November 10, 2023. In Q3 2023, we purchased shares for a total amount of around €100,000,000 As mentioned in previous quarters, in the current environment, we expect to see ongoing pressure on our free cash flow. As a result, we will be prudent in managing our cash flows and maintain relatively high levels of cash.

Speaker 3

With that, I would like to turn the call over to Pimin.

Speaker 2

Thank you. Thank you, Roger. And I had a bit of a cold, so apologies. As Roger has highlighted, another good quarter, especially considering the current market environment. Uncertainty remains in the market, Driven by global macro concerns around inflation, rising interest rates, lower GDP growth in certain economies and geopolitical environment, including export controls.

Speaker 2

However, The industry seems to be passing through the cycle trough. There has been some improvement in end market inventory levels downstream. Sorry, I have to get a bit of water. Although, inventory levels have seen remain elevated. As a result, our customers continue to moderate wafer output by running at lower utilization levels.

Speaker 2

While lithography tool utilization are still running at levels lower than normal relative to last quarter, tool utilization in logic continues To show signs of improvement while memory has yet to turn. We concur with our customers I still expect to see an inflection point indicating the start of a recovery by the end of the year, although the shape and slope of the recovery remains uncertain. Looking further ahead to 2025, we expect a significant growth year since more than 50% of our EUV and DPV shipments We'll go to new fab projects. On top of this, we expect existing fabs will be adding capacity driven by continued recovery cycle. Turning to our business.

Speaker 2

We now expect EPV revenue to grow towards 55% year over year, An increase from around 50% commutative mass quarter, primarily driven by an increase in emerging revenue. China demand for DPV systems continues to be strong and trend we talked about in previous quarters. For system shipments this year to Chinese customers, the majority of the orders were booked in 2022. The demand fill rate for our Chinese customers over the last 2 years Was significantly less than 50%. So besides customers were in fact receiving a much lower number of systems than they ordered.

Speaker 2

This was due to the fact that timing from other customers that sorry, this was due to the fact that the demand for our systems worldwide significantly exceeded supply. With current ships in demand timing from other customers, We now have the opportunity to fulfill these orders to our Chinese customers. So supply is in fact catching up to demand and we're shipping lithography systems For mature and mid critical notes to China, while of course complying with export control regulations. If you combine this with the fact that other customers are delaying their demand, this means indeed a higher sales percentage from China than we saw in previous years. In EUV for 2023, we continue to expect year over year revenue growth for EUV of around 25% as communicated last quarter.

Speaker 2

For the installed base business in 2023, the current utilization rates, market uncertainty, particularly as it relates to the timing of the recovery, Customers continue to wait to perform productivity and performance upgrades on the litho systems. Therefore, we now expect installed base business this year to be down around 5% from last year versus the flat growth previously communicated. In summary, based on our full year, with higher DPV revenue offset somewhat by lower expectations on our installed base business relative to last quarter, We still expect net sales for the year to grow towards 30% with a slight improvement in gross margin compared to 2022. Overall, the very strong growth year, especially considering the industry being in the down cycle. On the geopolitical front, As it relates to export controls, the U.

Speaker 2

S. Government yesterday published updated export control regulations. Part of the regulations is an update from last year's October communication And part is the implementation of the U. S. Regulation on the trilateral agreement between the Dutch, Japanese and U.

Speaker 2

S. Governments. Given the length of the document, we need to review the final regulation thoroughly and make a detailed analysis, which will take some time. But based on our preliminary assessment, we do not expect these measures to have a material effect on our financial outlook for 2023. Yes.

Speaker 2

For control measures could have an impact on the regional split of our shipments in the medium to long term, but we do not expect an impact on the global demand scenarios as communicated During our Investor Day in November last year, since the long term growth perspective for our industry remains clearly unchanged. Looking towards the next year. The semiconductor industry is currently working through the bottom of the cycle and our customers expect the inflection to be visible by the end of this year, As I mentioned before, although there is an opportunity for some demand to be pulled back into the back half of twenty twenty four, We currently prefer to take a more conservative view for the full year 2024, especially considering the inherent nature of the macroeconomic uncertainties. Therefore, based on our current view, we expect revenue next year to be similar to 2023. As such, we see 2024 as a transition year, but also as an important year to prepare for the significant growth that we expect in 2025.

Speaker 2

Now Based on discussions with our customers, we currently expect 2025 to be a strong year driven by a number of factors. First, secular growth drivers in the semiconductor end markets, which we have previously discussed such as energy transition, electrification and AI. The The expanding application space along with increasing lithography on future technology nodes drives demand for both advanced and mature nodes. Secondly, the industry expects to be in the middle of a cyclical upturn in 2025, starting in 2024. And lastly, as mentioned earlier, we need to prepare for the significant number of new fabs that are being built across the globe.

Speaker 2

These steps are spread geographically, are strategic for our customers and are scheduled to take our tools. It is essential that we keep our focus on the future And build capacity to be ready for this ramp. In summary, despite going through an industry down cycle, We still expect very strong growth in our business this year. And while there are still significant uncertainties, primarily driven by the macro environment, It appears that we're passing through the bottom of this specific cycle and the shape of the recovery will ultimately determine the demand curve beyond 2023. In the near term, it's understandable that customers remain cautious as they moderate wafer output to help lower inventory levels in the supply chain I look to build confidence around the timing and slope of the recovery next year.

Speaker 2

In summary, we clearly view 2024 as a transition year As we prepare for future growth and we expect strong year in 2025 and beyond, We remain confident that we are well positioned for further long term growth as we discussed in the market scenarios for 2025 end 2030 during our Investor Day in November 2022. With that, we will be happy to take your questions.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Roger and Peter. The operator will instruct you momentarily on the protocol for the Q and A session. Beforehand, I'd like to ask you that you kindly limit yourself to one question with one short follow-up if necessary. This will allow us to get to as many callers as possible. Now, operator, could we have your final instructions and then the first question, please?

Operator

And your first question comes from the line of Joe Quicciotti from Wells Fargo. Please go ahead.

Speaker 4

Yes, thanks for taking the questions. Curious embedded in your expectation for a more muted kind of 2024, How do we think about the gross margin puts and takes just given there are several moving parts in terms of like mix and you guys are obviously increasing your manufacturing output For later years and then I think there's some benefits from higher EUV ASP, but at the same time you're also going to start shipping initial Your high NA tools as well.

Speaker 3

Yes, Joe, you're doing a very fine job in analyzing it all. Of course, you will appreciate that we're not going to give guidance on quantitative guidance on the gross margin for next year. But I can give you some of the drivers of the gross margin. I think you mentioned a few of them, which are quite important. So I would say the 3,800 ASP is clearly 1, right?

Speaker 3

So 3,800 is going to be an important part of the In next year for EUV. So obviously, as a higher ASP, we talked about more than 200,000,000 On the call last quarter, so that comes with a higher ASP, but also drives the gross margin. So that's an important driver. I think service on EUV is one where we say we continue to make progress on that one. So that's another positive.

Speaker 3

I would say on the challenge side, so on the headwind that we're going to get in terms of gross margin for next year, It is, as you said, next year we are preparing obviously for a big year in 2025 That's the way we look at it as we also mentioned as Peter mentioned and as we also said in the video, it's going to be a big year and that means that we're going to add Quite some capacity to actually allow that to happen. So that's going to have a headwind on the gross margin because those people will have We trained in 2024 was primarily being productive only in 2025 and also on high NA. The high NA numbers next year We are very, very small in terms of revenue and also output, but we are obviously preparing our workforce both in the factory but also in the field To accommodate the 'twenty five and beyond ramp of high NA. So obviously that also same story, a lot of people that will be added there Will be a drag on the gross margin for 2024. Question mark obviously is on the installed base business.

Speaker 3

That can go positively again can go negatively on the gross margin, very much dependent on how the upgrade business will come back In 2024. And then finally, in light of all the puts and takes the That you might think of in terms of revenue also in light of what was what Peter just said, the China export controls. You could maybe see less immersion tools into China, also less on the high end. So that could also be a bit of a headwind on the gross margin. So that's it really, Joe.

Speaker 3

Those are all the puts and takes I would see today. And in the Q1 in the Q4 call, so in January of next year, I think we have a much better handle on how those all of those pan

Speaker 4

out. Got it. Thanks for that. And then As a follow-up, just wanted to reconfirm. For fashion, you're expecting still to exit this year In terms of revenue not recognized in the €2,300,000,000 range and then does that get caught up next year as part of Kind of a more muted growth that you're able to catch up to that demand?

Speaker 3

I think, Joe, part of it will. The way we look at it today, but again, we will confirm that in more detail in January. But the way we look at it today, we expect less Fash shipments by the end of 'twenty four, then we would have by the end of 'twenty three. So there would be a positive effect from Fash In the number for next year.

Speaker 4

Got it. And that $2,300,000,000 is still

Speaker 5

the right number exiting this year?

Speaker 3

The $2,300,000,000 is what we're currently driving towards. That's what we expect at this stage To have shipments this year not recognizing revenue this year, correct.

Operator

Perfect. Thank you. Thank you. We will now go to our next question. And the next question comes from the line of Chris Sankar from TD Cowen.

Operator

Please go ahead.

Speaker 6

Hi, thanks for taking my question.

Speaker 5

I had 2 of them. When you look into calendar 'twenty four, How to think of from a unit standpoint EUV and deep UV, how do we look at units for EUV and deep UV in 2024 relative to 2023? Would it be up, down, similar? Any color there would be helpful and then I have a follow on.

Speaker 2

Yes, I think on the DPV, I think Roger said it in the answer to the previous call. In the DPV, of course, we've had a great year For China because we were basically delivering out of the backlog. These guys ordered and the orders were there, they were prepaid And we had the opportunity to ship. I don't think that will repeat itself in that volume so much next year. And on top of that, of course, there is a new export control regulation that will I put, let's say, it's a handful of Chinese fabs under the export control rules where we cannot ship Immersion tools is just handful of, but it's still it is Sales that we had in 2023 that we will not have in 2024.

Speaker 2

So I think deep UV could see some reduction. Based on that now if then sales stay the same or at the similar level than EUV growth, But what Roger also said as an answer to the previous question, we do expect that fast shipments Going out of 2024 will be lower. So there's going to

Speaker 6

be you could

Speaker 2

say accounting windfall on the top line. So I think all in all, this is a bit of the picture. So somewhat lower DUV units, EUV units could be lower because of the fact that we actually have although we could see revenue increase As a result of the fast shipment move, could indeed be also somewhat lower, but with higher sales prices. So this is what the picture is for next year. Now like Roger also said, Probably January after the Q4 results is probably the better time to go into a bit more detail.

Speaker 2

But directionally that's what you can expect.

Speaker 5

Got it. That's very helpful, Peter. And then on China, I understand it was like 46% of sales last quarter, Probably average is around 30% for the full year. If you strip out the export control issues or the geopolitics, a lot of these spending is on mature notes. Kind of curious how long do you think this level of spending is sustainable or do you think at some point there is going to be a natural consolidation or rationalization of the spending?

Speaker 5

Thank you.

Speaker 2

Yes, I think you have to understand where these tools are being used for. The vast majority of our shipments to China is a bit critical to mature. That's really where our business is. Of course, like I said earlier, there's a handful of fabs, not customers, fabs That have been identified as ready for advanced semiconductor manufacturing. So those will those are now excluded, But the vast majority is mid critical to mature.

Speaker 2

Will that level off? I don't think so. And why do I think so? Because You need to realize where those chips are being used for. I mean, China is by far over 50% Of all worldwide investments in renewable energy is in China.

Speaker 2

That's wind, that's solar, that's the build out of the grid, the electrification, the buildup of the EV manufacturing capacity in China is significant. Industrial IoT is a significant driver. Next to that is also the continuous telecommunications infrastructure rollout. That's all mid critical to mature stuff. And as it happens, China invests a lot there.

Speaker 2

It's a big country of 1,400,000,000 people. So there is a lot of sentiment that they need. And this is exactly when we look at the expansion plans Of our Chinese customers, it's exactly what they where they are putting their capacity at work in these areas. And if you look at the total consumption Of semiconductors by the Chinese manufacturing industry, then China imports more semiconductors than they import oil. On top of that, you see the significant increase in these new transitions.

Speaker 2

That means that if China wants to Come to a certain level of self sufficiency, yes, there's still a huge gap to cover to be completely self sufficient. So it's also logical the That they actually invest in this type of semiconductor technology because it's for internal use. And I think so it's I don't think we will see a peak this year and actually, but I think there will be going forward a significant demand Coming out of China from mid COVID and mature technology and for all the reasons that I just mentioned.

Speaker 5

Got it. Thank you, operator. Thank you.

Operator

We will now go to the next question. And your next question comes from the line of Alexander Pyturek from Societe Generale. Please go ahead.

Speaker 6

Yes. Hi, good afternoon. Thank you for taking my question. Could you help us understand what Is the percentage of shipments into China this year that would actually fall under the restrictions That will be in place for the 1st January next year. That will be my first question.

Speaker 6

And then the follow-up, just very briefly, you could tell us how far out you're currently booked In EUV into 2024 in deep UV.

Speaker 7

Thank you.

Speaker 2

Okay. I'm just writing down. So on the on the China question, what the percentage shipment this year That is now excluded. It's anywhere between 10% 15%. So the vast majority is mature and mid critical.

Speaker 2

And I think like I said in answer to the previous call, I think that is what will basically remain because of the build out of that capacity is actually needed for all the transitions that I just So it's 10% to 15%.

Speaker 3

Thank you. And on the EV backlog, I mean, we're currently looking at a backlog of around $19,000,000,000 for EUV. But of course, that is a combination of the shipments that we still have to go this year. And then for 'twenty four and 'twenty five and by the way it also includes high NA. So that's so there is a substantial part Of the shipments that we envisage in 'twenty four are included, but not everything, but a substantial part is covered by the EUV backlog as I Just reference

Speaker 6

it. Okay, great. Thank you. It's just the 3,800 will be so next year is all 3,800, right?

Speaker 3

No, no. Next year will be a mix of 3,600 and 3,800.

Speaker 7

Thank you.

Speaker 6

You're welcome.

Operator

Thank you. We will now go to the next question. And your next question comes from the line of Sarah Russo from Bernstein. Please go ahead.

Speaker 8

Hello. Thanks for taking my question. So in your results package, you had indicated that you're seeing memory utilizations remaining on the low side, but you're beginning to see some recovery in logic and sort of indicated a potential bottoming of the cycle later This year, can you give us any more specifics on the utilization levels and trends across memory versus logic, any different like more specifics on the differences you're seeing across those end markets?

Speaker 2

I'm not going to give you precise utilization levels because they're all different for our customers, but It is bottoming out on lodging. That's what we've seen. I think we've already indicated that, I think last quarter that we saw this Very early first indication. I think that has continued. Yes, so which is good.

Speaker 2

But also I think that you have need to look at that in the context of What I said earlier that inventory levels downstream are normalizing and upstream distillate elevated. So this is in that context that makes all sense. I think on memory, we don't see that upturn yet. So we just have to look at and just follow this closely When that will happen, but generally when we see this upturn in logic somewhere down the line, Memory will follow. Yes, it's logic working without memory is not That does not make sense either.

Speaker 2

So it's probably a timing issue, but we'll follow it closely. And like I said, there are other indications. Also some articles that I just read last week From Korea, that's the first time in 12 months, you see NAND shipments going up. First indications of DRAM spot prices going up. Now, so these are early indicators.

Speaker 2

So that's why our expectation is that What we've seen for Logic now over the last 3 months will also follow in memory.

Speaker 8

Great. Thanks. And maybe just a follow-up on the backlog topic. So I mean, in the past, you've given us a sense for what share of the backlog is China And it's sort of a lot of 2022 orders led to the significant increase in China. Have you seen that shift at all?

Speaker 8

It was sort of sitting around 20%. Is that shifted down now that you're able to ship more to China and meet more of those orders? Has that come down? Or does that continue to remain in that range?

Speaker 2

I think it's the same. I think we said the China part of our business this year could be over 20%. And I think it's about the same range for the backlog. So that has remained the same.

Operator

Thank you. We will now go to the next question. And your next question conference from the line of Francois Bouvignies from UBS. Please go ahead.

Speaker 7

Thank you very much. So two quick ones for me. The first one is on maybe 2025. So you gave your market low and market high scenario at your Capital I'm now looking at the current macro environment, I guess, for many People. It's actually we are more in a low market scenario, at least today in terms of macro.

Speaker 7

If we look at your guidance on 2025 and taking into account the geopolitical environment, should We lean towards the low end of your guidance in a way. I mean, it would still imply a significant recovery In 2025, but I just wanted to check if it's fair to assume given the current utilization rate in the industry and the push out That you are also seeing on your side, if you could lean towards the low end of your guidance and I have a quick follow-up. Well, I

Speaker 2

mean, Let me explain the following. I think our industry is cyclical when we're in a downturn And the deeper that downturn is, the higher the upturn. And that's simply because the underlying trend, the secular trend Of the capacity that is needed to support all these transitions that we all talk about and we all believe in. If there is a downturn for whatever reason, it could be macro, That could be macroeconomic shocks. The deeper the downturn is, the higher the upturn.

Speaker 2

That has been you just look the At the 30 year cyclical behavior of our industry that's exactly what is always happening. And it makes sense because underlying trend is there. Now having said that, in my introductory Comments. I actually had three reasons for why we believe 2025 is going to be a very strong year. One is these secular trends.

Speaker 2

They are there. So it actually will it actually means that we need to build the capacity to support those trends. And if we don't build the capacity in 2023, 2024, at our memory it even started earlier, it started in mid-twenty 22, Then it will have to be there to support those secular trends, which we all believe in. So and Also going back to that, that's number 1. Number 2, in answer to the previous question, it feels like and also our customers are keep telling us That they feel there's a trough.

Speaker 2

We're in this trough or we're very close. And that means they will see growth in 2024. You can argue about the slope of the growth because of macroeconomic uncertainties, but they all tell us please prepare for 2025. So they strongly believe that growing in 2024 And it will probably start slow, but will accelerate into 2025. So it tells be ready.

Speaker 2

That's number 2. Number 3, when you look at the number of new fabs that are being opened geographically, fab extension There will need machines in Europe, in the U. S, across Asia. Yes. Then that is Already when we look at the demand, already more than 50% of our 2025 forecasted demand is on new fabs for DPV and EUV.

Speaker 2

So if you put it all together, also realizing that We actually look at 2024 and 2025 together. Why is that? Because our lead times are more than 12 months. That for EUV, the year and a half. So we need to have that very close connection with our customers and we have these insights into these news fab Not so much where they're going to add capacity for the existing fabs because that's basically the That is a question of where the cycle is.

Speaker 2

If you take those three things together and then we look at the demand that we currently discussing with our customers, Then 2025 is a very strong year and a very strong year doesn't jive with your low end of the guidance. So it's again, it's the cyclical nature of this industry. We are now, let's take memory. If 2024 It's not a full recovery year. Their memory is in a downturn of 2.5 years.

Speaker 2

Now just look at it historically, we're always followed by a strong recovery. Same is true for Logic. And if you look at those building blocks of those 3 building blocks that gives us the conviction at this moment in time that 2025 is going to be as a very strong year. But then we need to prepare 2024, we can simply not wait Until Q1 2025 and then we start accelerating because the supply chain won't be there. Our lead time is simply too long.

Speaker 2

So we have to prepare that also in the year 2024. That's why it's a transition year. We look at 2024 2025 Together. Why? Because of the lead times of our tools and discussions with our customers are actually supporting all of that.

Speaker 2

Sorry for the long answer.

Speaker 7

No, no, no. That's very clear. Thank you. And maybe as a follow-up, then if we have long lead times and strong recovery in 2025, The orders, I mean, this quarter has been, let's say, quite low compared to many people expected. But if you expect a very strong year in 2025 and the lead times that you are describing, do we expect that to see In the order behavior in the first half of twenty twenty four, I mean if we take into account lead times or how should we think about that We should

Speaker 3

see some of that, right?

Speaker 2

Yes. No, I think that's absolutely true. We're in Q3 of 2023 We have more than €35,000,000,000 in the backlog. If you're a customer, you can actually wait because they still also see 2024 as a recovery year. Is it going to be Q3, Q4, Q1?

Speaker 2

So when is it so they will just wait because they don't need They have the capacity, if they want the capacity, they can just call it off. So, but indeed you are right. If 2025 is the kind of strong year that we expect, Then indeed, you would have to see the order recovery in the first half of twenty twenty four, absolutely.

Speaker 7

Great. Thank you, Peter.

Operator

We will now go to the next question. And your next question comes from the line of Rolf Bork from New Street Research. Please go ahead.

Speaker 1

Yes. Thank you for taking my

Speaker 9

question. Your Western customers, their demand profile. Could you give us a bit more detail on this? Are these push outs primarily on the leading edge or is it more trailing edge? And has this trend of push outs increased in recent months?

Speaker 2

Yes. I think when you think about trailing edge, I mean, we did not see push outs From many of our trading edge customers because many of them are in China, but even the ones that are not in China because they are supplying the mature market which For instance, supplies, the automotive industry and industrial IoT, they actually kept Pretty strong. They were pretty healthy. So it is more in you could argue the leading edge than it was in a mature area. And We don't forget Leading Edge doesn't only need high end DPV or needs high end immersion.

Speaker 2

It only also needs They're not mature. It needs KRF. It needs I Line. So but if you want to split this, then the demand A shift was probably more in those areas where which is logical, look at the end markets, smartphone sales, Yes, PCs. The end markets were and this is where the inventory was.

Speaker 2

So this is also the area where you see the demand shifts. But healthy or actually relatively healthy was more in the mature space and of course in China because we heavily under shipped these customers, which of course with their orders in the order book and all and most of them To a large extent prepaid, yes, of course we will ship those tools to them if others don't want them and that's all mature.

Operator

We will now go to our next question. And the next question comes from the line of Didier Sicherme, Bank of America. Please go ahead.

Speaker 10

Yes, hi. Good afternoon. It's Didier Sarmath from Bank of America. I have a couple of questions. First, I wanted to just I'll probe you a little bit again on 2025 revenue guide.

Speaker 10

I think you answered pretty well. But I guess what I wanted to ask you is, if We don't see those bookings coming through in the first half of twenty twenty four. Is that roughly in July twenty twenty four where you would Consider changing that guidance or at least telling us that you would be towards the low end of that range or even below that? And I've got a follow-up. Thank you.

Speaker 2

Well, you by now know us DJ, because we know each other for a long time. We just tell you how it is, How we see the world at the moment that we have this call. This is how we see the world. So if we see the world by Q1 of 2024 different, we will tell you. We see a difference by Q2 2024, we will tell you.

Speaker 2

So this is what we currently see, what we currently believe. If the world turns out to be Completely different, better or worse by the middle of 2024, we will tell you. And so I cannot say I cannot answer that question other than We'll just tell you how it is.

Speaker 10

No, it makes sense. 2nd part on China restrictions. Is there anything you can share with us with regards to the sort of tools that might not be allowed to be shipped to those Fabs. I mean, should we consider the 1980 to be part of the band tools for those particular fabs, but that you could ship it to other China customers or is it too early to say at this stage?

Speaker 2

No, I think that's probably not too early. It is as you indicate. So the The way we read the rules now and of course you can imagine that that part of the regulation we've read pretty carefully that the The principle is that in principle, also the 1980s Woodfall under the export control restrictions, but only when those immersion tools are used for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing. And those Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing, we've been informed, only applies to a handful of fabs. So that means that the 1980 for that for those handful of fabs is off limits, but not for the vast majority of our Chinese customers For which we don't need an export control license either.

Speaker 2

We can just ship. And those are for the mature and lower mid the chips that I needed for all the transitions that I just mentioned. So yes, yes.

Speaker 10

Right. So the majority of your Immersion revenues next year in China will be at least some of the 1980, but Probably move to 1950, 1930 sort of things for those customers?

Speaker 2

No, no, because the 1980 is a low end merger tool. So the only export controls We'll be on the 1980s that go to a handful of fabs. Yes.

Operator

So it's

Speaker 10

not shipped to the 1980. Yes.

Speaker 2

Yes. And for all the other customers Which are using those chips for non advanced semiconductor manufacturing that is actually used for mid critical, lower mid critical mature applications where there are no security concerns, yes, we can just ship those. That's brilliant. Thanks very much, majority of our business.

Speaker 7

Perfect. Thank you, Peter.

Speaker 8

Thanks.

Operator

We will now go to our next question. And the next question conference from the line of Mehdi Hosseini from Susquehanna. Please go ahead.

Speaker 11

Thank you. Couple of questions. Peter, I'm a little bit confused. I'm just going to focus on lithography. I'm not going to ask you about WFE or where we are in the semiconductor cycle.

Speaker 11

When I look at the leading edge, We've had a couple of years of a slow start to 3 nanometer. As a matter of fact, the leading edge has The trending in half pitch and I was hoping that by next year there will be A bigger demand for a leading edge among foundry and your larger customer. But what I get from you is Probably EUV unit shipment is going to decline. What I want to ask you or give a clarification, Is this a kind of a pause as we insert a gate all around? Is this something that Happened when we went from planer to sunset and we're going to see the repeat of that next year And then that would impact your EUV shipment.

Speaker 11

Any thought around gate all around would be appreciated? And I have a follow-up.

Speaker 2

I think, gate all around and the notes associated with that are 2025, 20 26 high volume ramps. That will happen. So that so the pause Of let's say, it was a lower unit shipment of EUV next year is simply the cause of what we discussed earlier. We're in a cyclical downturn and our end markets that don't need that full capacity. So this is the reason.

Speaker 2

The R and D roadmaps are very much intact. And as a matter of fact, our leading customers keep telling us this. Yes. So I would not expect I would even say, if you would see the HVM volume ramp, Yes. On the gate all around architecture, it's just the reason one of the reasons why I think 2025, twenty 2026 is going to be a good year.

Speaker 2

It's a very strong year. But everything that we see today has got nothing to do with that, Nothing to do with the road map. It's just got to do with the fact that we are in a down cycle and we're climbing out of the down cycle whereby The capacity utilization also at the leading edge is of course not at 100%. You Just have to grow into it. It's got to happen.

Speaker 2

It's just the cycle.

Speaker 11

Now one difference this time compared to when we migrated to Sensitive is DRAM, adoption of insertion of higher EUV layer count for DRAM. If I were to go back to your 2022 and 2021 Analyst Day, You highlighted the fact that more than 30% of EUV demand by 2025 is going to be driven by DRAM. Is that still a case and Could that make the EUV recovery much stronger with or without the adverse impact of transistor change?

Speaker 2

Yes, I think that's absolutely true. I still believe that percentage is still valid. But like I said, it is not today, but it is because we are where we are in the economic cycle. Yes. So I think nothing has changed in that sense.

Speaker 2

And you could even argue because they have underinvest In 2023, 2024. There will definitely be an additional driver on top of the roadmap insertion points. They haven't changed. Yes. So yes, I mean, I would expect that to be the case in 2025, yes.

Speaker 11

We just have to wait for the first half of twenty twenty four to see that in your booking.

Speaker 2

Yes, yes. And that is basically also I said it before, why we are conservative on 2024, because there are macroeconomic uncertainties, And our customers are closely watching this also. They're watching these inflection point trends. I mean, this is what we will also follow with them. They have a better view of inventories.

Speaker 2

We have a better view of utilization. We have a better view of other things that happened in We need to look at those inflection points and saying, okay, that means the trough, but then what will be the slope of the recovery and that's basically a macro call.

Operator

We will now go to the next question. And your next question comes from the line of Sandeep Deshpande from JPMorgan. Please go ahead.

Speaker 12

Yes. Hi. Thanks for letting me on. Peter, I mean, with response to an earlier question, you talked about that You will start seeing this order recovery potentially in 2024, which will help your 2025. But given that at this point what you see into 2024, the demand is not as much as your capacity particularly in EUV, Would you pre build because I mean your tools don't have any obsolescence risk?

Speaker 12

This is my first question and I have one quick follow-up.

Speaker 2

Yes, I think you're absolutely right. I mean, we are very also our customers keep telling us this. This is not that we in perfect isolation On the 20th floor in the town called Welthoven, think about this, is because our customers also show us what they need and why. So this is the 2025 we think is very real. So that means we need to pre build, yes.

Speaker 2

So you will see that in our working capital and the working capital of our suppliers. No, and if things change a bit faster, we'll actually need that in the back half of twenty twenty four. So we need to prepare ourselves, but you're absolutely right. Otherwise, we won't be able to react. And then we're in a super crisis in 2025 because we can't make the tools that our customers want.

Speaker 2

Yes.

Speaker 12

And then thanks Peter. And then in terms

Operator

of a follow-up for Ajay,

Speaker 12

I mean Next year, if you're looking at a flattish year, I mean, you must have had a spending plan on your OpEx for next year, whether it's R and D or SG and A. Are you going to continue with that plan given that the environment is different from when you built that plan? Or are you going to continue spending And thus there is an earnings impact next year in a flattish year because you've got an upward trajectory on your expenses.

Speaker 3

Yes. Sandeep, so obviously, in the current environment, we are frugal, right, as you might expect us to do. So we're definitely Controlling our SG and A expense there. On the R and D side, that's long term. And I think we would be ill advised Now go cut our R and D roadmap and it's not what we're doing, right?

Speaker 3

So we are continuing to execute on the R and D roadmap. You might have seen that on the hiring of people, we slowed down a little bit this year. So part of that is in response What I just mentioned on SG and A. So also in response to the fact that in 2022, we hired 10,000 people. So on the 42,000 people that we have today, that's massive.

Speaker 3

So obviously, you want a certain level of absorption to happen there and that's exactly what we're doing, right, making sure that People are well absorbed, but the growth also on the R and D headcount is nicely absorbed. So that's why you see this Slowing down a little bit on hiring people. But no, I mean, we continue to push down the accelerator On the R and D front because the opportunity is significant. And in order for us to achieve the growth trajectory that we've talked about in 2025 and 2030, We simply need to do that. So yes, we will be frugal.

Speaker 3

No, we're not going to cut back on our R and D roadmap.

Speaker 2

Thank you so much.

Operator

Thank you. We will now go to the next question. And your next question comes from the line of Janardan Menon from Jefferies. Please go ahead.

Speaker 9

Hi, good afternoon. Thanks for taking my question. I just wanted to go back to the question of the backlog. You do have a sizable backlog of over $35,000,000,000 and over $19,000,000,000 on the UV side. So just referring to a previous question on push outs, Do you see a risk?

Speaker 9

I mean, if you were to look out into 2024, especially on your EUV side, Is your uncertainty more on do we get any push outs on the existing backlog? Or is it a question of How many orders you can take in Q4 for shipment into 2024. My question is more you said that it's That you've suggested that there is some conservatism in that. And I'm just wondering where the risk or the upside could come from. Is it more that there could be a risk of push outs or is it just the amount of orders you could take in Q4?

Speaker 9

Thanks.

Speaker 2

Yes, I think that's a good question, The way that we look at this is, we look 1, of course, we have close contact with our customers and we are Discussing in-depth with them what they really need. But what they really need is also a function of where they are And what they see that they need going forward. And of course, where they are is that they're in a clear near autumn are In a down cycle where they feel it's about the trough or we might be seeing the inflection Points that will take us out of the trough. So if you now think about the psychology of the customer and they look forward and they see these inflection points Towards the end of the year changing positively, that means that we'll grow in 2024. That means what we discussed with them now as the, if you say, the minimum scenario, If everything happens the way that we think in terms of the inflection point, they will see growth, then I think this will be it.

Speaker 2

But that, of course, is In their current mind, they don't give us a lot of orders. So their current mind is, we have what we have. We look forward to what we need as a minimum in 2024. They better tell us they tell us you better prepare us for 2025, but at minimum In 2024 is what we call the conservative view because you could have a more positive view and say, well, it will turn in the second half of twenty twenty four. We don't have any indication that it's going to be dead soon.

Speaker 2

So this minimum position that they see is what they have discussed with us. And seeing those inflection points, I think there is little risk to the downside to answer your question. Now could there be an opportunity to the upside that would effectively mean that what we see in 2025 For reasons of a faster recovery in the cycle, we will be pulled in into the back half of twenty twenty four. That could be an upside. Yes.

Speaker 2

This is where we are. This is where our thinking is. This is where our thinking of our customers is and this is how we reflect on our view of 2024.

Speaker 9

Understood. And just a small follow-up on China. The As you referred to the official regulations coming out of the U. S. Government yesterday, if you look at the Chuck overlay numbers of 2.4 nanometer.

Speaker 9

It seems to capture the 1980 as well. Correct question. And what you're saying is that because it's only the advanced manufacturing Facilities will be covered by that and that's a handful. But do you think that that could be a moving target through the course of the year? I mean, could you could new fabs continue be added to that or taken away from that.

Speaker 9

So does that sort of cloud the overall visibility on where China could actually end up just from a geopolitical Point over the next 12 months.

Speaker 2

Well, I think that last word, the geopolitical confrontation would end up is a $1,000,000,000 question, I suppose. But I think basically 2 answers. 1, what how the regulations are currently structured is like the Japanese have also done The same thing. They basically say all immersion, but export controls will only apply to advanced manufacturing with the Now could that grow? Yes.

Speaker 2

That has always been there. That particular risk in terms of export controls being enlarged to what it is today, That's a risk that we've always had. So that is basically a function of what you ended your question with It's how the geopolitical escalation will happen going forward. We don't know. I mean, we just have to live with what the regulation is today and you need to realize that this regulation, which is a Amalgamation, a consolidation of the October 7 proposal of last year with the trilateral agreement Between the Dutch, the Japanese and the Americans has led to this situation of this handful of fabs.

Speaker 2

So this is also the result of, you could say, in-depth discussions, multilateral discussions between governments. Now, I don't say that that's never going to change, but that's what you need to consider also. So, We are where we are. I don't have a crystal ball to predict where geopolitics will go and how it will escalate. But we need to work from where we are and I can assure you that the results that currently on the table in terms of regulation are the result of very deep discussions between governments that are not just on a lazy Sunday afternoon being prepared.

Speaker 2

This is very deep. So yes, it can change, but then also I think the geopolitical situation first needs to change. And then, yes, Yes, of course, like I said, I don't have a crystal ball.

Speaker 3

And Jannad, a final element in the conversation building on what Peter was just saying And you said it before. Obviously, the regulation really aims at advanced semiconductor manufacturing. And I think you simply have to recognize the Most of the Chinese customers have gotten the message already last year and as a result of that have really shifted to what we call mid critical and mature manufacturing. That's what you see them do. So as a result of that, I would say the number of fabs that are still involved, number of our customers and fabs that are still involved In advanced manufacturing have gone down dramatically.

Speaker 3

And as a result of that, we can now talk about a handful of fabs that are associated with that. So If that's the objective, then that is completely aligned with the exactly with what now has been achieved.

Speaker 2

And that's a good point, Roger. When we do the roadmap discussions with our Chinese customers, they all moved back, not forward. They all moved back. And they do that because what I it was an answer to a previous question because if you look at the demand for mid critical, low mid critical and mature semiconductors And you look at the significant transitions that also China is going through and where in many areas they are leading, where it's electric vehicles, where it's the energy transition, The square inches of silicon that is needed to support that are massive. So, we actually need to build that capacity, Which by the way, they're not going to be self sufficient because the demand, the local demand is simply too high.

Speaker 2

I mean, but there will be more self sufficient, but not fully. So there is no downside for our Chinese customers to actually move their roadmap in that direction.

Speaker 9

Understood. Thank you so much.

Speaker 1

All right. Thank you all. We are now at the end of the hour. So if you are unable to get through on this call and still have questions, Please feel free to contact ASML Investor Relations department with your questions. Now on behalf of ASML, I'd like to thank you all

Operator

Thank you. This concludes the ASML 2023 3rd quarter financial results conference call. Thank you for participating. You may now disconnect.

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Key Takeaways

  • In Q3 ASML reported net sales of €6.7 billion and a gross margin of 51.9 percent, with system sales (76 percent logic) and installed base management driving a net income of €1.9 billion (EPS €4.81).
  • For Q4 ASML expects net sales of €6.7–7.1 billion, installed base revenue near €1.4 billion, a gross margin of 50–51 percent, R&D around €1.03 billion, SG&A around €285 million, an effective tax rate of 15–16 percent, and an interim dividend of €1.45 per share.
  • The industry remains in a cyclical trough as customers lower wafer output amid global macro and inventory concerns; while memory utilization stays depressed, logic tool utilization is showing signs of improvement and an inflection is anticipated by year-end.
  • Demand in China for mid-critical and mature DPV systems is strong as ASML fulfills backlogged orders under export-control rules, with only about 10–15 percent of shipments (to advanced fabs) requiring a license.
  • ASML views 2024 as a transition year with revenue roughly flat vs. 2023, but expects a significant growth upturn in 2025 driven by secular trends (AI, electrification), cyclical recovery and new fab capacity accounting for over 50 percent of EUV/DPV shipments.
A.I. generated. May contain errors.
Earnings Conference Call
ASML Q3 2023
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