nLIGHT Q2 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

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Provided by Quartr
August 1, 2024

There are 8 speakers on the call.

Operator

Good afternoon, and welcome to nLIGHT's Second Quarter 2024 Earnings Conference Call. All participants will be in listen only mode. Please note, this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Joseph Corso, Chief Financial Officer. Please go ahead.

Speaker 1

Thank you, and good afternoon, everyone. I'm Joe Corso, nLIGHT's Chief Financial Officer. With me today is Scott Keeney, nLIGHT's Chairman and CEO. Today's discussion will contain forward looking statements, including financial projections and plans for our business, some of which are beyond our control, including the risks and uncertainties described from time to time in our SEC filings. Our results may differ materially from those projected on today's call, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward looking statement, except as required by law.

Speaker 1

During the call, we will be discussing certain non GAAP financial measures. We have provided reconciliations of these non GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in our earnings release, which can be found in the Investor Relations section of our website. I will now turn the call over to Scott.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Joe. 2nd quarter revenue of $50,500,000 was at the upper end of our guidance range and grew 13% compared to our Q1. We had a strong quarter in aerospace and defense, which grew 26% sequentially. Our commercial business, which includes our industrial and microfabrication end markets increased approximately 1% from the Q1. Overall gross margins improved to approximately 24% in the 2nd quarter and products gross margin expanded to approximately 30%, slightly above the top end of our guidance range.

Speaker 2

We ended the quarter with cash equivalents and investments of $115,000,000 with no debt. Aerospace and Defense remains a significant growth opportunity for our business and we had a strong quarter in both directed energy and laser sensing. In directed energy, we continue to see strong interest in our solutions, ongoing military operations in the Middle East and Ukraine highlight the increasing need for advanced cost effective defensive weapons technology. We believe directed energy lasers will be a critical part of the U. S.

Speaker 2

And foreign allies' layered defense strategy as they offer a significant operating cost advantage compared to traditional kinetic weapons and a deep magazine. During the quarter, we had strong execution on multiple high visibility strategically important domestic directed energy programs. We continue to make good progress in our healthy 2 program, which is a multiyear DoD funded $171,000,000 program to develop a 1 megawatt laser with completion expected sometime in 2026. Another critical program for nLIGHT is the Army's DEM short effort, which is to develop a 50 kilowatt high energy laser for short range air missile defense. On this program, nLIGHT is responsible for delivering a 50 kilowatt high energy laser to a prime contractor in the first half of twenty twenty five.

Speaker 2

NLIGHT's vertical integration from semiconductor chip through beam combined laser is a unique and critical differentiator for us in this market. We design, manufacture and integrate the most critical components of the high energy lasers we deliver to the directed energy market. Our vertically integrated approach to the directed energy market enables us to design and manufacture decisions at the component and subsystem level that optimizes system level performance at an attractive cost point. Moreover, it allows us to address this market at every level of vertical integration. Today, we have generated revenue at nearly every level of vertical integration, which makes us an ideal supplier to the U.

Speaker 2

S. Government, other prime contractors and foreign allies. In the second half of twenty twenty four, we expect to finalize the design and begin to manufacture some of the most critical hardware components of our beam combined lasers. We also had strong quarter in laser sensing. As a reminder, laser sensing products use lasers for object detection, measurement and inspection and are used in a wide range of lands, sea, air and space applications.

Speaker 2

Our laser sensing products include missile guidance, proximity detection, range finding and countermeasures. And we've been incorporated into several significant and long running defense programs. In the Q2, we signed a new $25,000,000 contract for an existing long running missile program that incorporates 1 of our laser sensing products. NLIGHT has been a long term supplier into this program, which our customer expects to continue to expand in the coming years. We've also continued to make excellent progress on a handful of classified programs.

Speaker 2

In one of these programs, we shipped our first EMD or Engineering and Manufacturing Development Unit. The EMD phase is focused on developing, building, testing and evaluating solutions to ensure they meet all the operational requirements and is a precursor to initial low rate production or LRIP. Our customers forecast suggests that LRIP will start sometime in the latter half of twenty twenty five and we expect this program as well as other programs like this one to contribute significantly to our defense products revenue well into the future. Turning to our commercial markets. In microfabrication, we provide high brightness, high power semiconductor lasers to many of the world's leading diode pulse solid state laser vendors, which are used across a wide range of applications.

Speaker 2

Over the last several quarters, our overall revenue for microfabrication has been in the $10,000,000 to $11,000,000 range, which is below the $14,000,000 average quarterly run rate in the prior several years. In the 2nd quarter, while microfabrication was down 5% sequentially, we begin to see signs of renewed demand. During COVID, our customers built significant inventory to mitigate pervasive supply chain challenges. We believe we are finally at the point at which we are seeing more stable inventory levels and an increase in overall broad based demand for semiconductor lasers. In industrial, we serve 3 end markets cutting, welding and additive manufacturing markets, each which have their own opportunities and risks.

Speaker 2

In cutting, which represents the largest portion of our industrial business today, the industry and our business continue to shift towards higher power solutions. Our revenue and cutting is comprised primarily of our innovative high power programmable lasers, which continue to be adopted by our leading customers. We continue to innovate our product offerings to meet our customers' most critical pain points. As we've discussed in prior quarters, Chinese laser suppliers have increased their market share in standard lasers as machine tool customers are adopting a bifurcated strategy using Chinese suppliers. In welding, we are focused on solving our customers' most critical pain points in the EV and battery markets.

Speaker 2

In the Q2, we released several new products at the Battery Show in Europe. The first we call APT is an automatic parameter tuning software for the process monitoring market. This product reduces the time it takes to implement process monitoring solutions into a welding line. We also released a product called Wellform, which combines spatial and temporal controls to optimize the melt pool, reducing deleterious defects such as spattering and porosity. Lastly, we released ProcessGuard, which integrates process monitoring capabilities within the laser itself, further simplifying the integration into a factory line, improving reliability and significantly lowering cost.

Speaker 2

ProcessGuard is the first product that we've introduced that fully integrates nLIGHT laser technology and plasma process monitoring technology. Although welding remains a small part of our business today, our new product introductions address many of our customers' key pain points and have been well received to date. In additive manufacturing, we work closely with many strategic customers that are focused on driving broader adoption of metal 3 d printing technologies to multiple end markets. One of the most critical challenges facing the additive manufacturing industry is to reduce the overall build time of a part as shorter build times directly translate into a lower cost per part produced by that machine. In the Q2, we announced a collaboration agreement with 1 of our customers, EOS, an industry leader in additive manufacturing.

Speaker 2

NLIGHT and EOS each possess a complementary set of technologies and we believe that by working together we can optimize the additive manufacturing light engine. NLIGHT's programmable beam shaping laser Corona AFX offers 7 different beam profiles from a single laser ranging from an 85 micron spot for printing high precision features and contouring smooth surfaces to a 210 micron ring profile for faster printing of bulk material, improved mechanical properties and reduced soot and spatter. In lite corona AFX lasers delivered printing speeds of up to 3 times faster for steel and aluminum alloys compared to a standard 400 watt laser process. The flexibility and performance gains of in light's beam shaping laser technology is expected to drive significant productivity gains and thus lower cost per part for U. S.

Speaker 2

Metal 3 d printing systems. In summary, we've made good progress in multiple defense and commercial end markets and we continue to expect strong growth in the second half of the year compared with the first half. Moreover, we remain very well positioned for profitable growth in 2025 and beyond. With that, I'll turn the call over to Joe to discuss our Q2 financial results.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Scott. Total revenue in the Q2 of 2024 was $50,500,000 an increase of 13% compared to the prior quarter, but down 5% compared to the Q2 of 2023. Products revenue was $34,500,000 an increase of 17% compared to the prior quarter, but down 13% compared to the Q2 of 2023. Development revenue was $16,100,000 an increase of 6% compared to the prior quarter and up 17% compared to the Q2 of 2023. In Aerospace and Defense, 2nd quarter revenue of $27,400,000 which represented 54% of total revenue, increased 26% compared to the prior quarter and 12% compared to the Q2 of 2023.

Speaker 1

A and D products revenue grew 5% year over year and 72% quarter over quarter, primarily due to strong execution against the new $25,000,000 Scott mentioned earlier. In industrial, 2nd quarter revenue was $12,900,000 which represented 26% of total revenue, increased 8% compared to the prior quarter, but decreased 22% compared to the Q2 of 2023. While sales of programmable lasers into the cutting market increased year over year, sales of non programmable lasers decreased and revenue from a key additive customer last year did not repeat during the Q2. In microfabrication, 2nd quarter revenue of $10,200,000 which represented 20% of total revenue decreased 5% compared to the prior quarter and 16% compared to the Q2 of 2023. Turning to gross margin.

Speaker 1

Total gross margin in the 2nd quarter was 24%, which was above the guidance range compared to 17% in the prior quarter and 23% in the Q2 of 2023. Products gross margin was 30% compared to 21% in the prior quarter and 29% in the Q2 of 2023. Products gross margin in the Q2 was positively impact by favorable sales mix, pricing and certain contracts completed during the period with higher than expected margins. The positive impact of sales mix and pricing was partially offset by the decrease in production volumes and lower absorption of our fixed manufacturing costs compared to the Q2 last year. As discussed previously, product gross margin is expected to improve as overall product volumes increase relative to our fixed manufacturing costs.

Speaker 1

Development gross margin was 9% compared to 9% in the prior quarter and 6% in the Q2 of 2023. The improvement in development gross margin for the 2nd quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year is the result of new development contracts awarded in the second half of twenty twenty three. Non GAAP operating expenses were $18,000,000 in the Q2 of 2024 compared to $17,200,000 in the prior quarter and $16,600,000 in the Q2 of 2023. The overall increase in non GAAP operating expenses were driven by higher salaries, research and development projects, incentive compensation and reserves on accounts receivable. Adjusted EBITDA for the Q2 of 2024 was a loss of $1,600,000 compared to a loss of $4,900,000 in the prior quarter and approximately breakeven in the Q2 of 2023.

Speaker 1

Net loss on a GAAP basis was $11,700,000 or $0.25 per diluted share compared with the GAAP net loss in the prior quarter of $13,800,000 or $0.29 per diluted share and $8,800,000 or $0.19 per

Speaker 3

diluted share

Speaker 1

in the Q2 of 2023. Net loss on a non GAAP basis was $4,600,000 or $0.10 per diluted share compared with a non GAAP net loss in the prior quarter of $8,200,000 or $0.17 per diluted share and $900,000 or $0.02 per diluted share in the Q2 of 2023. Turning now to the balance sheet. Our balance sheet remains strong as we ended the 2nd quarter with total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments of approximately $115,000,000 and no debt. Total cash and investments have increased by $1,700,000 since the end of 2023 and cash provided by operating activities year to date through the Q2 of 2024 are $7,100,000 compared to a use of cash of $3,500,000 for the comparable period of 2023.

Speaker 1

Capital expenditures through the Q2 of 2024 were $3,700,000 compared to $1,600,000 for the Q1 of 2023. Inventory remained relatively flat during the quarter at approximately $53,000,000 Days of inventory was 123 days compared to 144 days in the Q2 of 2023. Accounts receivable increased approximately $4,600,000 to $32,200,000 due to an increase in revenue and the timing of customer payments. As noted last quarter, we received an earlier customer payment of approximately $5,000,000 at the end of the first quarter. Average day sales outstanding for the Q2 of 2024 were 53 days compared to 68 days for the Q1 of 2024 and 70 days for the Q2 of 2023.

Speaker 1

As noted last quarter, maintaining a strong balance sheet remains a key focus of the company. Spend control coupled with working capital management and CapEx investment has enabled us to maintain a balance sheet that we believe will enable us to achieve our long term growth objectives. Turning to guidance. Based on the information available today, we expect continued sequential revenue growth for the Q3 of 2024 in the range of $53,000,000 to $58,000,000 The midpoint of approximately $55,500,000 includes $39,500,000 of product revenue and $16,000,000 of development revenue. Turning to gross margin.

Speaker 1

3rd quarter 2024 products gross margin is expected to be in the range of 28% to 32% and development gross margin to be approximately 8% resulting in an overall gross margin range of 22% to 26%. Finally, we expect adjusted EBITDA for the 3rd quarter to be in the range of negative $2,000,000 to positive $1,000,000 We continue to see breakeven adjusted EBITDA with quarterly revenues in the $55,000,000 to $60,000,000 range. With that, I will turn the call over to the operator for questions.

Operator

The first question today is from Greg Palm with Craig Hallum Capital Group. Please go ahead. Mr. Palm, your line is open on our end, perhaps it's muted on yours. Can you guys hear me now?

Operator

Yes, we can.

Speaker 4

All right, awesome. Sorry about that. Thanks for taking the questions and congrats guys on the progress here. Maybe just a little bit of a sort of high level overview of kind of how you're seeing the lay of the land right now by segment. It sounds like maybe a little bit of visibility in microfab, but what are you seeing across segments and specifically as it relates to the quarter was the upside towards the high end of the guidance range, was that driven by A and D?

Speaker 4

Is that a fair characterization?

Speaker 5

Yes, I think you summarized it well, Greg. This is Scott. Yes, we even more significantly up in products. Even more significantly up in products. And as we've been talking about, we're seeing traction in not only the new applications in directed energy, but also our existing programs of record.

Speaker 5

So yes, that's certainly one of the highlights from the quarter.

Speaker 4

And Scott, I think you mentioned in the end of your prepared remarks profitable growth for fiscal 'twenty five. I know in past calls you've been targeting year over year revenue growth in fiscal 'twenty four. Do you still feel comfortable with that? It implies still a pretty big ramp up in Q4 relative to your outlook or your guide in Q3, but just kind of curious to get your thoughts on the sequential progress in the second half?

Speaker 6

Yes, Greg, this is Joe. I'll take that one. So obviously, the midpoint of our guidance is up again relative to the Q2. And we continue to expect the second half of the year, not much has changed since we talked a quarter ago. So we do still expect the second half to be higher than the first half.

Speaker 6

I think what we said about the year is that we were optimistic that we had an opportunity to grow full year over 2023. Last year, we did about $210,000,000 plus or minus. We still feel like that's a reasonably good directional range. That being said, we don't have great visibility to that level of detail in this sort of outside of 1 quarter forward. So but generally nothing has changed.

Speaker 6

We're still optimistic that business momentum is picking up going into the second half. Certainly, on the defense side, we're seeing a little bit more stabilization on the commercial side and we're setting ourselves up well for growth in 2025 and beyond.

Speaker 4

Yes. Okay. That's helpful. And if I could ask one more on margins. So revenue from laser products is looks to be up around 15% sequentially from Q2, but gross margin expected to be really flat or even down slightly at the midpoint.

Speaker 4

I'm guessing that's just mix related, but so surprised that gross margin guidance won't be a little bit better just given that given the higher level of revenue contribution?

Speaker 6

Yes. No, very fair point, Greg. So I'll provide a little bit of color. In the Q2, what we had, we did have better mix and we had a couple of deals that ended up contributing to margin that was better than we expected. And so probably to the tune of a couple of 100 basis points.

Speaker 6

So, if you were to back out those sort of one time ish bumps that we got in the Q2, you'd see a more normalized flow through from the Q2 to the midpoint of the Q3 guidance. I think the one thing that we are pleased about is that we've worked pretty hard to keep our manufacturing expenses low and our absorption high as the revenue continues to grow. So I feel good even absent that couple of 100 basis point tailwind in the Q2 that we're in a much better spot to continue to grow gross margins as the top line, particularly the product top line expands.

Speaker 4

Understood. Okay. I will leave it there. Thanks and best of luck.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Greg. Thanks, Greg.

Operator

The next question is from Keith Housum with Northcoast Research. Please go ahead.

Speaker 3

Good afternoon, gentlemen. Scott, perhaps provide a little more context or color around the EOS announcement in terms of the perhaps contribution it will have to you guys and where you think that would benefit? Obviously, it's nice to have a second big partner in that space.

Speaker 5

Good. Keith, I think I got all the questions around the EOS announcement. As you may know, EOS is one of the oldest companies in the additive space and one of the clear leaders in laser additive manufacturing. And we've been working with them for some time and it was an announcement that reflects the strength of our Corona AFX technology to be a key enabler of the next generation products in this space. And we had a very good conference at the Rapid Conference recently.

Speaker 5

And there's a lot of continued progress on integrating our current lasers and developing the roadmap for future lasers into their roadmap. And we're looking forward to announcing more in the coming quarters, notably the big trade show in Additive is in Frankfurt later this year. But yes, it reflects their understanding of the roadmap to integrate the beam shaping technology that we have.

Speaker 3

So we expect this expanded relationship to be additive, I guess, not that no pun intended, of course, to the existing relationship, the existing contribution that currently make to your business?

Speaker 5

Indeed. And it is not a relationship that is exclusive that prevents us from working with others. But it does reflect the integrated work we're doing to support their roadmap.

Speaker 3

Great. Thanks. Appreciate it. If I can get a second one here. Your success in China this quarter, I guess, is a marked difference versus perhaps other competitors in the East, certainly industrial space and even in the laser space.

Speaker 3

Is there something unique to the success you're seeing in China this quarter versus others?

Speaker 6

No, Keith. I overall revenue in China is sort of it's such a small part of our business, right? We've served the China microfabrication market for a really long time, right? There's a lot of SKUs and we just saw slightly better ordering patterns and delivery of revenue this quarter. But on a relatively small number, there's not a lot of sort of meaningful read through there for us.

Speaker 3

Great. Thank you. Appreciate it.

Operator

The next question is from Mark Miller with The Benchmark Company. Please go ahead.

Speaker 7

In terms of your existing backlog, what does the margin profile look like? Does it look like similar to what you've been reporting that you had higher 6 kilowatt sales in the last quarter, which happened with margins, I assume. I'm just wondering about the backlog. What does it look like from a margin perspective?

Speaker 6

Yes. Thanks, Mark. So certainly on the commercial side, as you can see from the numbers, we're skewing towards higher power sales on the fiber laser or the industrial side. And most of that revenue at this point is really on the programmable fiber laser side. So that's good and that's additive from a gross margin perspective.

Speaker 6

And then our microfabrication business, which I think in our prepared remarks, we talked about seeing some better demand and customer forecast. And so that will also benefit the overall margins.

Speaker 7

Thank you.

Speaker 6

Thank you.

Operator

This concludes our question and answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Joe Corso for any closing remarks.

Speaker 6

Yes. Thank you everyone for joining this afternoon and for your continued interest in nLIGHT. We look forward to speaking with you during the quarter. Have a great afternoon.

Operator

The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.

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