IPG Photonics Announces First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

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IPG Photonics announced its first-quarter 2024 financial results, revealing a 27% decrease in revenue year-over-year. The company reported strong operating cash flow despite delayed e-mobility investments and soft industrial demand. IPG remains focused on growth opportunities for fiber lasers in various applications, aiming to diversify revenue sources away from competitive markets.

Financial Analyst

The decline in revenue by 27% and operating income by 75% for IPG Photonics is a substantial contraction, indicative of the headwinds faced by the laser technology sector. The specific mention of soft industrial demand and delays in e-mobility investments suggest a broader economic trend that is causing businesses to defer or reduce expenditure on new technologies. The reported operating cash flow of $55 million underscores effective working capital management, which is a positive sign of the company's operational efficiency in challenging times.

While the earnings per diluted share (EPS) have markedly decreased by 59%, the fact that the company is still profitable and actively engaging in share repurchases signals a confidence in its future by the management. However, as a retail investor, it is essential to consider the potential risks such as continued weak demand, currency fluctuations and global trade tensions outlined in the company's safe harbor statement.

Market Research Analyst

Exploring the geographical sales data, the 38% sales drop in China is particularly noteworthy given the size of the market and its influence on global supply chains. The uniform decline across all regions suggests systemic issues rather than isolated regional downturns, which may affect the sector at large rather than just IPG Photonics. The silver lining, however, is in the emerging growth products which, despite a downturn, continue to account for 45% of total revenue. This showcases a diversification strategy which might mitigate risks associated with reliance on any single market segment.

Technology Analyst

Technologically, IPG's focus on diversifying into applications like welding, cleaning, heating and medical for fiber lasers is a strategic move, as these applications may reveal new growth avenues. Their strong technology differentiation could indeed be a competitive advantage, enabling the company to displace traditional laser and non-laser tools. However, the effectiveness of this strategy can only be gauged in the long-term and warrants close monitoring of adoption rates and competitive responses within these emerging sectors.

 Delayed E-mobility Investments and Soft Industrial Demand Negatively Impacted Results

Strong Operating Cash Flow Benefited from Working Capital Management

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., April 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IPG Photonics Corporation (NASDAQ: IPGP) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(In millions, except per share data and percentages)			2024				2023			Change
Revenue		$	252.0			$	347.2			(27	)%
Gross margin			38.7	%			42.3	%
Operating income		$	19.1			$	75.4			(75	)%
Operating margin			7.6	%			21.7	%
Net income attributable to IPG Photonics Corporation		$	24.1			$	60.1			(60	)%
Earnings per diluted share		$	0.52			$	1.26			(59	)%

Management Comments

"In the first quarter, we continued to generate strong cash flow from operations, reduce inventory and control manufacturing expenses, in spite of the challenging conditions. We also remained focused on our strategy to unlock additional growth opportunities for fiber lasers such as welding, cleaning, heating and medical, which would allow us to diversify our revenue away from highly competitive markets," said Dr. Eugene Scherbakov, IPG Photonics' Chief Executive Officer. "While delayed investments in electric battery capacity worldwide, soft industrial demand across most of our major geographies, and inventory management by some large OEM customers impacted first quarter results, we believe that our strong technology differentiation helps us continue to displace other laser and non-laser tools across a growing range of applications, positioning our business for growth in the future."

Financial Highlights

First quarter revenue of $252 million decreased 27% year over year. Changes in foreign exchange rates reduced revenue growth by approximately $8 million or 2%. By region, sales decreased across all major geographies and were down 38% in China, 16% in North America, 21% in Europe and 23% in Japan on a year-over-year basis. Materials processing sales accounted for 90% of total revenue and decreased 28% year over year. The decline was due to lower revenue in most applications, except for growth in 3D printing and heating, and flat sales in parts and services. Other applications sales decreased 25% year over year due to lower revenue in medical and advanced applications.

Emerging growth products sales accounted for 45% of total revenue and were negatively impacted by lower demand in e-mobility and solar cell manufacturing applications, lower sales in handheld welding applications and inventory adjustment by a large medical customer.

Gross margin of 38.7% decreased 360 basis points year over year due to reduced absorption of manufacturing expenses and increased inventory reserves, partially offset by lower product and shipping costs. Earnings per diluted share (EPS) of $0.52 decreased 59% year over year. The gain on sale of assets increased operating income by $7 million and increased diluted EPS by $0.11. Foreign exchange transaction loss decreased operating income by $2 million and earnings per share by $0.03 in the first quarter. The effective tax rate in the quarter was 28%. During the first quarter, IPG generated $55 million in cash from operations and spent $28 million on capital expenditures and $90 million on share repurchases.

Business Outlook and Financial Guidance

“Despite a challenging first quarter, our book-to-bill was slightly above one for the first time since the first quarter last year, which may indicate that industrial demand is stabilizing and could start to improve modestly later in the year," concluded Dr. Scherbakov.

For the second quarter of 2024, IPG expects revenue of $240 million to $270 million. The Company expects the second quarter tax rate to be approximately 25%, including certain discrete items. IPG anticipates delivering earnings per diluted share in the range of $0.30 to $0.60.

As discussed in more detail in the "Safe Harbor" passage of this news release, actual results may differ from this guidance due to various factors including, but not limited to, trade policy changes and trade restrictions, product demand, order cancellations and delays, competition, tariffs, currency fluctuations and general economic conditions. This guidance is based upon current market conditions and expectations, and is subject to the risks outlined in the Company's reports filed with the SEC, and assumes exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar of euro 0.93, Russian ruble 92, Japanese yen 151 and Chinese yuan 7.10, respectively.

Supplemental Financial Information

Additional supplemental financial information is provided in the unaudited Financial Data Workbook and First Quarter 2024 Earnings Call Presentation available on the investor relations section of the Company's website at investor.ipgphotonics.com.

Conference Call Reminder

The Company will hold a conference call today, April 30, 2024 at 10:00 am ET. To access the call, please dial 877-407-6184 in the US or 201-389-0877 internationally. A live webcast of the call will also be available and archived on the investor relations section of the Company's website at investor.ipgphotonics.com.

Contact

Eugene Fedotoff
Senior Director, Investor Relations
IPG Photonics Corporation
508-597-4713
efedotoff@ipgphotonics.com

About IPG Photonics Corporation

IPG Photonics Corporation is the leader in high-power fiber lasers and amplifiers used primarily in materials processing and other diverse applications. The Company’s mission is to develop innovative laser solutions making the world a better place. IPG accomplishes this mission by delivering superior performance, reliability and usability at a lower total cost of ownership compared with other types of lasers and non-laser tools, allowing end users to increase productivity and decrease costs. IPG is headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts and has more than 30 facilities worldwide. For more information, visit www.ipgphotonics.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Information and statements provided by IPG and its employees, including statements in this press release, that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties. Any statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including indications of stabilizing industrial demand and improvements later in the year, revenue outlook, tax rate and earnings guidance, and the impact of the U.S. dollar on our guidance for second quarter of 2024. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with the strength or weakness of the business conditions in industries and geographic markets that IPG serves, particularly the effect of downturns in the markets IPG serves; uncertainties and adverse changes in the general economic conditions of markets; inability to manage risks associated with international customers and operations; changes in trade controls and trade policies; IPG's ability to penetrate new applications for fiber lasers and increase market share; the rate of acceptance and penetration of IPG's products; foreign currency fluctuations; high levels of fixed costs from IPG's vertical integration; the appropriateness of IPG's manufacturing capacity for the level of demand; competitive factors, including declining average selling prices; the effect of acquisitions and investments; inventory write-downs; asset impairment charges; intellectual property infringement claims and litigation; interruption in supply of key components; manufacturing risks; government regulations and trade sanctions; and other risks identified in IPG's SEC filings. Readers are encouraged to refer to the risk factors described in IPG's Annual Report on Form 10-K (filed with the SEC on February 21, 2024) and IPG's reports filed with the SEC, as applicable. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. IPG undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

IPG PHOTONICS CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
			2024				2023
		(In thousands, except per share data)
Net sales		$	252,009			$	347,174
Cost of sales			154,473				200,236
Gross profit			97,536				146,938
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing			22,998				21,088
Research and development			29,381				22,770
General and administrative			31,158				30,128
Gain on sale of assets			(6,776	)			—
Restructuring charges, net			—				181
Loss (gain) on foreign exchange			1,675				(2,655	)
Total operating expenses			78,436				71,512
Operating income			19,100				75,426
Other income, net:
Interest income, net			14,177				7,533
Other income, net			325				331
Total other income			14,502				7,864
Income before provision of income taxes			33,602				83,290
Provision for income taxes			9,503				23,155
Net income attributable to IPG Photonics Corporation		$	24,099			$	60,135
Net income attributable to IPG Photonics Corporation per share:
Basic		$	0.52			$	1.26
Diluted		$	0.52			$	1.26
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic			45,960				47,542
Diluted			46,175				47,776

IPG PHOTONICS CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
		March 31,				December 31,
			2024				2023
		(In thousands, except share and  per share data)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	496,452			$	514,674
Short-term investments			643,655				662,807
Accounts receivable, net			184,012				219,053
Inventories			431,899				453,874
Prepaid income taxes			24,530				26,038
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			49,071				38,208
Total current assets			1,829,619				1,914,654
Deferred income taxes, net			84,452				88,788
Goodwill			38,351				38,540
Intangible assets, net			24,802				26,234
Property, plant and equipment, net			585,751				602,257
Other assets			35,461				28,425
Total assets		$	2,598,436			$	2,698,898
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	26,675			$	28,618
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			163,011				181,350
Income taxes payable			2,441				4,893
Total current liabilities			192,127				214,861
Other long-term liabilities and deferred income taxes			65,589				68,652
Total liabilities			257,716				283,513
Commitments and contingencies
IPG Photonics Corporation equity:
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 175,000,000 shares authorized; 56,521,438 and 45,566,746 shares issued and outstanding, respectively, at March 31, 2024; 56,317,438 and 46,320,671 shares issued and outstanding, respectively, at December 31, 2023.			6				6
Treasury stock, at cost, 10,954,692 and 9,996,767 shares held at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.			(1,251,121	)			(1,161,505	)
Additional paid-in capital			1,002,600				994,020
Retained earnings			2,819,493				2,795,394
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(230,258	)			(212,530	)
Total IPG Photonics Corporation equity			2,340,720				2,415,385
Total liabilities and equity		$	2,598,436			$	2,698,898

IPG PHOTONICS CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
			2024				2023
		(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	24,099			$	60,135
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			16,214				17,889
Provisions for inventory, warranty & bad debt			14,761				17,214
Other			143				19,561
Changes in assets and liabilities that provided (used) cash, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable and accounts payable			32,579				(29,242	)
Inventories			1,498				(8,989	)
Other			(34,698	)			(39,288	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			54,596				37,280
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of and deposits on property, plant and equipment			(28,052	)			(33,404	)
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment			25,262				1,600
Purchases of short-term investments			(226,521	)			(343,820	)
Proceeds from short-term investments			252,890				279,499
Other			157				107
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			23,736				(96,018	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on long-term borrowings			—				(298	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee stock option and purchase plans less payments for taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards			(1,158	)			(3,844	)
Purchase of treasury stock, at cost			(89,616	)			(113,094	)
Net cash used in financing activities			(90,774	)			(117,236	)
Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents			(5,780	)			(1,098	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(18,222	)			(177,072	)
Cash and cash equivalents — Beginning of period			514,674				698,209
Cash and cash equivalents — End of period			496,452				521,137
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest		$	4			$	525
Cash paid for income taxes		$	8,005			$	19,203

IPG PHOTONICS CORPORATION SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF AMORTIZATION OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS (UNAUDITED)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024			2023
		(In thousands)
Amortization of intangible assets:
Cost of sales		$	488		$	564
Sales and marketing			937			1,457
Total amortization of intangible assets		$	1,425		$	2,021

IPG PHOTONICS CORPORATION SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (UNAUDITED)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
			2024				2023
		(In thousands)
Cost of sales		$	2,075			$	2,646
Sales and marketing			1,502				1,293
Research and development			2,631				1,796
General and administrative			3,524				3,876
Total stock-based compensation			9,732				9,611
Tax effect of stock-based compensation			(2,140	)			(2,096	)
Net stock-based compensation		$	7,592			$	7,515

		Three Months Ended March 31,
			2024				2023
		(In thousands)
Excess tax benefit (detriment) on stock-based compensation		$	(3,649	)		$	(1,708	)

FAQ

What were IPG Photonics' revenue and net income for the first quarter of 2024?

IPG Photonics reported revenue of $252 million and a net income of $24.1 million for the first quarter of 2024.

What factors negatively impacted IPG Photonics' financial results for the first quarter of 2024?

Delayed e-mobility investments, soft industrial demand, and inventory management by large OEM customers negatively impacted IPG Photonics' financial results for the first quarter of 2024.

What was the operating income margin for IPG Photonics in the first quarter of 2024?

IPG Photonics' operating income margin was 7.6% in the first quarter of 2024, showing a decrease from 21.7% compared to the previous year.

What is IPG Photonics' revenue outlook for the second quarter of 2024?

IPG Photonics expects revenue of $240 million to $270 million for the second quarter of 2024.