Hallo allerseits,
sehr solide Zahlen heute, auf allen Metrics über den Erwartungen. Sehr starke Marge trotz schwächerem Produktmix (höherer LED Anteil) gestützt durch Wechselkurs (EUR/USD), meiner Ansicht nach sollte der Produktmix in H2 eher besser als schlechter werden (keine neuen LED orders, dafür mehr VCSEL) und m.E. nach bleibt der USD so stark wie er ist. Heisst in Summe, dass die Gross Margin und EBIT Margin guidance für 2019 sehr konservativ bleibt. Wie CWL1 vorher schon geschrieben hat wurde im Call klar davon gesprochen, dass Inventories erhöht sind um zukünftige Produktion zu liefern, sprich Umsatz zieht in Q2/Q3 an - meine Meinung.
Hier meine Highlights aus dem heutigen call (alles meine Notizen, insofern ohne Gewähr): VCSEL Demand: Potential for order growth from VCSEL in H2, while noting that AMS is positiv on Android adoption of VCSEL during its results this morning. SiC: We are still in quali process with a broad range of customers, expect first orders here in Q4 2019 or Q1 2020. Clearly Aixtron is gaining market share in SiC (e.g. new customers), also there is "a broad interest in the market for our new tools". Management sounded as if there is more to be expected from SiC in 2020 and beyond. GaN: "We have a good and strong customer base here, have seen increased demand from Rf" Also sounded as if they are gaining market share and point towards further demand growth in 2019 and 2020 but from a low base in Euro amounts. Product mix: Dont expect much new orders from LED as these orders tend to be lumpy and came in during 2018 - for delivery in 2019 (see Q1 2019 revenue mix). So product mix should improve in the remainder of 2019. Inventory growth: Inventories are +70% yoy in Q1, reflects mid single digit amount related to Brexit, a higher mid single digit amount related to prototypes and the remainder is higher business volumes during the next quarters. Sounds like revenue generation will increase sequentially in next quarters.
To me it sounds that all is on track, and guidance on margins is clearly very conservative with improving product mix, potentially increasing volume throughput and the EUR/USD rate where it currently stands. Keen to hear further progress on OLED which should be decided upon in 2019.
Regards, Fel |