Amtech Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Amtech Systems, Inc. ("Amtech") (NASDAQ: ASYS), a manufacturer of capital equipment, including thermal processing and wafer polishing, and related consumables used in fabricating semiconductor devices, such as silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon power, analog and discrete devices, and electronic assemblies and modules focusing on enabling technologies for electric vehicles (EV) and clean technology (CleanTech) applications, today reported results for its first quarter ended December 31, 2022.

First Quarter Fiscal 2023 Financial and Operational Highlights:

  • Net revenue of $21.6 million
  • Operating loss of $2.7 million, inclusive of $1.4 million in acquisition costs and $0.4 million in severance expenses
  • Net loss of $2.7 million
  • Net loss per diluted share of $0.20
  • Customer orders of $25.2 million
  • Book to bill ratio of 1.2:1
  • December 31, 2022 backlog of $54.5 million

“While the uncertain macroeconomic outlook and timing of capacity expansion projects are creating near-term softness for our advanced packaging and SMT products, demand for EV applications remained robust, with customer orders of $25.2 million during our first quarter of fiscal 2023. Together with our recent acquisition of Entrepix, we are confident that our strategy to align our divisions to high-growth megatrend markets, such as EV and silicon carbide is gaining traction. We believe this strategic alignment to megatrend growth areas across multiple product and customer touchpoints creates a strong and durable foundation for value creation in the coming years,” commented Mr. Michael Whang, Chief Executive Officer of Amtech.

GAAP Financial Results

(in millions, except per share amounts)

Q1

 

Q4

 

Q1

 

 

FY 2023

 

FY 2022

 

FY 2022

 

Revenues, net

$

21.6

 

$

32.3

 

$

26.5

 

Gross profit

$

8.3

 

$

12.6

 

$

9.9

 

Gross margin

 

38.5

%

 

38.8

%

 

37.4

%

Operating (loss) income

$

(2.7

)

$

3.9

 

$

1.2

 

Operating margin

 

-12.4

%

 

12.0

%

 

4.7

%

Net (loss) income

$

(2.7

)

$

4.2

 

$

1.0

 

Net (loss) income per diluted share

$

(0.20

)

$

0.30

 

$

0.07

 

Net revenues decreased 33% sequentially and 19% from the first quarter of fiscal 2022. The decrease is primarily attributable to lower shipments of our semiconductor and polishing equipment, partially offset by an increase in consumable shipments compared to the prior year quarter.

Gross margin was relatively consistent among periods.

Selling, General & Administrative (“SG&A”) expenses increased $1.9 million on a sequential basis and $2.1 million compared to the prior year period due primarily to $1.4 million in acquisition costs and consulting and ERP expenses.

Research, Development and Engineering was relatively flat sequentially and decreased $0.2 million compared to the same prior year period.

Operating loss was $2.7 million, compared to operating income of $3.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 and operating income of $1.2 million in the same prior year period.

Income tax benefit was less than $0.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022, compared to a provision of $0.6 million in the preceding quarter and $0.2 million in the same prior year period.

Net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2023 was $2.7 million, or 20 cents per share. This compares to net income of $4.2 million, or 30 cents per share, for the preceding quarter and net income of $1.0 million, or 7 cents per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2022.

Outlook

The Company’s outlook reflects the ongoing logistical impacts and the related delays for goods shipped to and from China. Actual results may differ materially in the weeks and months ahead. Additionally, the semiconductor equipment industries can be cyclical and inherently impacted by changes in market demand. Operating results can be significantly impacted, positively or negatively, by the timing of orders, system shipments, and the financial results of semiconductor manufacturers.

For the second fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023, which will include Entrepix, revenues are expected to be in the range of $30 to $32 million with operating margin in the low single digits, excluding approximately $1.1 million in acquisition costs.

A portion of Amtech's results is denominated in Renminbis, a Chinese currency. The outlook provided in this press release is based on an assumed exchange rate between the United States Dollar and the Renminbi. Changes in the value of the Renminbi in relation to the United States Dollar could cause actual results to differ from expectations.

Conference Call

Amtech Systems will host a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss our fiscal first quarter financial results. The call will be available to interested parties by dialing 1-877-407-0784. For international callers, please dial +1-201-689-8560. The confirmation code is 13735895. A live webcast of the conference call will be available in the Investor Relations section of Amtech’s website at: https://www.amtechsystems.com/investors/events.

A replay of the webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at http://www.amtechsystems.com/conference.htm shortly after the conclusion of the call and will remain available for approximately 30 calendar days.

About Amtech Systems, Inc.

Amtech Systems, Inc. is a leading, global manufacturer of capital equipment, including thermal processing, wafer cleaning, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) technology, and related consumables used in fabricating semiconductor devices, such as silicon carbide (SiC), silicon power, electronic assemblies and modules focusing on enabling technologies for electric vehicles (EV) and clean technology (CleanTech) applications. We sell process equipment and services to semiconductor device and module manufacturers worldwide, particularly in Asia, North America and Europe. Our strategic focus is on semiconductor growth opportunities in power electronics, sensors and analog devices leveraging our strength in core competencies in thermal and substrate processing. Amtech's products are recognized under the leading brand names BTU International, Entrepix, Inc., Bruce Technologies™, PR Hoffman™ and Intersurface Dynamics, Inc.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this press release is forward-looking in nature. All statements in this press release, or made by management of Amtech Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("Amtech"), other than statements of historical fact, are hereby identified as "forward-looking statements" (as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). The forward-looking statements in this press release relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this press release. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements regarding Amtech's future financial results, operating results, business strategies, projected costs, products under development, competitive positions, plans and objectives of Amtech and its management for future operations, efforts to improve operational efficiencies and effectiveness and profitably grow our revenue, and enhancements to our technologies and expansion of our product portfolio. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "plan," "anticipate," "seek," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "believe," "continue," "predict," "potential," "project," "should," "would," "could", "likely," "future," "target," "forecast," "goal," "observe," and "strategy" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology used in this press release or by our management, which are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. The Form 10-K that Amtech filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for the year-ended September 30, 2022, listed various important factors that could affect the Company's future operating results and financial condition and could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results and expectations based on forward-looking statements made in this document or elsewhere by Amtech or on its behalf. These factors can be found under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Form 10-K and in our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Qs, and investors should refer to them. Because it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors, any such list cannot be considered a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

AMTECH SYSTEMS, INC.

(NASDAQ: ASYS)

(Unaudited)

 

Summary Financial Information

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

December 31,
2022

 

 

September 30,
2022

 

 

December 31,
2021

 

Amtech Systems, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues, net

 

$

21,558

 

 

$

32,315

 

 

$

26,463

 

Gross profit

 

$

8,303

 

 

$

12,553

 

 

$

9,898

 

Gross margin

 

 

39

%

 

 

39

%

 

 

37

%

Operating (loss) income

 

$

(2,680

)

 

$

3,889

 

 

$

1,240

 

New orders

 

$

25,229

 

 

$

20,365

 

 

$

31,637

 

Backlog

 

$

54,452

 

 

$

50,780

 

 

$

48,452

 

Semiconductor Segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues, net

 

$

16,887

 

 

$

26,498

 

 

$

22,765

 

Gross profit

 

$

6,172

 

 

$

9,373

 

 

$

8,662

 

Gross margin

 

 

37

%

 

 

35

%

 

 

38

%

Operating income

 

$

869

 

 

$

4,425

 

 

$

2,357

 

New orders

 

$

21,084

 

 

$

16,165

 

 

$

27,809

 

Backlog

 

$

52,209

 

 

$

48,011

 

 

$

46,921

 

Material and Substrate Segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues, net

 

$

4,671

 

 

$

5,817

 

 

$

3,698

 

Gross profit

 

$

2,131

 

 

$

3,180

 

 

$

1,236

 

Gross margin

 

 

46

%

 

 

55

%

 

 

33

%

Operating income

 

$

633

 

 

$

1,737

 

 

$

181

 

New orders

 

$

4,145

 

 

$

4,200

 

 

$

3,828

 

Backlog

 

$

2,243

 

 

$

2,769

 

 

$

1,531

 

AMTECH SYSTEMS, INC.

(NASDAQ: ASYS)

(Unaudited)

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Revenues, net

 

$

21,558

 

 

$

26,463

 

Cost of sales

 

 

13,255

 

 

 

16,565

 

Gross profit

 

 

8,303

 

 

 

9,898

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

 

9,190

 

 

 

7,086

 

Research, development and engineering

 

 

1,393

 

 

 

1,572

 

Severance expense

 

 

400

 

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

 

 

(2,680

)

 

 

1,240

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense and other, net

 

 

(68

)

 

 

(83

)

(Loss) income before income tax provision

 

 

(2,748

)

 

 

1,157

 

Income tax (benefit) provision

 

 

(4

)

 

 

160

 

Net (loss) income

 

$

(2,744

)

 

$

997

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) Income Per Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income per basic share

 

$

(0.20

)

 

$

0.07

 

Net (loss) income per diluted share

 

$

(0.20

)

 

$

0.07

 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

14,008

 

 

 

14,254

 

Diluted

 

 

14,008

 

 

 

14,485

 

AMTECH SYSTEMS, INC.

(NASDAQ: ASYS)

(Unaudited)

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

December 31,
2022

 

 

September 30,
2022

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

44,534

 

 

$

46,874

 

Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $147 and $114 at
December 31, 2022 and September 30, 2022, respectively)

 

 

21,785

 

 

 

25,013

 

Inventories

 

 

28,236

 

 

 

25,488

 

Other current assets

 

 

4,890

 

 

 

5,561

 

Total current assets

 

 

99,445

 

 

 

102,936

 

Property, Plant and Equipment - Net

 

 

6,451

 

 

 

6,552

 

Right-of-Use Assets - Net

 

 

10,832

 

 

 

11,258

 

Intangible Assets - Net

 

 

733

 

 

 

758

 

Goodwill

 

 

11,168

 

 

 

11,168

 

Deferred Income Taxes - Net

 

 

114

 

 

 

79

 

Other Assets

 

 

794

 

 

 

783

 

Total Assets

 

$

129,537

 

 

$

133,534

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

6,835

 

 

$

7,301

 

Accrued compensation and related taxes

 

 

2,923

 

 

 

4,109

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

 

2,722

 

 

 

1,771

 

Current maturities of finance lease liabilities and long-term debt

 

 

71

 

 

 

107

 

Current portion of long-term operating lease liabilities

 

 

2,134

 

 

 

2,101

 

Contract liabilities

 

 

6,955

 

 

 

7,231

 

Income taxes payable

 

 

19

 

 

 

6

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

21,659

 

 

 

22,626

 

Finance Lease Liabilities and Long-Term Debt

 

 

59

 

 

 

220

 

Long-Term Operating Lease Liabilities

 

 

8,937

 

 

 

9,395

 

Income Taxes Payable

 

 

2,551

 

 

 

2,849

 

Other Long-Term Liabilities

 

 

93

 

 

 

76

 

Total Liabilities

 

 

33,299

 

 

 

35,166

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock; 100,000,000 shares authorized; none issued

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock; $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; shares
issued and outstanding: 14,003,029 and 13,994,154 at December 31, 2022
and September 30, 2022, respectively

 

 

140

 

 

 

140

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

124,656

 

 

 

124,458

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(1,351

)

 

 

(1,767

)

Retained deficit

 

 

(27,207

)

 

 

(24,463

)

Total Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

96,238

 

 

 

98,368

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

$

129,537

 

 

$

133,534

 

AMTECH SYSTEMS, INC.

(NASDAQ: ASYS)

(Unaudited)

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

 

$

(2,744

)

 

$

997

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by
operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

388

 

 

 

430

 

Write-down of inventory

 

 

48

 

 

 

120

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

(35

)

 

 

 

Non-cash stock compensation expense

 

 

164

 

 

 

103

 

Provision for (reversal of) allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

35

 

 

 

(19

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

3,194

 

 

 

(2,683

)

Inventories

 

 

(2,796

)

 

 

(2,161

)

Other assets

 

 

1,106

 

 

 

(207

)

Accounts payable

 

 

(643

)

 

 

1,979

 

Accrued income taxes

 

 

(284

)

 

 

968

 

Accrued and other liabilities

 

 

(665

)

 

 

140

 

Contract liabilities

 

 

(276

)

 

 

2,822

 

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

 

 

(2,508

)

 

 

2,489

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

 

 

(224

)

 

 

(45

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(224

)

 

 

(45

)

Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options

 

 

34

 

 

 

69

 

Repurchase of common stock

 

 

 

 

 

(2,713

)

Payments on long-term debt

 

 

(14

)

 

 

(97

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

20

 

 

 

(2,741

)

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents and
Restricted Cash

 

 

372

 

 

 

175

 

Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

 

 

(2,340

)

 

 

(122

)

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period

 

 

46,874

 

 

 

32,836

 

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash, End of Period

 

$

44,534

 

 

$

32,714

 

 

Amtech Systems, Inc.
Lisa D. Gibbs
Chief Financial Officer
(480) 360-3756
irelations@amtechsystems.com

Sapphire Investor Relations, LLC
Erica Mannion and Mike Funari
(617) 542-6180
irelations@amtechsystems.com

Source: Amtech Systems, Inc.