News

Cree Confident in Potential Upside for Power Products

April 22, 2015 by Jeff Shepard

Cree, Inc. announced revenue of $409.5 million for its third quarter of fiscal 2015, ended March 29, 2015. This represents a 1% increase compared to revenue of $405.3 million reported for the third quarter of fiscal 2014. GAAP net income for the third quarter was $0.7 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, a decrease of 98% year-over-year compared to GAAP net income of $28.2 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2014. On a non-GAAP basis, net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 was $25.0 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, a decrease of 48% year-over-year compared to non-GAAP net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 of $47.7 million, or $0.39 per diluted share.

“Q3 revenue and non-GAAP operating profit were within our targeted range despite the impact of extreme winter weather this quarter,” stated Chuck Swoboda, Cree Chairman and CEO. “We’re confident that we’re on the right track and optimistic about the future growth in Lighting and potential upside from our Power & RF product line.”

The company reported that gross margin decreased 250 basis points from Q2 of fiscal 2015 to 30.6% on a GAAP basis, and decreased 250 basis points to 31.4% on a non-GAAP basis. Cash and investments decreased by $47.9 million from Q2 of fiscal 2015 to $782.0 million. Accounts receivable, net decreased by $2.7 million from Q2 of fiscal 2015 to $216.2 million, with days sales outstanding of 48. Inventory decreased by $33.2 million from Q2 of fiscal 2015 to $299.4 million and represents 95 days of inventory.

For its fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 ending June 28, 2015, Cree targets revenue in a range of $420 million to $440 million with GAAP gross margin targeted to be 31.3%+/- and non-GAAP gross margin targeted to be 32.0%+/-. Our GAAP gross margin targets include stock-based compensation expense of approximately $3.3 million, while our non-GAAP targets do not. Operating expenses are targeted to increase $5 million compared to fiscal Q3. The tax rate is targeted at 9.0%+/- for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. GAAP net income is targeted at $4 million to $9 million, or $0.04 to $0.08 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income is targeted in a range of $26 million to $31 million, or $0.24 to $0.28 per diluted share. The GAAP and non-GAAP net income per diluted share targets are based on an estimated 108.5 million diluted weighted average shares. Targeted non-GAAP earnings exclude expenses related to the amortization of acquired intangibles, changes in the fair value of our Lextar investment, stock-based compensation expense and asset retirement charges of $0.20 per diluted share.