Fairchild Semiconductor Corp. announced results for the third quarter ended September 29, 2013. Fairchild reported third quarter sales of $364.6 million, up 2 percent from the prior quarter and third quarter of 2012. Fairchild reported third quarter net income of $12.1 million or $0.09 per diluted share compared to a net loss of $7.5 million or $0.06 per diluted share in the prior quarter and net income of $24.7 million or $0.19 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2012. Gross margin was 31.5 percent compared to 29.1 percent in the prior quarter and 33.5 percent in the year-ago quarter.
Fairchild reported third quarter adjusted gross margin of 32.1 percent, up 230 basis points from the prior quarter and 140 basis points lower than the third quarter of 2012. Adjusted gross margin excludes accelerated depreciation related to a line closure. Adjusted net income was $21.4 million or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.7 million or $0.01 per diluted share in the prior quarter and net income of $32.3 million or $0.25 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2012. See the Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Net Income exhibit included in this press release for more details on the other adjustment items.
"We delivered sequentially higher third quarter sales and margins while spending less on operating expenses," said Mark Thompson, Fairchild's chairman and CEO. "Sales growth was due primarily to strength from one large mobile customer. Sales in our high voltage business that serves the industrial, appliance and automotive end markets were also solid. Demand from the computing, TV and some portions of the tier two mobile market in Asia was incrementally weaker which impacted third quarter results and our guidance for the fourth quarter. Bookings from one of our other top mobile customers reflect some reduction in demand largely driven by the typical year-end inventory reduction. This also is reflected in our fourth quarter guidance. Gross margin and earnings were up substantially in the third quarter. Given the current modest sales growth rate for the semiconductor industry, we are also focused on increasing margins and earnings through greater operational efficiency and lower overhead spending."
"Adjusted gross margin increased more than 2 points sequentially due to higher factory loadings and lower costs," said Mark Frey, Fairchild's executive vice president and CFO. "R&D and SG&A expenses were below the low end of guidance at $94.8 million. The $3.4 million or 3 percent sequential decrease was due primarily to structural cost reductions and we expect to reduce operating expenses further in the fourth quarter and 2014. Free cash flow was $14 million for the third quarter which included unfavorable changes in working capital. We also paid off another $50 million in debt to reduce our total debt to $200 million which is the lowest level in our history."
"We expect sales to be in the range of $335 to $350 million for the fourth quarter," said Frey. "We expect adjusted gross margin to be 31.0 to 32.0 percent due primarily to lower sales and factory loadings as well as less favorable product mix. We anticipate R&D and SG&A spending to be $92 to $94 million due to continued structural cost reductions. The adjusted tax rate is forecast at 15 percent plus or minus 3 percentage points for the quarter. Consistent with our usual practices, we are not assuming any obligation to update this information, although we may choose to do so before we announce fourth quarter results."
