DGAP-News: Dialog Semiconductor reports results for the fourth quarter ended 31 December 2019. Q4 2019 Revenue above the mid-point of the guidance range at US$381 million, record gross margin at 50.0% and stable underlying operating margin at 24.0%.
DGAP-News: Dialog Semiconductor Plc.
/ Key word(s): Quarter Results
London, UK, 4 March 2020 - Dialog Semiconductor Plc (XETRA: DLG) today reports unaudited results for the fourth quarter ended 31 December 2019.
1 Underlying measures and free cash flow quoted in this Press Release are non-IFRS measures (see page 4). 2 Comprising SG&A and R&D expenses. Q4 2019 Financial highlights - Gross margin at 50.0% (Q4 2018: 48.6%) and underlying gross margin at 50.2%% (Q4 2018: 48.7%) slightly above the November guidance. - Operating profit of US$53.7 million, 30% below Q4 2018. Underlying operating profit of US$91.3 million, 12% below Q4 2018. - Diluted EPS of US$0.61 (Q4 2018: US$0.74) and underlying diluted EPS of US$1.02 (Q4 2018: US$1.06). - US$103 million returned to shareholders in Q4 2019 through the 2019 Buyback Programme. - At the end of Q4 2019, we held cash and cash equivalents of US$1,025 million. - On 31 October 2019, the Company closed the acquisition of Creative Chips GmbH, a supplier of Integrated Circuits (ICs) to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) market. - On 12 November 2019, Dialog upgraded its long-term financial targets, expecting to see meaningful improvement in both underlying gross margin and underlying operating margin. - Subsequent to quarter end, on 20 February 2020, Dialog announced a definitive agreement to acquire Adesto Technologies Corporation ("Adesto") accelerating our expansion into growth segments of the IIoT market. Q4 2019 Operational highlights - Revenue from our largest customer in Custom Mixed Signal not covered by the license agreement almost doubled year-on-year. - Q4 2019 revenue from our AC/DC charging products was up 16% year-on-year, led by growth in rapid charge products. - In support of the expansion of our product portfolio we signed an agreement with Flex Logix Technologies Inc., increasing the configurability of our products to meet a growing opportunity in our target end markets. - Increased our footprint in IoT with our Bluetooth(R) low energy (BLE) products, which delivered 57% year-on-year revenue growth. - Launched SmartBond TINY(TM), the latest member of our BLE family of products, designed to power the next billion IoT devices. Commenting on the results, Dialog Chief Executive, Dr Jalal Bagherli, said: "Our strong product pipeline will allow us to grow faster than the market over the medium term, as well as continue to generate cash and deliver consistent capital returns to shareholders. In 2019, we have made good progress on our strategic objectives and toward achieving our long-term financial targets. This gives us the confidence to look forward to another exciting year of progress, innovation and business diversification."
Outlook For FY 2020, revenue excluding licensed main PMICs is expected to grow approximately mid teens percentage in line with our long-term financial targets. Total Group revenue is expected to be second half weighted with declining revenue from legacy licensed main PMICs. Excluding any revenue from the announced acquisition of Adesto Technologies Corporation, we expect total Group revenue for FY 2020 to decline from FY 2019 US$1,420 million by approximately mid teens percentage points. This assumes a return to normal for supply chain and contract manufacturers by Q2 2020. Based on this revenue in FY 2020 we anticipate underlying gross margin to continue on a gradual upward trend. Q4 2019 Financial overview Gross margin was a record 50.0%, 140bps above Q4 2018 due to the positive contribution from the license revenue (Q4 2019: US$6 million; Q4 2018: nil) and lower manufacturing costs. Q4 2019 underlying1 gross margin was also a record 50.2%, 150bps above Q4 2018, due to the same reasons. Operating expenses (OPEX) comprising SG&A and R&D expenses, in Q4 2019 were 4% above Q4 2018, mainly due to higher costs from the acquisitions of FCI and Creative Chips partially offset by lower R&D expenses, representing 36.0% of revenue (Q4 2018: 30.6%). Underlying OPEX was down 6% year-on-year representing 26.4% of revenue (Q4 2018: 24.7%) due to lower R&D expenses partially offsetting the increase from the acquisitions of FCI and Creative Chips. R&D expenses in Q4 2019 were 8% below Q4 2018 representing 20.6% of revenue (Q4 2018: 19.7%). Underlying R&D expenses were down 14% year-on-year representing 16.9% of revenue (Q4 2018: 17.5%). The decrease in R&D expenses was mainly due to the transfer of over 300 employees to Apple on 8 April 2019 and other cost savings. SG&A expenses in Q4 2019 were up 25% from Q4 2018, representing 15.4% of revenue (Q4 2018: 10.9%). Underlying SG&A in Q4 2019 was 15% above Q4 2018 representing 9.5% of revenue (Q4 2018: 7.2%). The increase in SG&A expenses was mainly due to the acquisitions of FCI and Creative Chips. Other operating income in Q4 2019 was US$0.6 million (Other operating expense Q4 2018: US$0.6 million), which comprised income from engineering contracts. Underlying other operating income in Q4 2019 was also US$0.6 million, above Q4 2018 (Q4 2018: nil) due to higher income from engineering development work contracts for specific customers. Operating profit in Q4 2019 was US$53.7 million, 30% below Q4 2018, mainly reflecting the lower revenue, together with higher operating expenses. Operating margin was below Q4 2018 at 14.1% due to the lower revenue and higher operating expenses partially offset by higher gross margin. Underlying1 operating profit was US$91.3 million, 12% below Q4 2018. Underlying operating margin was in line with Q4 2018 at 24.0% (Q4 2018: 24.0%). The effective tax rate in 2019 was 21.7% (2018: 28.2%). The relatively high effective tax rate for 2018 was principally due to the distorting effect on our income tax expense of the tax and accounting treatments of share-based compensation, business combinations and certain of our strategic investments. The underlying effective tax rate in 2019 was 19.8%, down 200bps on the 2018 underlying effective tax rate of 21.8%. Net income was 23% below Q4 2018 at US$44.8 million (Q4 2018: US$57.9 million). This decrease was mostly due to the decrease in operating profit. Underlying net income was 10% below Q4 2018 at US$74.8 million (Q4 2018: US$82.8 million). The year-on-year decrease in underlying net income was mainly driven by the underlying operating profit movement. Diluted EPS in Q4 2019 was 18% below Q4 2018 at US$0.61 (Q4 2018: US$0.74). Underlying diluted EPS in Q4 2019 was US$1.02 (Q4 2018: US$1.06). At the end of Q4 2019, our total inventory level was US$123 million (or ~58 days), which is 2% below the previous quarter, representing a 4-day increase in our days of inventory from Q3 2019. During Q1 2020, we expect inventory value to be broadly in line with Q4 2019 and days of inventory to be above Q4 2019. In Q4 2019, the second, third and final settlements of the first tranche of the 2019 Buyback Programme took place. In the second interim settlement the Company purchased 865,000 ordinary shares for €37.1 million at an initial average price of €42.87. In the third and final settlement the Company purchased 1,469,895 shares for €54.8 million at an average price of €37.27. At the end of Q4 2019, we held cash and cash equivalents of US$1,025million. Cash inflow from operating activities in Q4 2019 was US$57.4 million, 40% below Q4 2018 (Q4 2018: US$96.5 million) mainly as a result of lower cash generated from operations, working capital movements, and higher income tax paid. Free cash flow in Q4 2019 was US$44.4 million, 46% below Q4 2018 (Q4 2018: US$82.4 million) mostly due to the lower cash flow from operating activities which includes US$50 million recoupment of the prepayment in relation to the licensing arrangement. Free cash flow margin (as a percentage of revenue) in Q4 2019 was below Q4 2018 at 11.7% (Q4 2018: 19.1%). In support of our growth strategy and the expansion of our product portfolio, on 31 October 2019, the Company closed the acquisition of Creative Chips GmbH, a Germany based fabless semiconductor company supplying a broad portfolio of industrial Ethernet and other mixed-signal products to top-tier, blue-chip manufacturers of industrial automation systems. Creative Chips is expected to generate revenue growth of over 25% per annum over the next few years. We purchased Creative Chips for consideration of US$80 million on a cash and debt-free basis. Additional contingent consideration of up to US$23 million in cash, may be payable based on future revenue targets in 2020 and 2021. Subsequent to quarter end, on 20 February 2020, we announced the definitive agreement to acquire of Adesto, accelerating Dialog's expansion into growing segments of the industrial IoT market. Dialog will acquire Adesto for $12.55 per share in cash, or for approximately $500 million enterprise value. The deal will be funded from Dialog's balance sheet. The transaction is expected to be EPS accretive for Dialog within the first calendar year following close. Dialog expects annual cost synergies of approximately $20 million within the first calendar year of close across the combined company. We also anticipate considerable additional revenue synergies given the complementary nature of the product portfolios and technology. Adesto expects to report FY 2019 revenue of approximately $118 million and continued revenue growth is anticipated over the next few years. The transaction is subject to certain regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2020. Update of long-term financial targets The Company maintains its commitment to disciplined capital allocation. Dialog has significant financial flexibility to pursue its growth strategy, including value enhancing M&A, while maintaining a healthy balance sheet and a consistent return of capital to shareholders through share buybacks. Q4 2019 Segmental overview Underlying results by segment
Custom Mixed Signal (CMS) We continue to receive requests for quotations for new custom designs for 2021 and beyond, in diverse areas of power, charging, display and audio technologies, from a number of customers in mobile, solid state drives, and AR/VR applications. In line with our strategic objectives, we are leveraging our power management technology into new markets and geographies through the expansion of our platform reference designs. The collaborations with Renesas, Xilinx, and Telechips, strengthen Dialog's presence in the IVI4 and ADAS4 applications automotive segment. There are currently over 80 automotive customer engagements in place, most of which are expected to go into production over the next three years. 3 Restated to reflect the segment reorganisation and measurement changes. 4 Intelligent In-Vehicle Infotainment and Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems. Advanced Mixed Signal (AMS) Dialog has successfully maintained a commanding market share in the rapid charge market through a combination of differentiated technology, speed of execution and wide support of rapid charge protocols. Our broad product portfolio, which includes LED backlighting and Solid-State Lighting (SSL) LED driver ICs, and proprietary digital control technology for power conversion, enable high quality solutions at a low cost. LED backlighting performed strongly during Q4 2019, contributing to the expansion of our customer base in the high-end TV market, as well as targeting the mobile and automotive display markets over the medium term. With over 4.0 billion CMICs having been shipped since launch, Dialog's configurable technology, including the highly successful GreenPAK(TM) product family, has become established as the leading choice in the market. Low power consumption and in-system programming enables customers to rapidly customise and integrate multiple analog, logic and discrete components into a single chip. A number of CMIC GreenPAK(TM) new products are under development, and we are targeting their release during the first half of 2020. In Q4 2019, we announced a strategic agreement with Flex Logix Technologies Inc. for Dialog to license Flex Logix's EFLX Embedded Field-Programmable Gate Array (eFPGA) technology and the EFLX Compiler to program these embedded FPGAs. Adding eFPGA functionality to our products will give our customers the flexibility to keep pace with rapidly changing market needs. Increasing the configurability of our products enables us to meet an increasing opportunity for configurable and programmable products in our target end markets. The CMIC, along with other members of the GreenPAK family, replace dozens of components in automotive applications to optimize flexibility, footprint and a reduction of the bill of materials. During the quarter, our CMIC incorporating Dialog's industry-leading LDO regulator was adopted by three tier 1 mobile customers and is being evaluated by various other customers. Connectivity and Audio (C&A) Revenue from our SmartBond(TM) System-on-Chip (SoC) was 57% above Q4 2018, due to the ramp of new products from customers in Korea and China. The DA1469x family, the latest addition to Dialog's SmartBond(TM) line, was adopted by Samsung's Galaxy Fit fitness tracker. Our most advanced SmartBond(TM) product enables the Galaxy Fit seamless smartphone connectivity while conserving energy to extend battery life. The Bluetooth(R) low energy market is estimated to grow over 20% CAGR over the 2019-2023 period5, a reflection of the continuing adoption of the technology across a wide range of applications. Our strategy remains focused on targeted verticals, like wearables, proximity tags, smart home, gaming accessories and connected health. In Q4 2019, we launched SmartBond TINY(TM), the latest addition to our Bluetooth(R) low energy offering. SmartBond TINY(TM) has been designed to power the next billion IoT devices, lowering the cost of adding Bluetooth(R) low energy functionality to a system without compromising performance or size. New audio technology performed strongly during Q4 2019, up 12% over Q4 2018. The C&A Segment is targeting the rapidly-growing consumer wireless headset market with our SmartBeat(TM) wireless Audio IC. This technology enables a new immersive headset experience and supports both wired USB 3.0 Type-C(TM) and Bluetooth(R) based consumer headsets. Our product portfolio targeting the headset market also includes a family of highly-integrated audio codec chips that deliver best-in-class active noise cancellation (ANC), providing optimal audio performance in any environment. 5 Source: IHS Technology October 2019 and Company estimates (including BLE for automotive market). Non-IFRS measures Q4 2019
Q4 2018
Accounting for business combinations
EBITDA
Free cash flow
Dialog Semiconductor invites you today at 09.30 am (London) / 10.30 am (Frankfurt) to take part in a live conference call and to listen to management's discussion of the Company's Q4 2019 performance, as well as guidance for Q1 2020. Participants will need to register using the link below. A full list of dial in numbers will also be available. To register for the webcast and receive dial in numbers, the conference PIN and a unique User ID please click on the link below: https://www.incommglobalevents.com/registration/client/2860/dialog-semiconductor-q4-earnings-call/ In parallel to the call, the presentation will be available at: https://webcast.openbriefing.com/dialogQ42019/ The presentation will also be available under the investor relations section of the Company's website at: https://www.dialog-semiconductor.com/investor-relations/results-center A replay will be posted on the Dialog website four hours after the conclusion of the presentation and will be available at: https://www.dialog-semiconductor.com/investor-relations/results-center The full release including the Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended 31 December 2019 is available under the investor relations section of the Company's website at: https://www.dialog-semiconductor.com/investor-relations/results-center Dialog, the Dialog logo, SmartBond(TM), RapidCharge(TM), SmartBeat(TM), VirtualZero(TM) are registered trademarks of Dialog Semiconductor Plc or its subsidiaries. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. (c)Copyright 2019 Dialog Semiconductor Plc. All rights reserved. For further information please contact: Dialog Semiconductor FTI Consulting London FTI Consulting Frankfurt About Dialog Semiconductor Dialog's power saving technologies including DC-DC configurable system power management deliver high efficiency and enhance the consumer's user experience by extending battery lifetime and enabling faster charging of their portable devices. Its technology portfolio also includes audio, Bluetooth(R) Low Energy, Rapid Charge(TM) AC/DC power conversion and multi-touch. Dialog Semiconductor Plc is headquartered in London with a global sales, R&D and marketing organisation. It currently has approximately 2,000 employees worldwide. In 2019, it had approximately US$ 1.42 billion in revenue. The company is listed on the Frankfurt (XETRA: DLG) stock exchange (Regulated Market, Prime Standard, ISIN GB0059822006) and is a member of the German TecDax and MDAX indices. Forward Looking Statements
04.03.2020 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. |
Language: | English |
Company: | Dialog Semiconductor Plc. |
Tower Bridge House, St. Katharine's Way | |
E1W 1AA London | |
United Kingdom | |
Phone: | +49 7021 805-412 |
Fax: | +49 7021 805-200 |
E-mail: | [email protected] |
Internet: | www.dialog-semiconductor.com |
ISIN: | GB0059822006 |
WKN: | 927200 |
Indices: | MDAX, TecDAX |
Listed: | Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange |
EQS News ID: | 989083 |
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989083 04.03.2020