AXT, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2022 Financial Results

FREMONT, Calif., April 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AXT, Inc. (NasdaqGS: AXTI), a leading manufacturer of compound semiconductor wafer substrates, today reported financial results for the first quarter, ended March 31, 2022.

Management Qualitative Comments

“Q1 was another strong quarter for AXT,” said Morris Young, chief executive officer. “As our growth demonstrates, we have reached an inflection point in our business, where our investments in technology, business operations, and customer relationships are contributing to our growth. Market share gains, and expansion into new applications and Tier-one opportunities enabled us to post a 26 percent revenue increase in Q1 from the prior year. We are particularly pleased with the continued strong growth of our indium phosphide products. Total revenue growth is coming from a diverse set of applications and customers across telecom infrastructure, data center, industrial, consumer, healthcare, automotive, and other markets – giving us confidence in the sustainability of our business model throughout 2022 and beyond.”

First Quarter 2022 Results

• Revenue for the first quarter of 2022 was $39.7 million, compared with $37.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2021 and $31.4 million for the first quarter of 2021. This is an approximately 26 percent increase over the first quarter of 2021 and is our ninth consecutive quarter of revenue growth.
  
  
• GAAP gross margin was 33.6 percent of revenue for the first quarter of 2022, compared with 32.2 percent of revenue for the fourth quarter of 2021 and 36.8 percent for the first quarter of 2021.
  
  
• Non-GAAP gross margin was 33.8 percent of revenue for the first quarter of 2022, compared with 32.4 percent of revenue for the fourth quarter of 2021 and 36.9 percent for the first quarter of 2021.
  
  
• GAAP operating expenses were $9.6 million for the first quarter of 2022, compared with $9.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2021 and $8.0 million for the first quarter of 2021.
  
  
• Non-GAAP operating expenses were $8.6 million for the first quarter of 2022, compared with $8.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2021 and $7.2 million for the first quarter of 2021.
  
  
• GAAP operating profit for the first quarter of 2022 was $3.7 million, compared with $3.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2021 and $3.6 million for the first quarter of 2021.
  
  
• Non-GAAP operating profit for the first quarter of 2022 was $4.8 million, compared with $4.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2021 and $4.4 million for the first quarter of 2021.
  
  
• Non-operating income and expense, net (including income attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests) for the first quarter of 2022 was an expense of $0.5 million, compared with an expense of $0.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 and an expense of $0.1 million for the first quarter of 2021.
  
  
• GAAP net income, after minority interests, for the first quarter of 2022 was $3.2 million, or $0.07 per share, compared with net income of $3.0 million or $0.07 per share for the fourth quarter of 2021 and net income of $3.4 million or $0.08 per share for the first quarter of 2021.
  
  
• Non-GAAP net income for the first quarter of 2022 was $4.3 million, or $0.10 per share, compared with net income of $4.1 million or $0.09 per share for the fourth quarter of 2021 and net income of $4.2 million or $0.10 per share for the first quarter of 2021.
  

STAR Market Listing Update

On January 10, 2022 AXT announced that Tongmei, its subsidiary in Beijing, China, submitted to the Shanghai Stock Exchange in late December 2021 its application to go public on the STAR Market. The application was accepted for consideration on January 10, 2022. Subsequently Tongmei responded to questions received from the Shanghai Stock Exchange and submitted a revised application, which was accepted for review by the Shanghai Stock Exchange on April 18, 2022. The process of going public on the STAR Market includes several periods of review and, therefore, is a lengthy process. Tongmei expects to accomplish this goal in the second half of 2022. AXT has posted a brief summary of the plan and the process on its website at http://www.axt.com.

Conference Call

The company will host a conference call to discuss these results today at 1:30 p.m. PT. The conference call can be accessed at (844) 892-6598 (passcode 4697118). The call will also be simulcast at www.axt.com. Replays will be available at (855) 859-2056 (passcode 4697118) until May 4, 2022. Financial and statistical information to be discussed in the call will be available on the company’s website immediately prior to commencement of the call. Additional investor information can be accessed at http://www.axt.com or by calling the company’s Investor Relations Department at (510) 438-4700.

About AXT, Inc.

AXT is a material science company that develops and manufactures high-performance compound and single element semiconductor substrate wafers comprising indium phosphide (InP), gallium arsenide (GaAs) and germanium (Ge).  The company’s substrate wafers are used when a typical silicon substrate wafer cannot meet the performance requirements of a semiconductor or optoelectronic device. End markets include 5G infrastructure, data center connectivity (silicon photonics), passive optical networks, LED lighting, lasers, sensors, power amplifiers for wireless devices and satellite solar cells. AXT’s worldwide headquarters are in Fremont, California and includes sales, administration and customer service functions.  AXT has its Asia headquarters in Beijing, China and manufacturing facilities in three separate locations in China. In addition, as part of its supply chain strategy, the Company has partial ownership in ten companies in China producing raw materials for its manufacturing process. For more information, see AXT’s website at http://www.axt.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The foregoing paragraphs contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal securities laws, including, for example, statements regarding the timing and completion of the proposed listing of shares of Tongmei on the STAR Market. Additional examples of forward-looking statements include statements regarding the market demand for our products, our growth prospects and opportunities for continued business expansion, including technology trends and new applications, our market opportunity, our ability to lead our industry, our relocation and our expectations with respect to our business prospects and financial results. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to the company’s operations and business environment, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements contained in the foregoing discussion. These uncertainties and factors include but are not limited to: the requests for redemptions by private equity funds in China of investments in Tongmei, the administrative challenges in satisfying the requirements of various government agencies in China in connection with the listing of shares of Tongmei on the STAR Market, continued open access to companies to list shares on the STAR Market, investor enthusiasm for new listings of shares on the STAR Market and geopolitical tensions between China and the United States. Additional uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to: the timing and receipt of significant orders; the cancellation of orders and return of product; emerging applications using chips or devices fabricated on our substrates; end-user acceptance of products containing chips or devices fabricated on our substrates; our ability to bring new products to market; product announcements by our competitors; the ability to control costs and improve efficiency; the ability to utilize our manufacturing capacity; product yields and their impact on gross margins; the relocation of manufacturing lines and ramping of production; possible factory shutdowns as a result of air pollution in China or COVID-19; COVID-19 or other outbreaks of a contagious disease; tariffs and other trade war issues; the financial performance of our partially owned supply chain companies; policies and regulations in China; and other factors as set forth in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each of these factors is difficult to predict and many are beyond the company’s control. The company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts:
Gary Fischer
Chief Financial Officer
(510) 438-4700

Leslie Green                
Green Communications Consulting, LLC
(650) 312-9060

FINANCIAL TABLES TO FOLLOW

AXT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2022				2021
Revenue		$	39,653			$	31,350
Cost of revenue			26,345				19,814
Gross profit			13,308				11,536
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative			6,450				5,570
Research and development			3,159				2,405
Total operating expenses			9,609				7,975
Income from operations			3,699				3,561
Interest expense, net			(183	)			(50	)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures			1,125				1,111
Other expense, net			(9	)			(111	)
Income before provision for income taxes			4,632				4,511
Provision for income taxes			660				746
Net income			3,972				3,765
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests			(807	)			(340	)
Net income attributable to AXT, Inc.		$	3,165			$	3,425
Net income attributable to AXT, Inc. per common share:
Basic		$	0.07			$	0.08
Diluted		$	0.07			$	0.08
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic			41,871				41,004
Diluted			42,662				42,726

AXT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited, in thousands)

		March 31,				December 31,
		2022				2021
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	29,494			$	36,763
Short-term investments			5,400				5,419
Accounts receivable, net			39,848				34,839
Inventories			68,821				65,912
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			16,501				17,252
Total current assets			160,064				160,185
Long-term investments			9,400				9,576
Property, plant and equipment, net			147,286				142,415
Operating lease right-of-use assets			2,223				2,324
Other assets			19,426				17,941
Total assets		$	338,399			$	332,441
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	14,399			$	16,649
Accrued liabilities			12,213				17,057
Short-term loan, related party			—				1,887
Bank loan			20,192				12,229
Total current liabilities			46,804				47,822
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities			1,810				1,935
Other long-term liabilities			2,263				2,453
Total liabilities			50,877				52,210
Redeemable noncontrolling interests			50,971				50,385
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock			3,532				3,532
Common stock			43				43
Additional paid-in capital			232,311				231,622
Accumulated deficit			(26,805	)			(29,970	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income			6,629				6,302
Total AXT, Inc. stockholders’ equity			215,710				211,529
Noncontrolling interests			20,841				18,317
Total stockholders’ equity			236,551				229,846
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholders’ equity		$	338,399			$	332,441

AXT, INC.
Reconciliation of Statements of Operations Under GAAP and Non-GAAP
(Unaudited, in thousands)

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2022				2021
GAAP gross profit		$	13,308			$	11,536
Stock compensation expense			113				39
Non-GAAP gross profit		$	13,421			$	11,575
GAAP operating expenses		$	9,609			$	7,975
Stock compensation expense			975				777
Non-GAAP operating expenses		$	8,634			$	7,198
GAAP income from operations		$	3,699			$	3,561
Stock compensation expense			1,088				816
Non-GAAP income from operations		$	4,787			$	4,377
GAAP net income		$	3,165			$	3,425
Stock compensation expense			1,088				816
Non-GAAP net income		$	4,253			$	4,241
GAAP net income per diluted share		$	0.07			$	0.08
Stock compensation expense per diluted share		$	0.03			$	0.02
Non-GAAP net income per diluted share		$	0.10			$	0.10
Shares used to compute diluted net income per share			42,662				42,726