Nova Ltd

NASDAQ:NVMI

Good day, and welcome to the Nova Ltd. First Quarter 2025 Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please note that this event is being recorded.

I would now like to turn the conference over to Miri Segal, CEO of MS-IR. Please go ahead.

Thank you, operator, and good day, everyone. I would like to welcome all of you to Nova's First Quarter 2025 Financial Results Conference Call. With us on the line today are Gaby Waisman, President and CEO; and Guy Kizner, CFO.

Before we begin, I would like to remind our listeners that certain information provided on this call may contain forward-looking statements and the safe harbor statement outlined in today's earnings release also pertains to this call. If you have not received a copy of the release, please view it in the Investor Relations section of the company's website.

Gaby will begin the call with a business update, followed by Guy with an overview of the financials. We will then open the call for the question-and-answer session.

I'll now turn the call over to Gaby Waisman, Nova's President and CEO. Gaby, please go ahead.

Thank you, Miri, and thank you all for joining us today. I will start the call by summarizing our first quarter performance highlights. Following my commentary, Guy will review the quarterly financial results in detail.

Nova achieved another exceptional quarter with record results in both revenue and profitability. Our revenues grew 50% year-over-year, exceeded our EPS guidance and increased non-GAAP EPS by 56% year-over-year. Our business performance is tightly linked to our executional and operational excellence as well as our inherent ability to adapt to evolving market dynamics.

Our performance was driven by Nova's strong standing across market segments, regions, key customers and technologies. This position was validated by the recent release of the annual Gartner market share report, highlighting our growing presence. The report indicates that Nova's market share increased significantly in the thin-film and [ OSensD ] metrology segment, solidifying our position as the second largest vendor in this market.

Semiconductor manufacturing capacity is in robust growth mode, driven by demand for AI applications. This surge has translated into significant revenues for Nova as manufacturers across the globe build their production capacity and adopt the unique value proposition our portfolio offers. Our customers estimate that newly introduced AI models will enhance efficiency and lower the barriers to future AI development, resulting in broader usage and increased adoption of AI, all of which depend on advanced technology nodes. In parallel, the demand we see for mature nodes remains stable with many new customers joining the ranks.

As our second quarter guidance suggests, we expect these positive trends to continue. On a global level, macroeconomic uncertainty impacts various sectors and the potential indirect implications of the current international trade climate are still unclear. Despite this, we have not observed significant shifts in demand or planned customers' investments and our business remains solid.

Now let me turn to some business highlights for the quarter. The accelerating adoption of gate-all-around and advanced packaging solutions lead customers to build capacity and increasingly embrace our portfolio. As a result, we saw a significant increase in revenues from gate-all-around and advanced packaging processes, which manifested in several areas of our business.

First, we achieved record sales in our stand-alone solutions, led by record revenues from the Prism platform. Prism has successfully completed 2 more evaluations for advanced packaging and leading-edge nodes by a leading logic manufacturer, and it is shaping out to be a best seller for us. The Prism spectral interferometry technology and unique algorithmic capability bring clear benefits to process control of through-silicon-via and critical hybrid bonding applications, which our customers appreciate. Second, we also saw record sales of our integrated metrology solutions. This quarter's highlights include a new penetration into 2 gate-all-around manufacturers, one of which also adopted the solution for its advanced packaging processes. I'm proud to say that these latest adoptions have been driven by Nova's superior technology, but just as much, it is a testament to the power of collaborating with our customers.

Third, our software business achieved record performance, driven by strong sales of our software suite, targeting high-value applications and improving performance and efficiencies. More specifically, our advanced packaging customers have noted the advantage of using our machine learning capabilities to solve critical challenges and reduce costs in their increasingly complex processes. Fourth, our materials metrology solutions also benefit from this demand. The Nova ELIPSON was recently adopted for gate-all-around processes by a leading IDM that already employs multiple ELIPSON tools in other areas.

In addition, we shipped another METRION platform for qualification with a new gate-all-around customer. We also saw the continued adoption of the Nova VeraFlex IV platform by additional customers towards gate-all-around manufacturing lines. We recently introduced some new capabilities on the Veraflex platform, which opened a whole new range of layers for advanced 3D NAND manufacturing. We will be able to share more details in the future.

On the memory side, the majority of demand is coming from DRAM, and it is driven by the need to increase capacity in high-bandwidth memory production. Notably, we are seeing heightened demand for our chemical metrology solutions. Finally, all this growth is also driving our services business forward. This quarter ended with another record in service revenues, which grew more than 30% year-over-year.

Now I want to share some updates on our operations in Germany. During the first quarter, we completed the acquisition of Sentronics, and we are progressing well in post-merger integration. While the contribution to the first quarter is relatively small, we expect to see our business from this acquisition grow significantly in Q2 as we transition to direct sales in key markets.

Also, during the first quarter, we moved into our new facility in Bad Urach, Germany. The new facility combines state-of-the-art manufacturing with a research and development center focused on chemical metrology. The new site doubles the capacity of Nova's Chemical Metrology division and fosters collaboration by bringing all the division teams together in one location. The transition to the new facility has been seamless, and the next quarter looks very promising for the division.

Before I complete my prepared remarks, I wanted to note that we recently published Nova's 2025 Sustainability Insights report. The report highlights significant milestones in various areas, including renewable energy use and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The report includes updated KPIs that have been incorporated into our operating model, along with a revised set of goals that place greater emphasis on key environmental and social impacts. To summarize my part, Nova had a robust quarter characterized by healthy demand across various nodes, segments and territories. These positive trends continue to underscore the value of our tools and services. As we look ahead to the second quarter, we anticipate similar strong demand patterns.

The current markets are making visibility more challenging. In the coming months, we expect to gain clear insights and we'll diligently monitor potential impacts on market demand, managing our business with prudence. Considering our current business momentum, market share opportunities and the anticipated increase in process control intensity. At the leading edge, we are confident in our ability to outperform WFE growth in 2025.

Now for some more details on our financials, let me hand over the call to Guy.

Thanks, Gaby. Good day, everyone, and thank you for joining our first quarter 2025 conference call. I will begin by reviewing our financial achievements for the first quarter of this year and then provide guidance on the second quarter. As a reminder, since the acquisition of Sentronics was finalized at the end of January 2025, the financial results reported for the first quarter include only a partial contribution from Sentronics, covering the 2 months following the close of the transaction.

Total revenues in the first quarter of 2025 reached a record level of $213 million, representing our fourth consecutive quarter of all-time high revenues. This performance reflects a growth of 10% quarter-over-quarter and 50% year-over-year. Product revenue breakdown was approximately 75% from logic and foundry, and approximately 25% from memory.

Product revenues for the quarter included contribution from 3 customers and 3 geographic territories, each accounting for 10% or more of total product revenues. In the first quarter, blended gross margins were 57% on a GAAP basis and 59.6% on a non-GAAP basis, in the upper end of our updated target model range of 57% to 60%. The high gross margin in the quarter was attributed to a favorable product mix, coupled with a higher revenue volume growth.

Operating expenses increased in the first quarter and came in at $59 million on a GAAP basis and $53.5 million on a non-GAAP basis, as we continue to ramp up R&D and sales and marketing spending in a targeted manner to advance our product road map and unlock future growth opportunities. Operating margins in the first quarter reached 30% on a GAAP basis and 34.5% on a non-GAAP basis, surpassing the upper range of our updated target model of 28% to 33%. The effective tax rate in the first quarter was approximately 15%. Earnings per share in the first quarter on a GAAP basis were $2.03 per diluted share, and earnings per share on a non-GAAP basis were $2.18 per diluted share. With first quarter results exceeding the top end of our guidance, we've now delivered 6 consecutive quarters of record performance, a milestone that highlights our consistent execution and the value we are delivering to customers and stakeholders alike.

Turning to the balance sheet. We ended the first quarter with $812 million in cash, cash equivalents, bank deposit and marketable securities. This quarter, we deployed $20 million in share buybacks and paid a preliminary amount of $51.7 million for the acquisition of Sentronics, net of cash acquired. An additional $4.7 million will be paid in the second quarter as part of the final purchase price adjustment, bringing the total net consideration for the deal to approximately $56.4 million net of cash acquired. The purchase price allocation of this amount, which remains subject to final audit, was reflected in the company's consolidated balance sheet as of the end of this -- of the first quarter.

The main elements of the purchase price allocation at the closing date were as follows: Sentronics' net acquired tangible assets were approximately $9 million. Sentronics' intangible technology assets were approximately $15 million and are expected to be amortized over a useful life period of 5 years. Sentronics' intangible customer relations assets were approximately $2.5 million and are expected to be amortized over a useful life period of 7 years. The inventory step-up, approximately $2.3 million was recorded to reflect fair value adjustments. Roughly half of this amount was amortized through a cost of sales in the first quarter with the remaining portion expected to be recognized in the second quarter.

Finally, I would like to share the details of our guidance for the second quarter of 2025. We currently expect revenues for the quarter to be between $210 million and $220 million. GAAP earnings per diluted share to range from $1.70 to $1.88. Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share to range from $1.96 to $2.14.

At the midpoint of our second quarter 2025 estimates, we anticipate the following: gross margins of approximately 56% on a GAAP basis and approximately 58% on a non-GAAP basis; operating expenses on a GAAP basis to increase to approximately $61 million; operating expenses on a non-GAAP basis to increase to approximately $56 million; financial income on a non-GAAP basis to remain similar to that of the first quarter; effective tax rate is expected to be approximately 16%.

Despite a more complex global trade environment, our second quarter outlook indicates that business conditions are maintaining positive momentum. While recent tariff developments have introduced new variables, we have not seen a significant shift in customer demand. We are staying closely aligned with our customers as they adapt and we are confident in our ability to support them through ongoing collaboration and responsiveness. One of our structural advantages in our global production footprint with manufacturing facilities located across 3 key geographies: the U.S., Germany and Israel. This diversification provides us with the flexibility to help mitigate the operational impact of evolving trade dynamics.

Based on our current assessment, we estimate that the new tariffs could reduce gross margins by approximately 30 to 50 basis points. That said, the situation remains fluid, and we are actively evaluating mitigation opportunities, including operational adjustments and selective pricing strategies. As always, we are committed to executing with discipline, staying agile and partnering closely with our customers, positioning us well to navigate changes and capture opportunities.

With that, we will be pleased to take your questions. Operator?

[Operator Instructions] The first question that we have today comes from Blayne Curtis of Jefferies.

Ezra Weener on for Blayne. Just to start, can you talk about where you are in the gate-all-around ramp in terms of that $500 million cumulatively? And how we should expect that from a shape perspective over the course of the year?

Sure. So in terms of gate-all-around, we definitely see a ramp in the first half of the year. We see strong demand from gate-all-around. And looking ahead, we expect to meet the growth plans. Of course, there could be some changes in the second half outlook as a result of market conditions. But overall, we are on course for the gate-all-around.

Got it. And then can you talk about kind of the size of that opportunity between the R&D phase and the ramp of high-volume manufacturing?

So obviously, the beginnings that are happening this year are reflecting the pilot lines and initial investments. And the business is growing so that once it moves from this stage to high-volume manufacturing, we expect business to grow. So when we spoke of '24, '25, '26, it was obvious that '25 is going to be higher than the '24 and definitely '26 is going to be higher than '25. We are also looking at additional players coming into play. So overall, we see this growth as such that the business next year from gate-all-around is planned to be, or expected to be higher than this year.

And then one more. In terms of your gross margin, you obviously had a great result in March, comes down a bit in June, and you were talking about tariffs. Can you talk about the moving pieces for the gross margin?

Yes. So on the gross margin side, the way to think about our gross margin is really on the annual basis, not the quarter-over-quarter. In any given quarter, mix can shift things slightly up or down. In the second quarter, specifically, the lower gross margin reflect 2 main things, the impact of tariffs, as I mentioned, 30 to 50 basis points and some product mix effect. That said, we remain fully committed to our gross margin model of 57% to 60%, and we expect to be within this range for the full year.

The next question we have comes from Atif Malik of Citi.

The first one for Gaby. Gaby, interesting to see some cross-selling in advanced packaging with some of the same customers who are also using your gate all-around equipment. Can you talk about what's driving these dynamics? Or maybe I'm reading too much into it.

So we are definitely well positioned in terms of our -- as you mentioned or define it as cross sales between those front-end players that have either logic or memory, advanced packaging processes. So we are looking at both high-bandwidth memory as well as advanced packaging and logic. And we have positioned both our dimensional metrology as well as the chemical metrology solutions into those markets. What we can see is a very strong double-digit growth in our advanced packaging revenue for 2025 and definitely a higher share of the revenue from this segment compared to 2024.

We are seeing also, in addition to the chemical and traditional dimensional metrology solutions, whether it's the stand-alone OCD or the integrated, we now see in Sentronics well positioned in order to help us drive this business, again, leveraging our strong position in front end with those who have either high-bandwidth memory or other logic advanced packaging processes in their mix.

Great. And a follow-up for Guy. And Guy, on the tariffs, some of your equipment peers have talked about the revenue impact in China from the reciprocal tariffs. And I just want to clarify that you did not see any revenue impact in China in your guide? And also if you can remind us for the full year services growth this year?

Yes. So as I mentioned during my script, the main impact of the tariffs is on the gross margin, 30 to 50 basis points, and we don't see currently impact on the top line. On the service, our model suggests 10% to 15% growth year-over-year, and we are -- we will meet this target for 2025 as well.

[Operator Instructions] The next question we have comes from Mark Lipacis of Evercore.

On the -- a question on the tariff. What is the framework that we should think about for this? Is this simply components shipped into the U.S.? Is that the main part of the tariff impact to gross margins? Or is there something else that we should think about here?

So the main tariff-related impact on gross margin come from the BOM of our machines, but it's relatively modest. Most of our supply chain is localized. So the volume of imports is quite low. The second piece is service spare parts, which do involve more inputs. Altogether, we estimate, as I mentioned, the impact on the gross margin, 30 to 50 basis points. That said, the environment remains dynamic, and we are actively monitoring it. And our diversified operational footprint across regions give us the flexibility and helps us cushion the impact.

And I guess I was curious is -- and I don't know if you can answer this, but is most of that tariff impact from a geographic location on shipping components to your manufacturing facilities in the U.S.? And then is that where the most of the impact is? Or is it something else? Should we think about it differently?

Partially is that and partially of that is the shipment of spare parts between different territories that have tariff impact.

Okay. Got you. And then you are coming in at the high end or above the high end of the target model. Is there -- what is the process for reevaluating your target model range and timing? Is this something that you consider doing when you're hitting this kind of levels of profitability?

So we did introduce during our Investor Day lately, an updated model on the operating margin of 28% to 33%. It's important to note that in quarters where we're growing in such a quick pace as we did in the first quarter, it takes time for the OpEx to catch up. We see the increase in the OpEx this quarter. And as we -- as I mentioned during -- as part of the guidance, the second quarter, we will see an additional increase. And this increase, we are building -- the main focus is investing more in R&D and sales to support both our road map and strategic evaluation. So I think these are the main components for that.

The next question we have comes from Vivek Arya of Bank of America.

This is Duksan on behalf of Vivek. Just a follow-up on the tariff question. I know you said you don't see much top line impact, but have you seen any signs of potential pull-in or pushouts by customers just given, obviously, you have a very diverse geographical mix.

So there are obviously concerns, but we haven't seen any major pushouts or pull-ins in that respect. No.

Got it. And then one follow-up on HBM. Obviously, you're doing very well in advanced packaging overall. But your memory revenue despite the market, the underlying market growing very significantly, I think memory has been flattish year-over-year for you guys, whereas foundry/logic almost doubled. So I'm just curious about your ramp and progress in HBM.

So we definitely see a double-digit growth in advanced packaging and HBM is part of it. I can say that HBM represents about 1/3 of our advanced packaging product revenues, and we do see major growth in that as well. So it's progressing across the board, both logic and memory.

The next question we have comes from Mark Miller of The Benchmark Company.

Congratulations on another record quarter. In terms of memory, after several years of slowness, NAND manufacturers are increasing their CapEx. Do you expect increasing sales related to NAND?

We definitely hope so. And we are planning the seeds in terms of our portfolio in order to capture the ramp. We have -- we definitely see that momentum gearing, but still not translating into immediate revenues. So we hope that, that would happen towards the end of this year, as we've indicated before. And our effort now is really to build the footprint in terms of technology, valuations in order to have a strong position in memory in general and 3D NAND specifically.

Looking at your backlog, what is the margin profile of your backlog? Is that similar to what you've been seeing recently in terms of reported margins?

Yes. It was in the -- more or less the same mix.

The final question we have comes from Charles Shi of Needham & Company.

The first one, I know that in the prepared remarks, you did express some cautiousness about the second half given all the uncertainties. But your largest peer in process control seems to have soft guided flattish second half, at least over the first half. Wonder what's your thought there based on your order backlog and the pipeline at the point, I mean, absent of any potential impact from the tariffs? That's the first question.

So we are not giving any guidance for the full year, but we're not necessarily sharing the same views of our peers in the industry. And I think that our position is different. But overall, we definitely see the concerns on one hand, but also see the robust business ahead. So we can definitely expect different trends.

Maybe let me drill down a little bit. I think, let's say, go back 1 quarter-ish, I think you also said -- expressed a little bit of a conservatism on the China outlook going into second half of the year in terms of the visibility. Now we're in May and what's the sense right now? Because I did catch what you said on the prepared remarks, mature node seems to be still pretty steady, but I kind of inferred that as a China commentary. But what's the China outlook going into second half? Any thoughts there?

Sure. So we -- overall, we expect the nominal value from our China business to stay flat or slightly decline year-over-year. As I indicated before, share-wise, we expect to see a relatively lower share of the revenue as advanced nodes are becoming more prominent. We do see good backlog for the coming quarters, but we still lack full visibility of the year. And in any case, we see this trend offset by the strong performance in the other territories and other regions. So overall, as I mentioned before, and that hasn't changed, normally flat or slightly decline, share-wise, lower, but we do see the good backlog.

Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes our question-and-answer session. I would now like to turn the conference back over to Gaby Waisman for any closing remarks. Please go ahead, sir.

Thank you, operator, and thank you all for joining our call today.

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, that then concludes today's conference. Thank you for joining us. You may now disconnect your lines.