Let’s dig into the relative performance of Microchip Technology (NASDAQ:MCHP) and its peers as we unravel the now-completed Q3 analog semiconductors earnings season.
Demand for analog chips is generally linked to the overall level of economic growth, as analog chips serve as the building blocks of most electronic goods and equipment. Unlike digital chip designers, analog chip makers tend to produce the majority of their own chips, as analog chip production does not require expensive leading edge nodes. Less dependent on major secular growth drivers, analog product cycles are much longer, often 5-7 years.
The 15 analog semiconductors stocks we track reported a mixed Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 0.8% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 3.2% below.
Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 7% since the latest earnings results.
Microchip Technology (NASDAQ:MCHP)
Spun out from General Instrument in 1987, Microchip Technology (NASDAQ: MCHP) is a leading provider of microcontrollers and integrated circuits used mainly in the automotive world, especially in electric vehicles and their charging devices.
Microchip Technology reported revenues of $1.16 billion, down 48.4% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a mixed quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but revenue guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations significantly.
"Our September quarter results were consistent with our guidance, as we continued to navigate through an inventory correction that’s occurring in the midst of macro weakness for many manufacturing businesses, accentuated by heightened weakness in our European business which is concentrated with Industrial and Automotive customers," said Ganesh Moorthy, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Microchip Technology delivered the slowest revenue growth of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 22.6% since reporting and currently trades at $58.21.
Is now the time to buy Microchip Technology? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q3: Impinj (NASDAQ:PI)
Founded by Caltech professor Carver Mead and one of his students Chris Diorio, Impinj (NASDAQ:PI) is a maker of radio-frequency identification (RFID) hardware and software.
Impinj reported revenues of $95.2 million, up 46.4% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 2.5%. The business had a very strong quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.
Impinj delivered the fastest revenue growth among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 32.4% since reporting. It currently trades at $149.49.
Is now the time to buy Impinj? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Vishay Intertechnology (NYSE:VSH)
Named after the founder's ancestral village in present-day Lithuania, Vishay Intertechnology (NYSE:VSH) manufactures simple chips and electronic components that are building blocks of virtually all types of electronic devices.
Vishay Intertechnology reported revenues of $735.4 million, down 13.9% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.8%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations.
Vishay Intertechnology delivered the weakest full-year guidance update in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 4.2% since the results and currently trades at $17.77.
Read our full analysis of Vishay Intertechnology’s results here.
MACOM (NASDAQ:MTSI)
Founded in the 1950s as Microwave Associates, a communications supplier to the US Army Signal Corp, today MACOM Technology Solutions (NASDAQ: MTSI) is a provider of analog chips used in optical, wireless, and satellite networks.
MACOM reported revenues of $200.7 million, up 33.5% year on year. This result was in line with analysts’ expectations. Aside from that, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged revenue guidance for next quarter beating analysts’ expectations but a miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.
The stock is up 10.8% since reporting and currently trades at $135.30.
Read our full, actionable report on MACOM here, it’s free.
Magnachip (NYSE:MX)
With its technology found in common consumer electronics such as TVs and smartphones, Magnachip Semiconductor (NYSE:MX) is a provider of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors.
Magnachip reported revenues of $66.46 million, up 8.5% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 3.8%. It was a strong quarter as it also logged a significant improvement in its inventory levels and an impressive beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.
Magnachip delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is down 5.8% since reporting and currently trades at $4.22.
Read our full, actionable report on Magnachip here, it’s free.
Market Update
Thanks to the Fed's series of rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has cooled significantly from its post-pandemic highs, drawing closer to the 2% goal. This disinflation has occurred without severely impacting economic growth, suggesting the success of a soft landing. The stock market has thrived in 2024, spurred by recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% each in November and December), and a notable surge followed Donald Trump's presidential election win in November, propelling indices to historic highs. Nonetheless, the outlook for 2025 remains clouded by the pace and magnitude of future rate cuts as well as potential changes in trade policy and corporate taxes once the Trump administration takes over. The path forward is marked by uncertainty.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.
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