Tag Archives: swks

Skyworks Growth Threatened By ‘Unfavorable’ Apple iPhone Comparison

Skyworks Solutions ( SWKS ) is “rebuilding” after Apple ‘s ( AAPL ) iPhone flop last quarter but is still looking at double-digit growth in the second half of 2016, MKM analyst Ian Ing wrote in a research note after Apple-supplier stocks broadly toppled last week, when the iPhone maker reported its first-ever year-over-year decline in smartphone sales. In early trading Monday, Skyworks stock was down a fraction, as were shares of radio-frequency chip rivals Broadcom ( AVGO ) and Qorvo ( QRVO ). In early trading on the stock market today , Apple stock was also down a fraction, near 93, and down 10.5% since reporting its March-quarter earnings after the close Tuesday. That day, Apple reported  not only its first-ever year-over-year drop in iPhone sales, but also its first quarterly revenue decrease in 13 years. Skyworks’ Q2 guidance , released late Thursday, slugged that stock when its sales view missed by $50 million. But after just 2% sales growth last quarter, Skyworks expects double-digit growth in September, though strength in China and with Samsung might not be enough to outweigh an “unfavorable” year-over-year iPhone comparison. Last September, Apple sold 13 million iPhone 6S units in three days following the release. Chinese smartphone-makers are facing a largely saturated market, Ing noted. About 45% of China’s mobile phones are on 4G now. Wall Street largely expects a pause as the industry transitions to 5G — but that refresh is still more than a year away. Ing retained his buy rating on Skyworks stock, but he cut the price target to 93 from 98. At least two other analysts rated Skyworks a buy over the weekend.

Skyworks Guidance Lags By $50 Mil On Petering Apple iPhone Demand

Apple ’s ( AAPL ) “iPhone drag” tugged Skyworks Solutions ’ ( SWKS ) fiscal Q3 guidance by $50 million late Thursday, prompting shares of radio-frequency chip rivals Broadcom ( AVGO ) and Qorvo ( QRVO ) to topple early Friday. Skyworks stock led a broad Apple chip sphere fall, down 4.5%, near 68, in morning trading on the stock market today . Shares of competitors Broadcom and Qorvo were down a respective 2% and 2.5%. NXP Semiconductors ( NXPI ), Qualcomm ( QCOM ) and InvenSense ( INVN ) stocks followed, down 1%, 3% and 4%, respectively. Apple stock was down 2%. For its fiscal Q2, which ended April 1, Skyworks reported $775.1 million in sales and $1.25 earnings per share minus items, in line and topping the consensus of 25 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters for $775.6 million and $1.24. But EPS slipped to single-digit growth for the first time in 13 quarters, rising 9% year over year. Sales rose 2%, in the single-digit range for the first time in 14 quarters. Both metrics have decelerated for five consecutive quarters. Current-quarter guidance for $750 million in sales and $1.21 EPS ex items would be down 7% and 10%, respectively, vs. the year-earlier quarter. On a year-over-year basis, sales have never declined in the past five years. EPS has declined twice, but this quarter’s decline would be the biggest. And both metrics lagged the consensus for $800.5 million and $1.32. Mizuho analyst Vijay Rakesh blamed the “iPhone drag” for Skyworks’ weak guidance. On Tuesday, Apple reported its first year-over-year decline in iPhone sales and its first quarterly revenue drop in 13 years. Apple CEO Tim Cook said Tuesday that the company planned to cut channel inventories in the June quarter “in light of the macroeconomic environment.” Late Tuesday, supplier Cirrus Logic ( CRUS ) offered Q3 guidance that also missed Wall Street views. But Skyworks expects a strong September quarter, with 20% and 40% content gains at Samsung and Huawei. On average, Chinese smartphones are growing content by 20% year over year, Rakesh wrote in a research report. Rakesh cut his price target on Skyworks stock to 99 from 105 but reiterated a buy rating. Cowen analyst Timothy Arcuri estimates that 40 million to 50 million iPhones will be sold in the June quarter, leading to better upside in Skyworks’ fiscal Q4. But he adds that Qorvo might be a stronger RF competitor now. Both analysts suggest that Skyworks look to diversify amid the slowing Chinese and iPhone markets. Arcuri reduced his price target on Skyworks stock to 76 from 78 and kept his market perform rating.

Texas Instruments Beats Q1 Views Despite Apple iPhone ‘Shortfall’

Texas Instruments ( TXN ) joined NXP Semiconductors ( NXPI ) and Cirrus Logic ( CRUS ) late Wednesday, weathering an  Apple ( AAPL ) iPhone shipment dip by bolstering embedded-processing sales to top Wall Street’s first-quarter expectations. On Thursday, at least eight analysts boosted their price targets on Texas Instruments stock. On the stock market today , Texas Instruments shares were up a fraction intraday. The stock has been on a run since Jan. 15, climbing 25% after a two-week fall. NXP and Cirrus Logic stocks split the difference in Thursday trading, up 0.2% and down 2.1%, respectively. Skyworks Solutions ( SWKS ) and Qorvo ( QRVO ) were up 1.6% and 0.3%, respectively, after Apple reported its first ever year-over-year iPhone shipment decline late Tuesday. For the first quarter, Texas Instruments reported $3.01 billion in sales and 65 cents earnings per share, down 5% and up 7%, respectively, vs. the year-earlier quarter. Both measures topped the consensus of 36 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters for $2.98 billion and 62 cents. Analog sales — which includes power management chips used in the iPhone 6S — declined 8% year over year to $1.88 billion. The drop was expected MKM analyst Ian Ing wrote in a research report. Apple comprised 15% of Texas Instruments’ 2015 sales. “While the year-over-year shortfall in smartphones was $150 million, the inclusion of (a) weak PC (segment) results in an even greater shortfall,” he wrote in a research report. “The year-over-year revenue gap is expected to decline somewhat in June, but still be significant.” Embedded-processing revenue grew 8% vs. the year-earlier quarter to $729 million in sales. Sales of custom integrated circuits drove a 10% year-over-year decline in Texas Instruments’ other sales. Texas Instruments’ current-quarter guidance for $3.07 billion to $3.33 billion in sales and 67 cents to 77 cents EPS would be flat and down 1%, respectively, on a year-over-year basis. But that outlook topped analyst views for $3.18 billion and 71 cents at the midpoints. Credit Suisse analyst John Pitzer noted that Texas Instruments is “consistently executing on consistent execution.” He boosted his price target on Texas Instruments stock to 65 from 60, but reiterated his neutral rating. During Q1, Texas Instruments hit a record 60.6% gross margin. Pitzer and RBC analyst Amit Daryanani expect that to continue, driven by better manufacturing gains, improved mix and impressive execution. Daryanani upped his price target on Texas Instruments stock to 68 from 65, but kept his outperform rating.