As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q4. Today, we are looking at analog semiconductors stocks, starting with Sensata Technologies (NYSE:ST).
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 Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.7% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 7,107% above.
Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 29.1% since the latest earnings results.
Sensata Technologies (NYSE:ST)
Originally a temperature sensor control maker and a subsidiary of Texas Instruments for 60 years, Sensata Technology Holdings (NYSE: ST) is a leading supplier of analog sensors used in industrial and transportation applications, best known for its dominant position in the tire pressure monitoring systems in cars.
Sensata Technologies reported revenues of $907.7 million, down 8.5% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 2.6%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with a decent beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates but an increase in its inventory levels.
"Sensata had a strong finish to the year with fourth quarter revenue exceeding expectations, full year free cash flow increasing by over 40% compared to prior year, and adjusted operating margin increasing for the fourth consecutive quarter," said Stephan von Schuckmann, Sensata's Chief Executive Officer.
Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 24.9% since reporting and currently trades at $19.37.
Is now the time to buy Sensata Technologies? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q4: Himax (NASDAQ:HIMX)
Taiwan-based Himax Technologies (NASDAQ:HIMX) is a leading manufacturer of display driver chips and timing controllers used in TVs, laptops, and mobile phones.
Himax reported revenues of $237.2 million, up 4.2% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 7.3%. The business had a stunning quarter with a significant improvement in its inventory levels and an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
The stock is down 31.1% since reporting. It currently trades at $6.28.
Is now the time to buy Himax? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Slowest Q4: 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 $714.7 million, down 9% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.1%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income and EPS estimates.
As expected, the stock is down 31.1% since the results and currently trades at $11.45.
Read our full analysis of Vishay Intertechnology’s results here.
onsemi (NASDAQ:ON)
Spun out of Motorola in 1999 and built through a series of acquisitions, onsemi (NASDAQ:ON) is a global provider of analog chips specializing in autos, industrial applications, and power management in cloud data centers.
onsemi reported revenues of $1.72 billion, down 14.6% year on year. This result lagged analysts' expectations by 1.8%. Overall, it was a disappointing quarter as it also recorded a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
The stock is down 31.4% since reporting and currently trades at $35.14.
Read our full, actionable report on onsemi here, it’s free.
Analog Devices (NASDAQ:ADI)
Founded by two MIT graduates, Ray Stata and Matthew Lorber in 1965, Analog Devices (NASDAQ:ADI) is one of the largest providers of high performance analog integrated circuits used mainly in industrial end markets, along with communications, autos, and consumer devices.
Analog Devices reported revenues of $2.42 billion, down 3.6% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 2.9%. It was a strong quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.
The stock is down 20.3% since reporting and currently trades at $175.51.
Read our full, actionable report on Analog Devices here, it’s free.
Market Update
The Fed’s interest rate hikes throughout 2022 and 2023 have successfully cooled post-pandemic inflation, bringing it closer to the 2% target. Inflationary pressures have eased without tipping the economy into a recession, suggesting a soft landing. This stability, paired with recent rate cuts (0.5% in September 2024 and 0.25% in November 2024), fueled a strong year for the stock market in 2024. The markets surged further after Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November, with major indices reaching record highs in the days following the election. Still, questions remain about the direction of economic policy, as potential tariffs and corporate tax changes add uncertainty for 2025.
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