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Axcelis Technologies Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 17 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter revenue declined year on year: Q4 revenue was $238.3 million against $252.4 million in the same quarter of 2024. Source
  • Diluted EPS lower than prior year: Q4 GAAP diluted EPS was $1.10 against $1.54, and non-GAAP was $1.49 against $1.71. Full-year GAAP diluted EPS was $3.80 against $6.15. Source
  • Power and General Mature demand mixed: Management said customers are navigating a mixed demand environment in Power and General Mature markets, and the company is executing with discipline. Source
  • Memory demand trends improving: Management said demand trends in its Memory market are improving and expects this momentum to continue into 2026. Source
  • Gross margin rose on mix and aftermarket: GAAP gross margin was 47.0% against 46.0%, and non-GAAP gross margin 47.3% against 46.3%. The CFO attributed this to operational discipline, mix and the aftermarket strategy. Source
  • GAAP operating margin fell on G&A: GAAP operating margin was 15.2% against 21.6%. General and administrative expense was $26.2 million against $17.5 million. Source
  • Shareholder returns above $120 million: Repurchases were $25.2 million in Q4 and $121.1 million for the year. Management said more than $120 million was returned to shareholders in 2025. Source
  • Veeco merger work continues: Management said it continues working toward closing the pending merger with Veeco. Source

“Axcelis exited 2025 on a strong note with fourth quarter results that exceeded our outlook.”

Russell Low, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFirst quarter 2026 (quarter ending March 31, 2026)approximately $195 millionNew
GAAP diluted EPS SourceFirst quarter 2026approximately $0.38New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceFirst quarter 2026approximately $0.71New
Transaction and integration costs per diluted share SourceFirst quarter 2026$0.22New
Stock-based compensation per diluted share SourceFirst quarter 2026$0.16New
Non-GAAP tax rate SourceFirst quarter 202614%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First quarter 2026 revenue and EPS expectations were given; the prior release gave fourth quarter expectations. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth quarter revenue declined year on year: Q4 revenue was $238.3 million against $252.4 million in the same quarter of 2024. Source
  • Full-year CS&I and gross margin up: Full-year revenue was $839.0 million against $1,017.9 million. Management said CS&I grew double digits and gross margins expanded in 2025. Source
  • Diluted EPS lower than prior year: Q4 GAAP diluted EPS was $1.10 against $1.54, and non-GAAP was $1.49 against $1.71. Full-year GAAP diluted EPS was $3.80 against $6.15. Source

Segments, products and customers

  • Power and General Mature demand mixed: Management said customers are navigating a mixed demand environment in Power and General Mature markets, and the company is executing with discipline. Source
  • Memory demand trends improving: Management said demand trends in its Memory market are improving and expects this momentum to continue into 2026. Source
  • Services revenue up, product revenue down: Services revenue was $13.7 million against $11.2 million a year earlier. Product revenue was $224.6 million against $241.3 million. Source
  • Record CS&I revenue on installed base: Management said record CS&I revenue reflected the installed base and a focus on upgrades and service contracts. Source

“We closed the year with strong financial execution in the fourth quarter, highlighted by record CS&I performance and gross margins above expectations.”

Jamie Coogan, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Costs, margins and operating expense

  • Gross margin rose on mix and aftermarket: GAAP gross margin was 47.0% against 46.0%, and non-GAAP gross margin 47.3% against 46.3%. The CFO attributed this to operational discipline, mix and the aftermarket strategy. Source
  • GAAP operating margin fell on G&A: GAAP operating margin was 15.2% against 21.6%. General and administrative expense was $26.2 million against $17.5 million. Source
  • Restructuring charges on cost-saving initiatives: Restructuring charges were $1.4 million in the quarter, primarily early retirement and severance costs under global cost-saving initiatives. Source

Working capital and balance sheet

  • Inventories rose from September: Inventories were $329.0 million at December 31, 2025, against $324.3 million at September 30, 2025. Source
  • Current deferred revenue lower than September: Current deferred revenue was $65.5 million, against $81.5 million at September 30, 2025. Source
  • Current income tax liability appeared: A current income tax liability of $11.4 million was reported at year-end, and none was shown at December 31, 2024. Source

Cash flow and capital returns

  • Free cash flow above $100 million: Management said full-year free cash flow was more than $100 million. Operating cash flow was $118.3 million and capital expenditure $11.3 million for the year. Source
  • Fourth quarter operating cash outflow: Net cash used in operating activities was $6.6 million in the quarter, against $12.8 million provided a year earlier. Source
  • Shareholder returns above $120 million: Repurchases were $25.2 million in Q4 and $121.1 million for the year. Management said more than $120 million was returned to shareholders in 2025. Source
  • Cash and investments at year-end: Cash and equivalents were $145.5 million, short-term investments $228.8 million and long-term investments $182.4 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP measures

  • Adjusted EBITDA lower year on year: Adjusted EBITDA was $54.7 million, a 22.9% margin, against $65.3 million and 25.9%. Full-year adjusted EBITDA was $176.7 million, a 21.1% margin. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin lower: Non-GAAP operating margin was 21.1% against 24.2%. Full-year non-GAAP operating margin was 19.0% against 23.3%. Source
  • Non-GAAP net income lower: Non-GAAP net income was $46.4 million against $55.5 million. Full-year non-GAAP net income was $154.5 million against $223.8 million. Source

Strategy and pending Veeco merger

  • Veeco merger work continues: Management said it continues working toward closing the pending merger with Veeco. Source
  • Targets AI and electrification growth: Management expects the combined company to be better positioned to capitalize on secular growth trends, including AI, electrification and next generation device architectures. Source
  • Merger transaction costs excluded from non-GAAP: Transaction and integration costs for the merger were $7.5 million in Q4 and $16.3 million for the year, and are excluded from non-GAAP results. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited customers navigating a mixed demand environment in Power and General Mature markets. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said fourth quarter results exceeded its earlier expectations. The prior release had given about $215 million revenue, $0.76 GAAP EPS and $1.12 non-GAAP EPS for the quarter. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.