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Axcelis Technologies Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose from second quarter: Revenue was $237.8 million, up from $215.2 million in the second quarter of 2026 and $213.6 million in the third quarter of 2025. The company reported growth in systems revenue. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS rose: GAAP net income was $37.8 million against $26.0 million. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.21 against $0.83, and non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.26 against $1.21. Source
  • Bookings rose on broader recovery: Management reported an increase in bookings reflecting a broadening recovery across end markets. Memory momentum continued, with rising activity in Power and General Mature. Source
  • Gross margin slightly lower: GAAP gross margin was 41.0% against 41.6% a year earlier, and non-GAAP gross margin was 41.2% against 41.8%. GAAP gross margin in the second quarter of 2026 was 42.4%. Source
  • Operating expenses rose year on year: Non-GAAP operating expense was $58.5 million against $50.4 million, and R&D was $30.2 million against $24.6 million. Non-GAAP operating margin was 16.6% against 18.2%. Source
  • No share repurchases this quarter: No common stock was repurchased in the third quarter of 2026, against $32.3 million a year earlier. Nine-month repurchases were nil against $95.9 million. Source
  • Next-generation investment starting to pay: Low said the strategy of investing in next-generation technologies is starting to produce concrete results. Source

“We are pleased with our third quarter performance, as improving demand drove sequential growth in systems revenue, complemented by another quarterly record in CS&I.”

President and CEO Russell Low

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefourth quarter 2026 (ending December 31, 2026)approximately $275 millionNew
GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefourth quarter 2026 (ending December 31, 2026)approximately $1.15New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefourth quarter 2026 (ending December 31, 2026)approximately $1.50New
Transaction and integration adjustment Sourcefourth quarter 20260.19 per diluted shareNew
Stock-based compensation adjustment Sourcefourth quarter 20260.22 per diluted shareNew
Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments Sourcefourth quarter 2026(0.06)New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Company began giving fourth-quarter 2026 guidance for revenue, GAAP diluted EPS and non-GAAP EPS. Source
  • Ended: From the third quarter of 2026, the company no longer separately presents revenue and cost of revenue for Services. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose from second quarter: Revenue was $237.8 million, up from $215.2 million in the second quarter of 2026 and $213.6 million in the third quarter of 2025. The company reported growth in systems revenue. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS rose: GAAP net income was $37.8 million against $26.0 million. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.21 against $0.83, and non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.26 against $1.21. Source
  • Nine-month revenue and EPS compared: Nine-month revenue was $651.9 million against $600.7 million. Nine-month GAAP diluted EPS was $2.26 against $2.70, and non-GAAP diluted EPS was $3.04 against $3.38. Source

Bookings, end markets and CS&I

  • Bookings rose on broader recovery: Management reported an increase in bookings reflecting a broadening recovery across end markets. Memory momentum continued, with rising activity in Power and General Mature. Source
  • CS&I activity remained high: Management said it continues to see sustained strength in its CS&I business. The release gives no CS&I revenue figure. Source
  • Installed base cited for 2027: Ryzhik cited improving demand, a growing installed base and CS&I strength as a foundation for entering 2027. Source

“We expect to finish 2026 with positive momentum and anticipate further growth in 2027.”

President and CEO Russell Low

Margins, costs and tax

  • Gross margin slightly lower: GAAP gross margin was 41.0% against 41.6% a year earlier, and non-GAAP gross margin was 41.2% against 41.8%. GAAP gross margin in the second quarter of 2026 was 42.4%. Source
  • Operating expenses rose year on year: Non-GAAP operating expense was $58.5 million against $50.4 million, and R&D was $30.2 million against $24.6 million. Non-GAAP operating margin was 16.6% against 18.2%. Source
  • GAAP tax line swung to benefit: The GAAP income tax line was a $1.8 million benefit against a $4.2 million provision a year earlier. Discrete tax items tied to audits are excluded from non-GAAP results. Source

Cash, balance sheet and capital returns

  • Operating cash flow lower year on year: Operating cash flow was $40.2 million against $45.4 million, and $76.7 million for nine months against $124.9 million. Capital expenditures were $2.5 million against $2.0 million. Source
  • No share repurchases this quarter: No common stock was repurchased in the third quarter of 2026, against $32.3 million a year earlier. Nine-month repurchases were nil against $95.9 million. Source
  • Cash and investments increased: Cash and cash equivalents were $190.8 million against $145.5 million at December 31, 2025. Short-term investments were $281.6 million and long-term investments $143.0 million. Source

Strategy, positioning and merger

  • Next-generation investment starting to pay: Low said the strategy of investing in next-generation technologies is starting to produce concrete results. Source
  • Positioned for returning customer investment: Management said the strategy positions the company to capture expanding markets as customer investment recovers. Source
  • Veeco merger costs excluded from non-GAAP: Transaction and integration costs tied to the Veeco merger agreement were $5.0 million against $8.3 million a year earlier. They are excluded from non-GAAP results at $0.16 per diluted share. Source

Reporting changes and leadership

  • Services no longer shown separately: From the third quarter of 2026 the company stopped separately presenting Services revenue and cost of revenue, which it describes as a small share of the business. Source
  • Share-based compensation rose: Stock-based compensation was $6.5 million against $5.3 million and is excluded from the non-GAAP measures. Source
  • Interim CFO presented results: David Ryzhik, senior vice president and interim CFO, gave the financial commentary and is the investor relations contact. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Foreign exchange headwinds weighed on gross margin in the quarter, according to Ryzhik. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Ryzhik said third-quarter results exceeded the company's expectations. 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.