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ACM Research, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 narrowed, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and shipments both grew: Revenue was $231.3 million, up 34.2%, and total shipments were $240.7 million, up 53.6%. Management attributed growth to ECP, furnace and other technologies, and advanced packaging. Source
  • Net income attributable to ACM declined: Net income attributable to ACM Research was $17.3 million, against $20.4 million, while total net income was $26.2 million, against $25.0 million. Source
  • ECP and furnace revenue more than tripled: ECP (front-end and packaging), furnace and other technologies revenue was $84.2 million, against $27.6 million. Management tied growth to ECP and advanced packaging customer adoption. Source
  • Planetary Family product structure launched: The company organized its products into eight families aligned with key semiconductor manufacturing steps, collectively called the Eight Planets series. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin declined: Non-GAAP operating margin was 18.1% against 20.7%, while GAAP operating margin was 15.6% against 15.0%. Source
  • Shipments ran ahead of revenue: Shipments of $240.7 million exceeded revenue of $231.3 million. Management said shipments include first tools awaiting customer acceptance, which may be recognized as revenue in later quarters. Source
  • ACM Shanghai shares sold for $110 million: On February 6, 2026, ACM completed the sale of about 4.8 million ACM Shanghai shares at RMB160.00 per share, generating about $110 million gross and about $86 million net of taxes. Source
  • Hong Kong H share listing proposed: ACM Shanghai announced a proposed issuance of overseas listed H shares and a secondary listing application on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Source

“Our business has momentum, our strategy is working, and we remain firmly committed to delivering world-class innovative solutions to meet current and future requirements across a broad and expanding global customer base.”

Dr. David Wang, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefiscal year 2026$1.08 billion to $1.175 billionKept
Revenue growth Sourcefiscal year 202621%-30%Narrowed, low end up from 20% to 30%
Gross margin, long-term model target Sourcelong-term42% to 48%

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Revenue growth range low end moved from 20% to 21% compared with the April 27 release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Dollar revenue range of $1.08 billion to $1.175 billion is unchanged from the April 27 release. Source
  • New: Launched the ACM Planetary Family, a process-based portfolio structure with eight product families. Source
  • New: Completed sale of about 4.8 million ACM Shanghai shares on February 6, 2026. Source
  • New: ACM Shanghai announced a proposed H share issuance and a Hong Kong secondary listing application. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue and shipments both grew: Revenue was $231.3 million, up 34.2%, and total shipments were $240.7 million, up 53.6%. Management attributed growth to ECP, furnace and other technologies, and advanced packaging. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell to $0.24: Diluted EPS attributable to ACM was $0.24, against $0.30. Non-GAAP diluted EPS, which excludes stock-based compensation and unrealized losses on short-term investments, was $0.34 against $0.46. Source
  • GAAP operating income rose 40%: Operating income was $36.2 million, up 40.3% from $25.8 million. Non-GAAP operating income, which excludes stock-based compensation, was $41.8 million, up 17.4%. Source
  • Net income attributable to ACM declined: Net income attributable to ACM Research was $17.3 million, against $20.4 million, while total net income was $26.2 million, against $25.0 million. Source

Segments and product categories

  • ECP and furnace revenue more than tripled: ECP (front-end and packaging), furnace and other technologies revenue was $84.2 million, against $27.6 million. Management tied growth to ECP and advanced packaging customer adoption. Source
  • Single wafer cleaning revenue declined: Single wafer cleaning, Tahoe and semi-critical cleaning equipment revenue was $122.5 million, against $129.6 million, a decline of about 5%. Source
  • Advanced packaging and services grew: Advanced packaging (excluding ECP), services and spares revenue was $24.5 million, against $15.1 million, up about 62%. Source

“We expect 2026 to be a big year for new products at ACM.”

Dr. David Wang, President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • Planetary Family product structure launched: The company organized its products into eight families aligned with key semiconductor manufacturing steps, collectively called the Eight Planets series. Source
  • First PECVD SiCN system shipped: The first PECVD SiCN system, part of the Saturn Series within the ACM Planetary Family, shipped to a leading semiconductor manufacturer. It met customer-defined specifications in the Lingang lab and was delivered for final validation. Source
  • Advanced packaging systems shipped on schedule: Ultra C vac-p panel-level vacuum cleaning systems shipped to a leading global packaging manufacturer outside mainland China, and wafer-level systems to an OSAT customer in Singapore. Source

Operating costs

  • Operating expenses rose 25%: Operating expenses were $71.1 million, up 25.2%, and fell to 30.7% of revenue from 32.9%. Non-GAAP operating expenses were $65.8 million, up 38.5%, rising to 28.4% of revenue from 27.6%. Source
  • R&D spending rose about a third: Research and development expense was $36.5 million, against $27.5 million. Management said R&D over five years, with the internal Lingang mini-line, is paying off with new offerings. Source
  • Sales and G&A costs rose: Sales and marketing was $20.7 million against $16.3 million, and general and administrative was $13.8 million against $12.9 million. Source

Margins, tax and profitability

  • GAAP gross margin edged lower: Gross margin was 46.4% against 47.9%, and non-GAAP gross margin was 46.5% against 48.2%. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin declined: Non-GAAP operating margin was 18.1% against 20.7%, while GAAP operating margin was 15.6% against 15.0%. Source
  • Income tax expense rose: Income tax expense was $3.8 million, against $2.2 million. Source

Demand and order book

  • Shipments ran ahead of revenue: Shipments of $240.7 million exceeded revenue of $231.3 million. Management said shipments include first tools awaiting customer acceptance, which may be recognized as revenue in later quarters. Source
  • Advances from customers declined: Advances from customers were $168.8 million at March 31, 2026, down from $187.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Inventory and receivables increased: Inventories, net rose to $738.0 million from $702.6 million, and accounts receivable, net rose to $526.5 million from $504.3 million. Source

Cash, borrowings and capital

  • ACM Shanghai shares sold for $110 million: On February 6, 2026, ACM completed the sale of about 4.8 million ACM Shanghai shares at RMB160.00 per share, generating about $110 million gross and about $86 million net of taxes. Source
  • Cash and deposits reached $1.25 billion: Cash, restricted cash and short-term time deposits were $1.25 billion, up from $1.13 billion at December 31, 2025. Net cash, excluding borrowings, was $924.2 million against $844.5 million. Source
  • Borrowings rose on both lines: Short-term borrowings were $94.0 million, against $74.0 million, and long-term borrowings were $220.9 million, against $178.9 million. Source
  • Weighted diluted shares increased: Weighted average diluted shares were 69.8 million, against 67.0 million, and basic shares were 65.8 million, against 63.3 million. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Hong Kong H share listing proposed: ACM Shanghai announced a proposed issuance of overseas listed H shares and a secondary listing application on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Source
  • Global market expansion steps: Management said additional steps are being taken to expand capabilities in global markets. Source
  • New products expected to add revenue: Management expects incremental 2026 revenue from Tahoe, single-wafer SPM and vertical furnace, plus more evaluations of several new platforms. Source

Subsidiary ownership and minority interests

  • ACM holds about 74% of ACM Shanghai: ACM owns about 74% of ACM Shanghai, which contributes a substantial majority of consolidated revenue and net income.
  • Non-controlling share of net income rose: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests was $8.9 million, against $4.6 million, and comprehensive income attributable to them was $16.2 million, against $5.0 million. Source
  • Unrealized investment loss excluded from non-GAAP: Unrealized loss on short-term investments was $1.4 million, against $1.1 million, and the company excludes it from non-GAAP results. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026

  • Oregon facility ramp-up later this year: Management said the ramp-up of its Oregon facility is due later in 2026. Source
  • Hong Kong listing still proposed: The H share listing is described as proposed; the release gives no completion date for it. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total shipments Source$240.7 million, up 53.6%

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Revenue guidance rests on management's assessment of the continuing impact of international trade policy. Source
  • Demand: Guidance also depends on expected spending scenarios of key customers and on supply chain constraints. Source
  • Financial: Management said gross margin may vary between periods because of product mix, currency and sales volume. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the Ultra C panel system and the wafer-level systems were completed on schedule. Source
  • Not stated: The April 27 release reaffirmed the full-year 2026 revenue range of $1.08 billion to $1.175 billion.

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.