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Ceva Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 May 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Total revenue rose 11%: Total revenue was $27.0 million, against $24.2 million a year earlier, per the statement of loss. Source
  • Licensing revenue at three-year high: Licensing and related revenue was $17.8 million, against $15.0 million; management called it the highest in three years. Source
  • Net loss widened year-over-year: GAAP operating loss was $5.1 million against $4.4 million; diluted loss per share was $0.16 against $0.14. Source
  • Smart edge royalties up 8%: Royalty revenue was $9.2 million; smart edge royalties rose 8% year-over-year, driven by record Wi-Fi shipments. Source
  • Major Bluetooth HDT licence with RF: A major customer win for the Bluetooth HDT solution includes Ceva's internally developed RF technology. Source
  • AI above 20% of licensing: AI contributed more than 20% of licensing and related revenues in the quarter, with strong growth and production milestones. Source
  • Cash down, securities up: Cash and equivalents fell to $21.4 million from $40.6 million; marketable securities and deposits rose to $194.3 million from $181.4 million. Source

“We delivered a strong start to 2026, highlighted by our highest licensing and related revenues in three years and continued momentum across our connectivity and AI portfolios.”

Amir Panush, Chief Executive Officer of Ceva

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Ceva introduced its PentaG-NTN platform and is progressing a satellite customer engagement to a more integrated baseband solution. Source
  • New: Ceva announced a collaboration with NXP on its latest software-defined vehicle processors. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Total revenue rose 11%: Total revenue was $27.0 million, against $24.2 million a year earlier, per the statement of loss. Source
  • Licensing revenue at three-year high: Licensing and related revenue was $17.8 million, against $15.0 million; management called it the highest in three years. Source
  • Net loss widened year-over-year: GAAP operating loss was $5.1 million against $4.4 million; diluted loss per share was $0.16 against $0.14. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating income edged up: Non-GAAP operating income was $0.5 million against $0.3 million; non-GAAP net income was $1.1 million against $1.4 million. Source

Royalties and end markets

  • Smart edge royalties up 8%: Royalty revenue was $9.2 million; smart edge royalties rose 8% year-over-year, driven by record Wi-Fi shipments. Source
  • Cellular IoT, 5G and auto AI contributed: Management cited strong contributions to royalties from cellular IoT, 5G infrastructure and automotive AI. Source
  • Royalties below fourth-quarter level: Royalty revenue was $9.2 million against $13.8 million in the fourth quarter, which the prior release called the strongest royalty quarter in more than four years.

“Importantly, this quarter reflects the successful execution of our strategy to expand beyond discrete IP into more integrated, system-level solutions.”

Amir Panush, Chief Executive Officer of Ceva

Products and licensing wins

  • 14 IP licensing agreements signed: Ceva signed 14 IP licensing agreements, including several multi-technology engagements with existing customers. Source
  • Major Bluetooth HDT licence with RF: A major customer win for the Bluetooth HDT solution includes Ceva's internally developed RF technology. Source
  • Wi-Fi 7 and combo designs won: Wins included a Wi-Fi 7 design for consumer IoT and a Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth combo engagement with an edge-AI SoC provider. Source
  • 5G NTN and UWB engagements expanded: Engagements in 5G NTN and Ultra-Wideband expanded; the company launched a next-generation UWB platform and secured a new UWB customer. Source
  • Wins framed as system-level shift: Management framed the Bluetooth license and the 5G NTN and UWB expansion as moving toward integrated, system-level solutions and higher royalty contribution. Source

AI and automotive production

  • AI above 20% of licensing: AI contributed more than 20% of licensing and related revenues in the quarter, with strong growth and production milestones. Source
  • Renesas platform entering Toyota production: Ceva's AI DSP and accelerator, deployed in the Renesas R-Car V4H platform, is entering production in the 2026 Toyota RAV4. Source
  • Focus on hybrid and Physical AI: Management said the industry is accelerating toward hybrid AI and Physical AI at the edge, and cited a pipeline of engagements. Source

“This shift is driving improved economics per deal and strengthening the long-term royalty potential of our business.”

Yaniv Arieli, Chief Financial Officer of Ceva

Costs and margins

  • Gross margins held at last year: GAAP gross margin was 86% and non-GAAP gross margin 87%, both in line with last year; cost of revenues was $3.7 million against $3.5 million. Source
  • Research spending rose: Research and development, net was $19.8 million against $17.6 million; total operating expenses were $28.4 million against $25.1 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP expenses rose to $23.0M: Non-GAAP operating expenses were $23.0 million against $20.7 million, excluding equity-based compensation, intangible amortization and asset acquisition costs. Source

Demand and receivables

  • Demand continues in IoT and AI: Management said demand continues across its markets in IoT and AI-driven applications, with record Wi-Fi shipments and cellular IoT growth. Source
  • Unbilled receivables increased: Unbilled receivables were $31.1 million against $29.9 million at year-end; trade receivables were $17.7 million against $19.5 million. Source
  • Deferred revenues declined: Deferred revenues were $3.0 million at March 31, 2026, against $3.5 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Cash and share count

  • Cash down, securities up: Cash and equivalents fell to $21.4 million from $40.6 million; marketable securities and deposits rose to $194.3 million from $181.4 million. Source
  • Weighted share count rose: Weighted-average basic and diluted shares were 27.7 million, against 23.8 million a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 May 2026

  • Automotive AI moving to mass volume: Management said its AI technology is integrated into leading automotive platforms and entering mass-volume production. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customers Source400+

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited softness in smartphones, which partly offset continued royalty strength across the smart edge markets. Source
  • External: Management said a weaker U.S. dollar is raising expenses, and the company is implementing measures to partly offset them. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it is implementing measures to partially offset expenses resulting from the weaker U.S. dollar. Source
  • Not stated: The CFO described the continued progression toward higher-value, multi-technology engagements as part of the quarter's licensing execution. 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.