greeksoup/ stock research

Coherent Corp.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 9 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 50% year on year: Revenue was $2.37 billion, up 49.9% from a year earlier and up 15.9% from the prior quarter. Pro forma revenue growth was 56%. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS reached $2.09: Diluted EPS was $1.90 on a GAAP basis, up $0.71, and $2.09 non-GAAP, up $0.93 from a year earlier. Source
  • Datacenter and Communications up 79%: Datacenter & Communications revenue was $1,951.7 million, up from $1,090.0 million a year earlier and $1,615.0 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Gross margin expanded on pricing: GAAP gross margin was 39.1%, up 254 bps year on year; non-GAAP gross margin was 40.6%, up 184 bps. Management attributed the expansion to pricing and cost actions. Source
  • Longer-term gross margin target raised: The CFO said the margin result gives confidence to raise the longer-term target, which now sets a first quarter above 45% non-GAAP gross margin before the end of calendar 2028. Source
  • Operating cash flow was negative: Net cash used in operating activities was $92.7 million, against $46.0 million provided a year earlier. Source
  • Capital spending about seven times higher: Additions to property, plant and equipment were $775.5 million, against $103.9 million a year earlier. Source

“Q1 marked a strong start to fiscal 2027, with pro forma revenue up 56% year over year and non-GAAP EPS up 80%,”

Jim Anderson, CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2027$2.55 billion to $2.75 billionNew
Non-GAAP gross margin Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 202740% to 42%New
Non-GAAP operating expenses Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2027$430 million to $450 millionNew
Non-GAAP tax rate Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 202718% to 20%New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2027$2.28 to $2.48New
Pro forma revenue growth Sourcefiscal 2027exceed 60%New
Quarterly revenue milestone Sourceby end of fiscal 2027first $3 billion revenue quarterNew
Quarterly revenue milestone Sourcefiscal 2028first $4 billion revenue quarterNew
Non-GAAP gross margin target Sourcebefore the end of calendar 2028first quarter above 45%Raised
Non-GAAP normalized tax rate Sourcefiscal 202719%New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: The CFO said the margin result gives confidence to raise the longer-term gross margin target. Source
  • New guidance: New second-quarter fiscal 2027 ranges for revenue, non-GAAP gross margin, operating expenses, tax rate and EPS were given. Source
  • New guidance: A fiscal 2027 pro forma revenue growth expectation above 60% was given. Source
  • New guidance: A first $3 billion revenue quarter by the end of fiscal 2027 was added as a target. Source
  • New guidance: A first $4 billion revenue quarter in fiscal 2028 was added as a target. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 50% year on year: Revenue was $2.37 billion, up 49.9% from a year earlier and up 15.9% from the prior quarter. Pro forma revenue growth was 56%. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating income up 78%: Non-GAAP operating income was $550.3 million, up from $308.9 million, at a 23.2% margin. GAAP operating income was $377.9 million, up from $259.1 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS reached $2.09: Diluted EPS was $1.90 on a GAAP basis, up $0.71, and $2.09 non-GAAP, up $0.93 from a year earlier. Source

Segments and revenue mix

  • Datacenter and Communications up 79%: Datacenter & Communications revenue was $1,951.7 million, up from $1,090.0 million a year earlier and $1,615.0 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Industrial revenue fell year on year: Industrial revenue was $418.6 million, down from $491.4 million a year earlier and from $430.5 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Datacenter share of revenue rose: Datacenter & Communications was about 82% of consolidated revenue, compared with about 69% a year earlier. Source

“Our Q1 results delivered substantial operating leverage and durable gross margin expansion, driven by pricing optimization and cost improvements.”

Sherri Luther, CFO

Products, customers and demand

  • Established businesses grew; new areas ramping: Management said established businesses delivered growth and that new growth areas are beginning to ramp. Source
  • AI datacenter shift to optical: Management tied demand to AI datacenters moving from copper to optical connectivity, citing bandwidth and energy efficiency needs. Source
  • Pro forma growth above reported growth: Pro forma revenue growth was 56%, against 50% reported. The release does not give the adjustments behind the pro forma figure. Source

Costs, margins and targets

  • Gross margin expanded on pricing: GAAP gross margin was 39.1%, up 254 bps year on year; non-GAAP gross margin was 40.6%, up 184 bps. Management attributed the expansion to pricing and cost actions. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating expenses rose 35%: Non-GAAP operating expenses were $412 million, up 35.5% from $304 million a year earlier. Source
  • Interest expense fell year on year: GAAP interest expense was $46.3 million, down from $58.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Longer-term gross margin target raised: The CFO said the margin result gives confidence to raise the longer-term target, which now sets a first quarter above 45% non-GAAP gross margin before the end of calendar 2028. Source

“This margin strength gives us the confidence to raise our longer-term target.”

Sherri Luther, CFO

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow was negative: Net cash used in operating activities was $92.7 million, against $46.0 million provided a year earlier. Source
  • Capital spending about seven times higher: Additions to property, plant and equipment were $775.5 million, against $103.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Inventories and receivables increased: Inventories rose to $3,341.4 million from $2,581.0 million at June 30, and receivables rose to $1,604.2 million from $1,343.3 million. Source
  • Cash rose as short-term investments fell: Cash and cash equivalents were $1,552.9 million, up from $1,162.0 million at June 30; short-term investments fell to $200.0 million from $825.0 million. Source

Capital and shareholder payments

  • No dividends paid this quarter: No dividends were paid in the quarter, against $11.4 million a year earlier. Preferred stock dividends were nil, against $33.5 million. Source
  • Employee tax payments rose: Payments in satisfaction of employees’ minimum tax obligations were $128.6 million, against $37.4 million; option and stock purchase proceeds were $19.4 million. Source
  • Diluted share count rose: Average diluted shares were 202.0 million, against 190.7 million a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • First $3 billion revenue quarter: Management expects to reach its first $3 billion revenue quarter by the end of fiscal 2027. Source
  • First $4 billion revenue quarter: Management expects its first $4 billion revenue quarter in fiscal 2028. Source
  • Non-GAAP gross margin above 45%: Management expects a first quarter with non-GAAP gross margin above 45% before the end of calendar 2028. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Revenue was $2.37 billion, compared with the $2.2 billion to $2.4 billion range given in the prior release.
  • Not stated: Non-GAAP EPS was $2.09, compared with the $1.85 to $2.05 range given in the prior release.
  • Not stated: The prior release said multiple new growth platforms were beginning to ramp; this release says new growth areas are beginning to ramp.

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.