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Cohu Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Q2 revenue surged 38% year-over-year: Second quarter net sales increased 38% year-over-year to $149.0 million from $107.7 million in Q2 2025, reflecting broad-based improvement across end markets. Source
  • Eclipse handler adoption accelerating in AI: Customer momentum in AI compute is accelerating through adoption of Eclipse test handler with T-Core active thermal control for high-power data center processors. Source
  • HPC revenue estimate raised to $100 - 110M: FY26 high-performance computing revenue estimate raised to $100 - 110 million from $80 - 100 million, reflecting increased confidence in AI market expansion. Source
  • Test cell utilization improved to 80%: Estimated test cell utilization increased sequentially to approximately 80% at end of June 2026, up from 78% at end of March 2026. Source
  • Non-GAAP net income jumped sharply: Non-GAAP net income of $14.1 million ($0.26 per share) in Q2 2026, up significantly from Q1 2026's $0.6 million ($0.01 per share). Source

“Second quarter results reflected broad-based improvement across our end markets, with revenue increasing 38% year-over-year and estimated test cell utilization improving to approximately 80% at the end of June”

Luis Müller, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
FY26 High-Performance Computing Revenue Sourcefiscal year 2026$100 million to $110 millionRaised from approximately $80 million to $100 million
Q3 2026 Net Sales Sourcethird quarter 2026$170 million +/- $7 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: FY26 high-performance computing revenue estimate raised from $80 - 100 million to $100 - 110 million due to accelerating customer adoption of Eclipse test handler for data center processors. Source
  • New guidance: Company initiated Q3 2026 sales guidance of $170 million plus or minus $7 million. Source

Quarterly Revenue Growth

  • Q2 revenue surged 38% year-over-year: Second quarter net sales increased 38% year-over-year to $149.0 million from $107.7 million in Q2 2025, reflecting broad-based improvement across end markets. Source
  • Sequential growth continues from Q1: Q2 sales of $149.0 million represented a $23.9 million increase from Q1 2026 sales of $125.1 million. Source
  • First-half 2026 sales up 34%: First six months 2026 net sales totaled $274.1 million, up 34% from $204.5 million in the first six months of 2025. Source

AI-Driven Compute Market Momentum

  • Eclipse handler adoption accelerating in AI: Customer momentum in AI compute is accelerating through adoption of Eclipse test handler with T-Core active thermal control for high-power data center processors. Source
  • HPC revenue estimate raised to $100 - 110M: FY26 high-performance computing revenue estimate raised to $100 - 110 million from $80 - 100 million, reflecting increased confidence in AI market expansion. Source

“Customer momentum in AI compute is accelerating, driven by the adoption of our Eclipse test handler with T-Core active thermal control for high-power processors used in data centers”

Luis Müller, President and CEO

Operating Performance and Capacity

  • Test cell utilization improved to 80%: Estimated test cell utilization increased sequentially to approximately 80% at end of June 2026, up from 78% at end of March 2026. Source
  • Utilization gains reflect demand strength: Improved test cell utilization reflects broad-based demand improvement across end markets and accelerating customer investments in AI infrastructure. Source

Profitability and Margins

  • Gross margin at 45.4% in Q2: GAAP gross margin of 45.4% in Q2 2026 with non-GAAP gross margin of 45.5%, down slightly from Q1 2026's 46.3% GAAP margin. Source
  • Non-GAAP net income jumped sharply: Non-GAAP net income of $14.1 million ($0.26 per share) in Q2 2026, up significantly from Q1 2026's $0.6 million ($0.01 per share). Source
  • GAAP loss improved from year-ago: GAAP net loss of $0.2 million in Q2 2026 improved substantially from Q2 2025 net loss of $16.9 million, reflecting operational improvement. Source

“Increased confidence in this market is leading us to raise our FY26 high-performance computing revenue estimate to $100 million to $110 million, further reinforcing Cohu's differentiated position in test and inspection”

Luis Müller, President and CEO

Cash Position and Capital Allocation

  • Cash and investments at $498.2M: Total cash and investments of $498.2 million at end of Q2 2026, up from $488.7 million at end of Q1 2026. Source
  • No share repurchases in second quarter: Company did not execute any share repurchases during Q2 2026, consistent with prior quarters of fiscal 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 July 2026

  • Q3 2026 sales guidance provided: Management guided Q3 2026 sales to $170 million plus or minus $7 million, implying continued sequential growth momentum. Source
  • FY26 HPC revenue ramp continuing: Full-year 2026 high-performance computing revenue expected to reach $100 - 110 million as AI-driven compute adoption accelerates throughout year. 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.