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Formfactor Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 7 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue exceeded guidance midpoint: Revenue was $202.7 million, up 3.5% on the second quarter and down 2.5% on $207.9 million a year earlier. Management said revenue, gross margin and EPS exceeded the second quarter and the midpoint of the range. Source
  • DRAM probe cards hit record: DRAM probe card revenue rose by an expected double-digit percentage sequentially to a new record, primarily from HBM growth. Source
  • Gross margin up 250 basis points: GAAP gross margin was 39.8%, up from 37.3% in the second quarter and down from 40.7% a year earlier. Management attributed the 250 basis point increase to gross margin improvement actions. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue guidance raised: Fourth-quarter revenue guidance is $210 million plus or minus $5 million, up from $200 million, and assumes consistent foreign currency rates. Source
  • Gross margin guidance raised: GAAP gross margin guidance is 40.0% plus or minus 1.5%, and non-GAAP gross margin guidance is 42.0% plus or minus 1.5%, each raised from the prior quarter. Source
  • EPS guidance raised: GAAP diluted EPS guidance is $0.19 plus or minus $0.04 and non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance is $0.35 plus or minus $0.04, both raised from the prior quarter. Source
  • Free cash flow turned positive: Free cash flow was $19.7 million, against negative $47.1 million in the second quarter. GAAP operating cash flow was $27.0 million for the quarter. Source

“As we said last quarter, we are focused on, and committed to, improving our profitability as we return to a path to our target model”

Mike Slessor, CEO of FormFactor, Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefourth quarter of fiscal 2025, ending December 27, 2025$210 million +/- $5 millionRaised from $200 million +/- $5 million
GAAP gross margin Sourcefourth quarter of fiscal 202540.0% +/- 1.5%Raised from 38.5% +/- 1.5%
Non-GAAP gross margin Sourcefourth quarter of fiscal 202542.0% +/- 1.5%Raised from 40% +/- 1.5%
Gross profit reconciling items (GAAP to non-GAAP) Sourcefourth quarter of fiscal 2025$4.5 millionRaised from $3 million
GAAP net income per diluted share Sourcefourth quarter of fiscal 2025$0.19 +/- $0.04Raised from $0.14 +/- $0.04
Non-GAAP net income per diluted share Sourcefourth quarter of fiscal 2025$0.35 +/- $0.04Raised from $0.25 +/- $0.04
EPS reconciling items (GAAP to non-GAAP) Sourcefourth quarter of fiscal 2025$0.16Raised from $0.11

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Revenue guidance for the next quarter rose from $200 million to $210 million, each plus or minus $5 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Non-GAAP gross margin guidance for the next quarter rose from 40% to 42.0%, each plus or minus 1.5%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance for the next quarter rose from $0.25 to $0.35, each plus or minus $0.04. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue exceeded guidance midpoint: Revenue was $202.7 million, up 3.5% on the second quarter and down 2.5% on $207.9 million a year earlier. Management said revenue, gross margin and EPS exceeded the second quarter and the midpoint of the range. Source
  • GAAP net income rose from second quarter: GAAP net income was $15.7 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, against $9.1 million, or $0.12, in the second quarter and $18.7 million, or $0.24, a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS reached $0.33: Non-GAAP net income was $25.7 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, against $21.2 million, or $0.27, in the second quarter and $27.2 million, or $0.35, a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating income increased: Non-GAAP operating income was $28.6 million, against $22.8 million in the second quarter and $28.3 million a year earlier. Source

Segments, products and customers

  • DRAM probe cards hit record: DRAM probe card revenue rose by an expected double-digit percentage sequentially to a new record, primarily from HBM growth. Source
  • Systems Segment revenue rose as anticipated: Systems Segment revenue increased in the third quarter as anticipated, and further growth is expected in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Regional and customer detail posted online: Revenue by geographic region, by market segment and by customers above 10% of total revenue was posted on the investor relations website. Source

“We are executing a program of rapid and immediate gross margin improvement actions”

Mike Slessor, CEO of FormFactor, Inc.

Margins and cost base

  • Gross margin up 250 basis points: GAAP gross margin was 39.8%, up from 37.3% in the second quarter and down from 40.7% a year earlier. Management attributed the 250 basis point increase to gross margin improvement actions. Source
  • Operating expenses and factory start-up costs: GAAP operating expenses were $62.6 million, including R&D of $28.7 million, SG&A of $33.0 million and factory start-up costs of $964 thousand. Non-GAAP operating expenses were $54.6 million. Source
  • Stock compensation and restructuring excluded: Stock-based compensation of $9.5 million and restructuring charges of $389 thousand were excluded from non-GAAP operating income. Source

Demand and fourth-quarter guidance

  • Fourth-quarter revenue guidance raised: Fourth-quarter revenue guidance is $210 million plus or minus $5 million, up from $200 million, and assumes consistent foreign currency rates. Source
  • Gross margin guidance raised: GAAP gross margin guidance is 40.0% plus or minus 1.5%, and non-GAAP gross margin guidance is 42.0% plus or minus 1.5%, each raised from the prior quarter. Source
  • EPS guidance raised: GAAP diluted EPS guidance is $0.19 plus or minus $0.04 and non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance is $0.35 plus or minus $0.04, both raised from the prior quarter. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow turned positive: Free cash flow was $19.7 million, against negative $47.1 million in the second quarter. GAAP operating cash flow was $27.0 million for the quarter. Source
  • Capital expenditures fell sharply: Capital expenditures were $7.5 million for the quarter, against $66.3 million in the second quarter. Nine-month capital expenditures totaled $92.3 million. Source
  • Cash and securities balances rose: Cash and cash equivalents were $97.7 million at September 27, 2025, up from $67.4 million at June 28, 2025. Marketable securities were $168.4 million. Source
  • Nine-month buybacks below prior year: Nine-month purchases of common stock under the repurchase program totaled $26.2 million, against $37.2 million a year earlier. No quarter-only repurchase figure is given. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Structural initiatives add to margins: Management describes longer-term structural initiatives, expected to contribute further to gross margins, running alongside the immediate margin actions. Source
  • Margin actions run through next year: Management expects the gross margin improvement actions to continue through the fourth quarter and the following year. Source
  • Equity investment carried at $66.4 million: The equity investment was $66.4 million at September 27, 2025, after $67.2 million of purchases in the nine months to that date. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 October 2025

  • Fourth-quarter sequential gains expected: Management expects sequentially higher revenue, earnings and gross margin in the fourth quarter ending December 27, 2025. Source
  • Co-packaged optics nearing volume production: Management said momentum is increasing toward initial volume production of co-packaged optics. No date for that production is given. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Gross margin (GAAP) Source39.8%
Gross margin (non-GAAP) Source41.0%

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management refers back to its prior-quarter commitment to profitability and to returning to its target model. Source
  • Met: Management says the Systems Segment delivered the third-quarter revenue increase it had anticipated. Source
  • Met: Management says DRAM probe cards recorded the double-digit sequential growth it expected, reaching a new record. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release set this third-quarter expectation. The current release reports revenue, gross margin and EPS above second-quarter results.

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.