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Microchip Technology Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 10 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 35.1% year over year: Net sales were $1.311 billion, up 35.1% from $970.5 million a year earlier and up 10.6% sequentially from the December quarter. Source
  • Revenue came in above guidance: Management said revenue was above the high end of the guidance range given February 5, 2026, which was $1.240 billion to $1.280 billion. Source
  • Recovery broad across end markets: Management said demand has improved and customer inventory has normalized, with increasing momentum across the product lines. Source
  • Non-GAAP gross margin reached 61.6%: Non-GAAP gross profit was 61.6% of net sales for the quarter, against 52.0% a year earlier. GAAP gross profit was 61.0%. Source
  • Inventory cut $22.3 million in quarter: Inventory was reduced by $22.3 million during the quarter, and days of inventory fell from 201 in December to 185 in March. Source
  • Free cash flow $242.8 million: Free cash flow was $242.8 million, or 18.5% of net sales, against $191.7 million a year earlier. Fiscal 2026 free cash flow was $871.0 million. Source

“Our March quarter results significantly exceeded our expectations, with revenue of $1.311 billion coming in above the high end of our guidance”

Steve Sanghi, Microchip's President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceJune 2026 quarter$1.442 billion to $1.469 billionNew
Non-GAAP gross margin SourceJune 2026 quarter62.25% to 63.25%New
Non-GAAP operating expenses SourceJune 2026 quarter28.75% to 29.25%New
Non-GAAP operating profit SourceJune 2026 quarter33.00% to 34.50%New
Diluted EPS, non-GAAP and GAAP SourceJune 2026 quarternon-GAAP $0.67 to $0.71; GAAP $0.28 to $0.29New
Non-GAAP diluted share count SourceJune 2026 quarterapproximately 572.4 to 573.4 million sharesNew
Average stock price assumption SourceJune 2026 quarter$90 to $100 per shareNew
Non-GAAP income tax provision Sourcefiscal 2027 cash tax basis, June 2026 quarter$42.6 to $45.8 millionNew
Dividends on Series A Preferred Stock SourceJune 2026 quarter$(27.8) millionKept
Capital expenditures SourceJune 2026 quarterapproximately $20 millionNew
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2027approximately $100 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Net sales guidance for the June 2026 quarter was given for the first time in this release, at $1.442 billion to $1.469 billion. Source
  • New guidance: Fiscal 2027 capital expenditure guidance was given at approximately $100 million, following the fiscal 2026 guidance of at or below $100 million in the prior release. Source
  • New: The company reported the addition of Gen6 PCIe retimer solutions to its data center offering. Source

Fourth quarter and fiscal 2026 results

  • Net sales rose 35.1% year over year: Net sales were $1.311 billion, up 35.1% from $970.5 million a year earlier and up 10.6% sequentially from the December quarter. Source
  • Revenue came in above guidance: Management said revenue was above the high end of the guidance range given February 5, 2026, which was $1.240 billion to $1.280 billion. Source
  • GAAP net income turned positive: GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders was $116.4 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared with a loss of $156.8 million, or $0.29, a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS reached $0.57: Non-GAAP net income was $327.3 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, up from $61.4 million, or $0.11, in the prior year's fourth quarter. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 sales up 7.1%: Fiscal 2026 net sales were $4.713 billion, up 7.1% from $4.402 billion. Fiscal 2026 GAAP EPS was $0.22 and non-GAAP EPS was $1.64. Source

End markets and products

  • Recovery broad across end markets: Management said demand has improved and customer inventory has normalized, with increasing momentum across the product lines. Source
  • Data center and AI design wins grow: Management said design wins are increasing as customers adopt Microchip platforms, with engagement broad across multiple end markets, including data center and AI applications. Source
  • Gen6 PCIe retimers added to portfolio: The Gen6 PCIe retimer addition is described as strengthening data center offerings and supporting more complex system architectures. Source

“Our March quarter results reflect improved operating leverage and continued progress in strengthening our balance sheet and working capital profile,”

Eric Bjornholt, Microchip's Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Demand and bookings

  • Bookings and visibility improving: Management said booking activity is strengthening into the June and September quarters, with improved visibility across the business. Source
  • March starting backlog improved: In the February release, management said the March quarter starting backlog was substantially better than the December quarter levels.
  • Lower inventory supports utilization: Management expects lower inventory and improving demand to support higher internal factory utilization, which it says will drive operating leverage. Source

Margins and operating costs

  • Non-GAAP gross margin reached 61.6%: Non-GAAP gross profit was 61.6% of net sales for the quarter, against 52.0% a year earlier. GAAP gross profit was 61.0%. Source
  • Operating leverage drove margin gain: Management said the quarter reflected improved operating leverage. Non-GAAP operating income was $400.9 million, or 30.6% of net sales, against 14.0% a year earlier. Source
  • Operating expenses fell as share of sales: Non-GAAP operating expenses were 31.0% of net sales, against 38.0% a year earlier. Non-GAAP research and development was 19.5% of net sales. Source
  • Amortization and special charges included: GAAP operating expenses included $107.8 million of amortization of acquired intangible assets and $6.4 million of special charges and other, net in the quarter. Source

“A key lesson from the last cycle was the importance of disciplined inventory, capacity, and working capital management, and that continues to guide how we are operating the business,”

Steve Sanghi, Microchip's President and Chief Executive Officer

Inventory, cash and returns

  • Inventory cut $22.3 million in quarter: Inventory was reduced by $22.3 million during the quarter, and days of inventory fell from 201 in December to 185 in March. Source
  • Inventory down $320.9 million from peak: Management said inventory has been reduced by $320.9 million since the December 2024 high point. Source
  • Free cash flow $242.8 million: Free cash flow was $242.8 million, or 18.5% of net sales, against $191.7 million a year earlier. Fiscal 2026 free cash flow was $871.0 million. Source
  • Debt and cash at year end: Long-term debt was $5,496.4 million at March 31, 2026, against $5,630.4 million a year earlier. Cash and short-term investments were $240.3 million, against $771.7 million. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 dividends returned $984.0M: The company returned $984.0 million to shareholders through dividends in fiscal 2026. Source

Factories, capital and recovery plan

  • Factory expansion largely paused: Management said most factory expansion actions remain paused and planned capital investment is reduced through fiscal 2027, with selective capacity additions. Source
  • Front and back end factories ramping: Management said the factories are being ramped in the front end and back end as inventory corrects toward the longer-term model. Source
  • Gross margin target of 65%: In the February release, management said gross margins were expected to expand further toward a long-term target of 65% as inventory and utilization normalized.

Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026

  • Common dividend payable June 5: The Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of 45.5 cents per common share, payable June 5, 2026 to holders of record on May 22, 2026. Source
  • Series A dividend payable June 15: The Board declared a quarterly cash dividend on the 7.50% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, payable June 15, 2026 to holders of record on June 1, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Days of inventory Source185 days in March 2026, down from 201 days in December 2025
Distributor inventory days Source26 days
Gross margin Source61.6% non-GAAP; 61.0% GAAP

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: GAAP results exclude possible gains or charges from ongoing restructuring evaluation, including a possible sale of the Fab 2 wafer fabrication facility. Source
  • Financial: Management cannot estimate special charges and other, net that may be incurred in the June 2026 quarter, so GAAP operating expense guidance excludes them. Source
  • Regulatory: Non-GAAP results exclude legal costs for litigation tied to the Microsemi acquisition; professional services for certain legal matters were $21.9 million in fiscal 2026. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said March quarter results significantly exceeded its expectations and came in above the high end of the guidance range. Source
  • Not stated: In February, management expected gross margins to expand toward a 65% long-term target. The May release refers to progress toward long-term gross and operating margin objectives without restating the target.
  • Not stated: In February, management said debt reduction remained a priority. In May, it referred to continued progress in strengthening the balance sheet.

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.