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Maxlinear, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 9 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Q4 revenue up 48% year over year: Revenue rose 8% sequentially to $136.4 million in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2025, and 48% from the year-ago quarter. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 revenue up 30%: Fiscal 2025 net revenue was $467.6 million, up 30% from fiscal 2024. GAAP diluted loss per share was $1.58, against $2.93 a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating income reached 16%: Non-GAAP income from operations was 16% of net revenue, against 12% in the prior quarter and a 7% loss in the year-ago quarter. Source
  • New products gained market traction: Management said its new products gained traction in the market and expects revenue growth and market share expansion in 2026 and 2027. Source
  • GAAP operating expenses fell to 68% of revenue: GAAP operating expenses were $93.4 million, or 68% of revenue, down from $113.2 million, or 90%, in the prior quarter. Source
  • Operating cash flow positive in fourth quarter: Operating cash flow was $10.4 million in the fourth quarter, against $10.1 million in the prior quarter. Full-year operating cash flow was $19.6 million, against a $45.3 million use a year earlier. Source
  • Repurchase of $20 million common stock: The company repurchased $20 million of common stock in the fourth quarter. The prior quarter cash flow statement shows no repurchase. Source
  • Revenue and share expansion expected 2026-2027: Management said the company is on a path to sustained revenue growth and market share expansion in 2026 and 2027. Source

“Our fourth quarter and fiscal year results reflect strong sequential and year-over-year growth in our business”

Kishore Seendripu, PhD, Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net revenue Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$130 million to $140 millionNew
GAAP gross margin Sourcefirst quarter of 202656.0% to 59.0%New
Non-GAAP gross margin Sourcefirst quarter of 202658.0% to 61.0%New
GAAP operating expenses Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$85 million to $90 millionNew
Non-GAAP operating expenses Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$58 million to $64 millionNew
GAAP interest and other expense Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$2.1 million to $2.7 millionNew
Non-GAAP interest and other expense Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$2.0 million to $2.6 millionNew
Income tax provision Sourcefirst quarter of 2026GAAP $4.0 million; non-GAAP $0.8 millionNew
Share count Sourcefirst quarter of 202688.0 million basic; 91.0 million dilutedNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Management gave first quarter 2026 guidance, a new period relative to the fourth quarter 2025 guidance in the prior release. Source
  • New: The company repurchased $20 million of common stock in the fourth quarter. The prior quarter cash flow statement shows no repurchase. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Q4 revenue up 48% year over year: Revenue rose 8% sequentially to $136.4 million in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2025, and 48% from the year-ago quarter. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 revenue up 30%: Fiscal 2025 net revenue was $467.6 million, up 30% from fiscal 2024. GAAP diluted loss per share was $1.58, against $2.93 a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating income reached 16%: Non-GAAP income from operations was 16% of net revenue, against 12% in the prior quarter and a 7% loss in the year-ago quarter. Source
  • GAAP loss narrowed from prior quarter: GAAP loss from operations was 11% of net revenue, down from 33% in the prior quarter and 45% in the year-ago quarter. Source
  • Non-GAAP diluted EPS rose to $0.19: Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.19, against $0.14 in the prior quarter and a $0.09 loss in the year-ago quarter. GAAP diluted loss per share was $0.17. Source

Products and end markets

  • New products gained market traction: Management said its new products gained traction in the market and expects revenue growth and market share expansion in 2026 and 2027. Source
  • Named growth end markets: Management named data center connectivity, wireless infrastructure, PON broadband access, Wi-Fi 7, Ethernet and storage accelerator as end markets it continues to invest in. Source
  • Prior-quarter focus named optical interconnects: The prior quarter release named data center optical interconnects among its focused investments. This quarter's release uses the wording data center connectivity.

“During the fourth quarter, we repurchased $20 million of our common stock, reflecting our confidence in our sustained growth expectations and market momentum.”

Kishore Seendripu, PhD, Chairman and CEO

Costs and margins

  • GAAP operating expenses fell to 68% of revenue: GAAP operating expenses were $93.4 million, or 68% of revenue, down from $113.2 million, or 90%, in the prior quarter. Source
  • Restructuring credit in fourth quarter: GAAP restructuring was a credit of $0.2 million in the fourth quarter, against an $11.3 million charge in the third quarter. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating expenses at 43% of revenue: Non-GAAP operating expenses were $59.2 million, or 43% of revenue, compared with $59.5 million, or 47%, in the prior quarter. Source
  • Gross margin up on both bases: Non-GAAP gross margin was 59.6%, up from 59.1% in the prior quarter and unchanged from the year-ago quarter's 59.1%. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow positive in fourth quarter: Operating cash flow was $10.4 million in the fourth quarter, against $10.1 million in the prior quarter. Full-year operating cash flow was $19.6 million, against a $45.3 million use a year earlier. Source
  • Cash and restricted cash declined: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash ended the quarter at $101.4 million, against $113.3 million at the end of the prior quarter. Source
  • Equipment purchases fell to $3.7 million: Purchases of property and equipment were $3.7 million in the fourth quarter, against $5.7 million in the third quarter. Source

“Our new products gained solid traction in the market, and we are on a strong path for sustained revenue growth and market share expansion in 2026 and 2027.”

Kishore Seendripu, PhD, Chairman and CEO

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Repurchase of $20 million common stock: The company repurchased $20 million of common stock in the fourth quarter. The prior quarter cash flow statement shows no repurchase. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 bonuses to settle in stock: A substantial portion of fiscal 2025 bonus awards is expected to be settled in common stock in the first quarter of 2026. These accruals are excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Stock-based compensation excluded from non-GAAP: Stock-based compensation was $19.6 million in the fourth quarter and $77.1 million for fiscal 2025. Management excludes it from non-GAAP results. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Focused strategy described as working: Management said it is executing against a focused strategy and continuing to invest in high-value, multi-year growth markets. Source
  • Continued investment in growth markets: Management said the investment focus is on markets where performance, power efficiency and integration matter most. Source
  • Revenue and share expansion expected 2026-2027: Management said the company is on a path to sustained revenue growth and market share expansion in 2026 and 2027. Source

Merger termination and acquisition costs

  • Acquisition and integration costs excluded: Acquisition and integration costs were $6.1 million in the fourth quarter and $23.0 million for fiscal 2025. These costs are excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Merger termination costs excluded from non-GAAP: The previously pending merger with Silicon Motion has been terminated. Costs related to that termination are excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Restructuring charges excluded from non-GAAP: Restructuring charges were $24.5 million for fiscal 2025 and are excluded from non-GAAP results, as they relate to restructuring plans. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 January 2026

  • Q1 2026 revenue guidance: Management expects first quarter 2026 net revenue of approximately $130 million to $140 million, with the other first quarter estimates listed in guidance. Source
  • Growth path into 2026 and 2027: Management said the company is on a path to sustained revenue growth and market share expansion in 2026 and 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Gross margin Source57.6% GAAP; 59.6% non-GAAP

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said it cannot predict the probable significance of future charges, including stock-based compensation tax effects and potential impairments. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said the company delivered profitability and positive free cash flow ahead of its plan. Source
  • Not stated: The company said it expects a substantial portion of fiscal 2025 bonus awards to be settled in common stock in the first quarter of 2026. 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.