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Maxlinear, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 9 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 43% year over year: Net revenue was $137.2 million, up 1% from the prior quarter and 43% from the year-ago quarter. Source
  • Non-GAAP diluted EPS reached $0.22: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.22, against $0.19 in the prior quarter and a $0.05 loss a year earlier. Source
  • Infrastructure became largest end market: Infrastructure became the company's largest end market, which management attributed mainly to optical data center growth. Source
  • Optical ramps at hyperscale customers: Management attributed the growth primarily to production ramps of optical data center products at multiple hyperscale customers across scale-up and scale-out AI platforms. Source
  • Operating expenses rose to 70% of revenue: GAAP operating expenses were $96.1 million, or 70% of net revenue, against $93.4 million in the prior quarter; non-GAAP operating expenses were $59.9 million, or 44%. Source
  • Operating cash flow turned negative: Net cash used in operating activities was $8.9 million, against $10.4 million provided in the prior quarter. Source

“Q1 marks the start of a multi‑year growth phase for MaxLinear, led by accelerating momentum in optical data center connectivity,”

Kishore Seendripu, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of MaxLinear

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net revenue SourceSecond quarter 2026$160 million to $170 millionNew
GAAP gross margin SourceSecond quarter 2026approximately 56.0% to 59.0%New
Non-GAAP gross margin SourceSecond quarter 2026approximately 58.0% to 61.0%New
GAAP operating expenses SourceSecond quarter 2026approximately $91 million to $97 millionNew
Non-GAAP operating expenses SourceSecond quarter 2026approximately $61 million to $66 millionNew
GAAP interest and other expense SourceSecond quarter 2026approximately $1.8 million to $2.2 millionNew
Non-GAAP interest and other expense SourceSecond quarter 2026approximately $1.8 million to $2.2 millionNew
Income tax SourceSecond quarter 2026GAAP benefit of $2.0 million; non-GAAP provision of $1.0 millionNew
Diluted share count SourceSecond quarter 2026approximately 95 million each (GAAP and non-GAAP)New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 guidance was issued, covering net revenue, margins, expenses, interest, tax and diluted share count. The prior release gave first-quarter ranges. Source
  • New: The revolving credit facility was amended to extend maturity and raise available amounts by $30 million to $130 million. The facility is not drawn. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 43% year over year: Net revenue was $137.2 million, up 1% from the prior quarter and 43% from the year-ago quarter. Source
  • Non-GAAP diluted EPS reached $0.22: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.22, against $0.19 in the prior quarter and a $0.05 loss a year earlier. Source
  • GAAP loss per share widened: GAAP diluted loss per share was $0.52, against $0.17 in the prior quarter and $0.58 in the year-ago quarter. Source

Infrastructure and products

  • Infrastructure became largest end market: Infrastructure became the company's largest end market, which management attributed mainly to optical data center growth. Source
  • Optical ramps at hyperscale customers: Management attributed the growth primarily to production ramps of optical data center products at multiple hyperscale customers across scale-up and scale-out AI platforms. Source
  • High-value products entering ramps: Management said multiple high-value products are entering meaningful ramps, with improving visibility and continued customer engagement in high-value markets. Source

“we believe MaxLinear is well-positioned for sustained growth and increasing profitability in 2026 and beyond.”

Kishore Seendripu, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of MaxLinear

Costs, tax and non-GAAP items

  • Operating expenses rose to 70% of revenue: GAAP operating expenses were $96.1 million, or 70% of net revenue, against $93.4 million in the prior quarter; non-GAAP operating expenses were $59.9 million, or 44%. Source
  • Acquisition costs excluded from non-GAAP: Acquisition and integration and other costs were $6.5 million; the release says these include costs of the terminated Silicon Motion merger. Source
  • Tax provision of $26.5 million: GAAP income tax provision was $26.5 million, against a $2.9 million benefit in the prior quarter; non-GAAP tax provision was $1.0 million. Source
  • Restructuring charge of $0.5 million: GAAP restructuring charges were $0.5 million, against a $0.2 million credit in the prior quarter; non-GAAP restructuring was nil. Source

Working capital and inventory

  • Inventory rose, receivables fell: Inventory was $85.8 million, up from $78.1 million; accounts receivable, net was $40.9 million, down from $46.1 million. Source
  • Prepaid assets rose: Prepaid expenses and other current assets were $60.3 million, up from $50.4 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Payables and accruals used cash: Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities reduced operating cash by $19.0 million, against a $3.1 million increase in the prior quarter. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Operating cash flow turned negative: Net cash used in operating activities was $8.9 million, against $10.4 million provided in the prior quarter. Source
  • No share repurchases this quarter: The company repurchased no common stock in the quarter, after $20.0 million of repurchases in the prior quarter. Source
  • Cash balance declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $61.1 million at March 31, 2026, down from $72.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Equity compensation and share count

  • Stock-based compensation $20.0 million: Stock-based compensation expense was $20.0 million in the quarter, against $19.6 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Performance-based equity excluded from non-GAAP: Performance-based equity accruals of $5.3 million in R&D and $3.3 million in SG&A were excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Dilutive equivalents declined: Dilutive common stock equivalents were 2.3 million shares in the non-GAAP diluted count, against 3.4 million in the prior quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 23 April 2026

  • Optical revenue step-up expected in Q2: Management expects a step-function increase in optical data center revenue in the second quarter. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 bonus awards to settle in stock: A substantial portion of fiscal 2026 bonus awards is expected to settle in common stock in the first quarter of fiscal 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Infrastructure end-market revenue growth Sourceup 136% year over year
GAAP gross margin Source57.5%
Non-GAAP gross margin Source59.5%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Stock-based compensation is described as a significant recurring expense, excluded from non-GAAP results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The release says 2025 bonus payments were settled in shares in February 2026, as the prior release had expected for the first quarter. 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.