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ON Semiconductor Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Restructuring charges drove GAAP loss: Restructuring, asset impairments and other, net was $329.3 million, against $58.8 million in the fourth quarter and $539.3 million a year earlier, producing a GAAP operating loss of $53.4 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating income rose 10%: Non-GAAP operating income was $289.6 million, up from $264.0 million a year earlier and down from $302.9 million in the fourth quarter. Source
  • AI data center revenue more than doubled: AI data center revenue more than doubled year-over-year. Management attributed this to broader adoption across the power tree with multiple chip vendors and leading hyperscalers. Source
  • Gross margin rose on lower charges: GAAP gross margin rose to 38.5% from 36.0%, as restructuring-related inventory charges moved to $(1.0) million from $32.1 million. Non-GAAP gross margin was 38.5% against 38.2%. Source
  • Free cash flow below fourth quarter: Free cash flow was $217.2 million, against $485.4 million in the fourth quarter and $454.7 million a year earlier. Operating cash flow was $239.1 million. Source
  • Buybacks about 160% of free cash flow: Share repurchases of $346 million equalled about 160% of free cash flow, as the company returned capital to shareholders this quarter. Source

“We exceeded expectations as demand strengthened through the quarter and we have moved beyond the cyclical trough on a path to recovery.”

Hassane El-Khoury, President and CEO of onsemi

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcesecond quarter 2026$1,535 to $1,635 millionNew
Gross margin Sourcesecond quarter 2026GAAP 37.9% to 39.9%; non-GAAP 38.0% to 40.0%New
Operating expenses Sourcesecond quarter 2026GAAP $302 to $317 million; non-GAAP $287 to $302 millionNew
Other income and expense, net (including interest) Sourcesecond quarter 2026($6 million)New
Diluted EPS Sourcesecond quarter 2026GAAP $0.60 to $0.72; non-GAAP $0.65 to $0.77New
Diluted shares outstanding Sourcesecond quarter 2026401 million GAAP; 394 million non-GAAPNew
Non-GAAP effective tax rate Source202615%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The 15% normalized non-GAAP effective tax rate for 2026 is carried over from the prior release.
  • New: A new design win with Sineng Electric was announced for energy storage and solar inverter systems. Source
  • New: Collaborations with Geely and NIO were expanded in 900V EV architecture work. Source
  • New: Initial production shipments began for Treo-based 10BASE-T1S Ethernet solutions. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue down 1% sequentially, up 5% yearly: Revenue was $1,513.3 million, down 1% from $1,530.1 million in the fourth quarter and up 5% from $1,445.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Restructuring charges drove GAAP loss: Restructuring, asset impairments and other, net was $329.3 million, against $58.8 million in the fourth quarter and $539.3 million a year earlier, producing a GAAP operating loss of $53.4 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating income rose 10%: Non-GAAP operating income was $289.6 million, up from $264.0 million a year earlier and down from $302.9 million in the fourth quarter. Source
  • GAAP loss per share, non-GAAP flat: GAAP diluted loss was $(0.08) per share, against $0.45 in the fourth quarter. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.64, level with the fourth quarter and up from $0.55 a year earlier. Source

Segments and end markets

  • PSG revenue grew in both comparisons: PSG revenue was $736.6 million, up 2% sequentially and 14% year-over-year. It was the only segment to grow in both comparisons. Source
  • AMG revenue fell in both comparisons: AMG revenue was $540.4 million, down 3% sequentially and down 5% year-over-year. Source
  • ISG down sequentially, up yearly: ISG revenue was $236.3 million, down 5% sequentially and up 1% year-over-year. Source

“Looking ahead, we are encouraged by the underlying health of the business and the long‑term opportunities driven by increasing semiconductor content in automotive, industrial and AI data center applications.”

Hassane El-Khoury, President and CEO of onsemi

Products and customers

  • AI data center revenue more than doubled: AI data center revenue more than doubled year-over-year. Management attributed this to broader adoption across the power tree with multiple chip vendors and leading hyperscalers. Source
  • AI data center grew over 30% sequentially: Management said the AI data center business accelerated, growing more than 30% sequentially in the quarter. Source
  • 900V EV architecture work cited: Management cited leadership in the transition to 900V EV architectures with EliteSiC, enabling extended range and flash charging, and expanded collaborations with Geely and NIO. Source
  • Software-defined vehicle shipments began: Initial production shipments of Treo-based 10BASE-T1S Ethernet solutions began, supporting a next-generation zonal architecture at a leading North American OEM. Source
  • Sineng Electric design win announced: A new design win with Sineng Electric covers power for 430kW liquid-cooled energy storage systems and a 320 kW solar inverter. Source

Margins and costs

  • Gross margin rose on lower charges: GAAP gross margin rose to 38.5% from 36.0%, as restructuring-related inventory charges moved to $(1.0) million from $32.1 million. Non-GAAP gross margin was 38.5% against 38.2%. Source
  • Accelerated depreciation tied to restructuring: Accelerated depreciation and ROU amortization linked to restructuring programs was $136.5 million this quarter, against $70.6 million in the fourth quarter and $12.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating expenses edged up: Non-GAAP operating expenses were $293.7 million, up from $282.0 million in the fourth quarter and down from $314.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Special items widened operating margin gap: GAAP operating margin was (3.5)%, against non-GAAP 19.1%. Special items added 22.7 points, mainly restructuring, asset impairments and other charges. Source

“We continue to generate strong free cash flow and return capital to shareholders.”

Thad Trent, EVP and CFO of onsemi

Cash, free cash flow and returns

  • Free cash flow below fourth quarter: Free cash flow was $217.2 million, against $485.4 million in the fourth quarter and $454.7 million a year earlier. Operating cash flow was $239.1 million. Source
  • Buybacks about 160% of free cash flow: Share repurchases of $346 million equalled about 160% of free cash flow, as the company returned capital to shareholders this quarter. Source
  • Cash and equivalents declined modestly: Cash and cash equivalents were $2,003.6 million, down from $2,147.6 million at December 31, 2025. Short-term investments held at $400.0 million. Source
  • Inventory rose; long-term debt stable: Inventories rose to $2,049.2 million from $1,989.6 million at December 31, 2025. Long-term debt was $2,982.9 million, against $2,980.5 million. Source
  • Capital spending lower sequentially: Payments for property, plant, and equipment were $21.9 million, down from $69.1 million in the fourth quarter and $147.6 million a year earlier. Source

Strategy and operating leverage

  • Operating leverage credited to operations: Management attributed operating leverage to operational improvements and said operating income growth outpaced revenue growth by 2x. Source
  • Long-term content growth in target markets: Management said it is encouraged by the underlying health of the business and by increasing semiconductor content in automotive, industrial and AI data center applications. Source
  • Portfolio and cost structure seen supporting margins: Management said its portfolio and optimized cost structure position it to accelerate margins and earnings as market conditions continue to improve. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 May 2026

  • Margins and earnings expected to accelerate: Management said margins and earnings are positioned to accelerate as market conditions continue to improve; no date was given. Source
  • Second-quarter 2026 period ahead: Second-quarter 2026 GAAP and non-GAAP ranges were given as the next reporting period's guidance. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Gross margin (GAAP) Source38.5%
AI data center revenue, year-over-year Sourcemore than doubled
AI data center revenue, sequential Sourcemore than 30%
Segment revenue (PSG, AMG, ISG) SourcePSG $736.6M; AMG $540.4M; ISG $236.3M

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: First-quarter revenue exceeded the midpoint of the guidance range given in February. Source
  • Not stated: The 15% normalized non-GAAP effective tax rate for 2026 is applied again, as stated in the prior release. 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.