greeksoup/ stock research

PDF Solutions Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 26% year over year: Total revenue was $60.1 million, down from $62.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and up from $47.8 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Net income turned positive: GAAP net income was $4.8 million, or $0.12 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income was $12.6 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, up from $12.0 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Large fabless customer renewed Exensio: Management said a large fabless customer renewed its commitment to Exensio during the quarter. Source
  • Operating margin rose year over year: GAAP operating margin was 10%, compared with 6% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and a 7% loss in the first quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP operating margin was 25%, compared with 18% a year earlier. Source
  • Ending backlog of $246.4 million: Ending backlog was $246.4 million at the end of the quarter. The prior release reported backlog of $254 million for the full year 2025. Source
  • Cash balance declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $31.2 million at March 31, 2026, compared with $42.2 million at December 31, 2025. Source

“We believe this continued market adoption reflects the market’s perception of the value our existing and new applications.”

John Kibarian, PDF Solutions’ President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Full-year revenue growth SourceFull year 202620% annual revenue growthKept
Long-term model margins SourceLong-term model77% gross margin and 27% operating margin

What changed from last quarter

  • New: A large semiconductor IDM is developing its next generation test solution with PDF Solutions. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 26% year over year: Total revenue was $60.1 million, down from $62.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and up from $47.8 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Net income turned positive: GAAP net income was $4.8 million, or $0.12 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income was $12.6 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, up from $12.0 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Operating income increased: Income from operations was $6.3 million, compared with $3.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and a $3.6 million loss in the first quarter of 2025. Interest expense was $1.1 million. Source

Revenue categories and customers

  • Platform revenue fell sequentially: Platform revenue was $50.9 million, compared with $52.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $37.3 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Volume-based revenue declined: Volume-based revenue was $9.2 million, compared with $9.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $10.5 million a year earlier. The category covers Cimetrix runtime licenses, secureWISE data, and Gainshare. Source
  • Large fabless customer renewed Exensio: Management said a large fabless customer renewed its commitment to Exensio during the quarter. Source
  • EProbe tool shipped to existing customer: Management said another eProbe tool shipped to an existing customer, a leading-edge semiconductor company. Source

“This quarter’s results demonstrate the value of this strategy with a large fabless customer renewing its commitment to Exensio”

John Kibarian, PDF Solutions’ President and CEO

Costs, margins and profitability

  • R&D and SG&A spending eased: Research and development was $18.3 million, compared with $19.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. SG&A was $17.5 million, compared with $21.7 million in the prior quarter and $23.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Legal costs fell sharply: Expenses for certain legal proceedings were $0.2 million, compared with $2.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $0.1 million a year earlier. The expenses relate to an arbitration proceeding. Source
  • Income tax expense decreased: Income tax expense was $1.0 million, compared with $2.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $36 thousand in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Gross margin eased slightly: GAAP gross margin was 72%, compared with 73% in both the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP gross margin was 76%, compared with 77% in both periods. Source
  • Operating margin rose year over year: GAAP operating margin was 10%, compared with 6% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and a 7% loss in the first quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP operating margin was 25%, compared with 18% a year earlier. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Ending backlog of $246.4 million: Ending backlog was $246.4 million at the end of the quarter. The prior release reported backlog of $254 million for the full year 2025. Source
  • Current deferred revenue increased: Current deferred revenues were $23.1 million at March 31, 2026, compared with $19.4 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Accounts receivable increased: Accounts receivable, net was $96.0 million at March 31, 2026, compared with $82.9 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Cash, debt and capital

  • Cash balance declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $31.2 million at March 31, 2026, compared with $42.2 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Long-term debt slightly lower: Long-term debt, net was $64.2 million at March 31, 2026, compared with $64.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Treasury stock balance rose: Treasury stock, at cost, was $169.5 million, compared with $165.8 million at December 31, 2025. The documents do not state repurchase amounts for the quarter. Source

Investment and strategy

  • Property and equipment grew: Property and equipment, net was $90.5 million at March 31, 2026, compared with $81.6 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Analyst Day strategy restated: Management referred to its December 2025 Analyst Day statement that the company is instrumental in addressing R&D and manufacturing challenges in semiconductors. Source
  • Long-term margin targets still cited: Management said the company continues to make progress toward its long-term model target margins of 77% gross and 27% operating. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Legal costs for an arbitration proceeding are expected to continue until the matter is fully resolved. Source
  • Financial: Management reviews each period whether to place a valuation allowance against U.S. net deferred tax assets, which affects the non-GAAP tax calculation. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The fourth quarter release expected 2026 revenue growth consistent with the 20% long-term target. The first quarter release reaffirmed the 20% growth guidance.

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.