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Wolfspeed, Inc.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue above guidance midpoint: Revenue was $155.0 million, against $196.8 million a year earlier, and was above the midpoint of the guidance range. Source
  • Net loss and adjusted EBITDA: GAAP net loss was $143.8 million, or $2.61 per share. Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) was negative $54.7 million. Source
  • Free cash flow and operating cash use: Free cash flow was negative $96.5 million, against negative $99.6 million a year earlier. Net cash used in operating activities was $84.2 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP gross margin up sequentially: Non-GAAP gross margin was (13)%, against (20)% in the prior quarter. GAAP gross margin was (22)%, against (25)%. Management said the non-GAAP figure improved 710 basis points sequentially. Source
  • Supplier renegotiation penalty excluded: An $11.8 million supply contract renegotiation fee was recorded in gross margin and excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Cash and short-term investments declined: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $995.1 million at September 27, 2026, down from $1,088.6 million at June 28, 2026. Source
  • Conditional $1.5 billion federal loan: A conditional 30-year, $1.5 billion loan commitment from the U.S. Department of War was announced to advance the domestic wide bandgap supply chain. Source
  • Expected interest savings on completion: Management expects significant annual interest savings once the conditional loan completes, and said this reinforces its view that fiscal 2027 is a turning point. Source

“We continued to build momentum across Wolfspeed and are advancing every pillar of our strategy.”

Wolfspeed CEO Robert Feurle

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2027$155 million to $175 millionNew
Non-GAAP operating expenses Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2027$65 million to $69 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Second-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue and non-GAAP operating expense targets were given. The prior release gave first-quarter targets only. Source
  • New: A conditional 30-year, $1.5 billion loan commitment from the U.S. Department of War was announced. Source
  • New: The existing 150mm wafer supply agreement with Infineon Technologies AG was expanded and extended to include 200mm. Source
  • New: A multiyear supply agreement for silicon carbide devices was announced for BorgWarner's 800V inverter platform. Source
  • New: The proprietary silicon carbide technology TSiC was commercially introduced for AR, quantum computing and advanced optical applications. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue above guidance midpoint: Revenue was $155.0 million, against $196.8 million a year earlier, and was above the midpoint of the guidance range. Source
  • Net loss and adjusted EBITDA: GAAP net loss was $143.8 million, or $2.61 per share. Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) was negative $54.7 million. Source
  • Free cash flow and operating cash use: Free cash flow was negative $96.5 million, against negative $99.6 million a year earlier. Net cash used in operating activities was $84.2 million. Source
  • Per-share loss on non-GAAP basis: Non-GAAP diluted loss per share was ($2.03), against ($0.55) a year earlier. Diluted weighted average shares were 55,000 thousand. Source

Segments and product lines

  • Power Products revenue lower: Power Products revenue was $116.8 million, against $131.8 million a year earlier and $106.3 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Materials Products revenue lower: Materials Products revenue was $38.2 million, against $65.0 million a year earlier and $43.3 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Predecessor periods not comparable: Fresh-start accounting after the September 29, 2025 Effective Date means Successor and Predecessor financial statements are not comparable. Source

“Our revenue results of $155 million were above the midpoint of guidance, and adjusted non-GAAP gross margin improved 710 basis points sequentially, on a slightly higher revenue base.”

Wolfspeed CFO Gregor van Issum

Customers, deals and products

  • Infineon wafer agreement widened to 200mm: The 150mm silicon carbide wafer supply agreement with Infineon Technologies AG was expanded and extended to include 200mm. Source
  • BorgWarner multiyear device supply deal: A multiyear supply agreement for silicon carbide devices supports BorgWarner's next-generation 800V silicon carbide-based inverter platform. Source
  • Megmeet award in AI data centers: Megmeet, described as an emerging customer in the AI data center market, gave the company its Strategic Partner Award. Source
  • TSiC technology commercially introduced: Proprietary silicon carbide technology TSiC was introduced for next-generation AR, quantum computing and advanced optical applications. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Non-GAAP gross margin up sequentially: Non-GAAP gross margin was (13)%, against (20)% in the prior quarter. GAAP gross margin was (22)%, against (25)%. Management said the non-GAAP figure improved 710 basis points sequentially. Source
  • Supplier renegotiation penalty excluded: An $11.8 million supply contract renegotiation fee was recorded in gross margin and excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating loss versus prior year: Non-GAAP operating loss was ($83.4) million, or (54)% of revenue, against ($117.5) million, or (60)%, a year earlier. Source
  • Restructuring and operating expense lower: Restructuring and other expenses were $14.3 million, against $20.4 million a year earlier. Total operating expense was $78.8 million, against $84.3 million. Source

“Also, upon completion, the conditional loan commitment is expected to deliver significant annual interest savings, reinforcing our conviction that fiscal 2027 marks a turning point.”

Wolfspeed CFO Gregor van Issum

Capital, cash and debt

  • Cash and short-term investments declined: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $995.1 million at September 27, 2026, down from $1,088.6 million at June 28, 2026. Source
  • Inventories down, receivables up: Inventories, net were $203.5 million, from $234.2 million. Accounts receivable, net rose to $109.3 million from $98.2 million. Source
  • Debt and convertible notes steady: Long-term debt was $930.3 million and convertible notes, net, were $750.3 million at September 27, 2026. Source
  • Interest expense higher than predecessor: Interest expense, net was $40.0 million for the quarter, against $0.7 million in the predecessor period. Source

Government loan and next-quarter targets

  • Conditional $1.5 billion federal loan: A conditional 30-year, $1.5 billion loan commitment from the U.S. Department of War was announced to advance the domestic wide bandgap supply chain. Source
  • Expected interest savings on completion: Management expects significant annual interest savings once the conditional loan completes, and said this reinforces its view that fiscal 2027 is a turning point. Source
  • Second-quarter revenue target: Revenue is targeted at $155 million to $175 million for the second quarter, with non-GAAP gross margin improving sequentially toward breakeven. Source
  • Second-quarter operating expense target: Non-GAAP operating expenses are targeted at $65 million to $69 million for the second quarter, against a $62 million to $66 million first-quarter target given in the prior release. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Loan completion and interest savings: Interest savings are expected upon completion of the conditional loan commitment. Completion is not dated in the documents. Source
  • Idle tools removed from closed facility: Tools at the recently closed facility are to be removed and transferred or sold during the first half of fiscal 2027. Source
  • Second-quarter fiscal 2027 targets: Revenue and non-GAAP operating expense targets for the second quarter of fiscal 2027 were given; the next guidance update is not dated. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Gross margin (GAAP) Source(22)%
Gross margin (non-GAAP) Source(13)%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: The $1.5 billion loan is a conditional commitment, not yet funded, and management describes its benefits as dependent on completion. Source
  • Financial: Operating cash use was $84.2 million in the quarter, and investing and financing outflows were also reported. Source
  • Operational: An $11.8 million supply contract renegotiation penalty with a supplier was recorded in cost of revenue this quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Revenue of about $155 million was above the midpoint of the $140 million to $160 million range given in the prior release. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release expected non-GAAP gross margin to remain negative; the current release reports non-GAAP gross margin of (13)%.

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.