Himax Technologies’ first quarter was met with a positive market reaction, as the company outperformed Wall Street’s revenue and profit expectations despite typical seasonality. Management attributed the results to ongoing momentum in automotive display ICs, with CEO Jordan Wu highlighting nearly 20% year-over-year automotive IC sales growth and robust design-win pipelines. Cost optimization efforts and a strategic focus on higher-margin product segments also contributed to improved operating margins. Wu noted, “Our automotive business...remains the largest revenue contributor in the first quarter, representing more than 50% of total sales.”
Himax (HIMX) Q1 CY2025 Highlights:
・Revenue: $215.1 million vs analyst estimates of $210.2 million (3.7% year-on-year growth, 2.4% beat)
・Revenue Guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $237.2 million at the midpoint, above analyst estimates of $207.8 million
・Operating Margin: 9.2%, up from 4.8% in the same quarter last year
・Inventory Days Outstanding: 79, down from 88 in the previous quarter
・Market Capitalization: $1.65 billion
While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.
Our Top 5 Analyst Questions Himax’s Q1 Earnings Call
・Unidentified Analyst: Asked about the validation process for co-packaged optics (CPO). CEO Jordan Wu explained the process is ongoing with partners and involves both product and manufacturing validation, stating, “we have good confidence on the successful validation of our technology.”
・Unidentified Analyst: Inquired about full-year 2025 demand visibility. Wu reiterated that macroeconomic and tariff uncertainties prevent the company from offering annual guidance, but noted continued design-win momentum in new automotive technologies.
・Unidentified Analyst: Sought details on the company’s investment in Obsidian and its synergy with Himax’s technology. Wu described Obsidian’s thermal imaging as complementary to Himax’s AI and imaging solutions, with early collaboration underway and commercial contributions expected next year.
・Unidentified Analyst: Queried about the timeline for CPO mass production. Wu indicated mass production is targeted for next year, contingent on successful validation, with growing sample shipments supporting the ramp.
・Unidentified Analyst: Asked about potential for government stimulus in China and its effectiveness. Wu expressed caution, noting diminishing returns from repeated stimulus and uncertainty over consumer demand in China’s automotive sector.
Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters
Looking ahead, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) the pace of automotive IC adoption, especially for TDDI and LTDI in major global markets, (2) milestones in validation and scaling of co-packaged optics and WiseEye AI products, and (3) the company’s ability to navigate supply chain and tariff-related disruptions. Execution on new strategic alliances and the ramp-up of design-win projects will also be key markers of progress.
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