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As expected, the business performance of Siltronic AG in Q3 2024 was characterized by subdued demand from the semiconductor industry.
“In a persistently challenging market environment, we have delivered solid quarterly results. Consequently, we can confirm our guidance for the full year 2024. However, it remains uncertain when chip manufacturers’ inventories will return to normal levels,” commented Dr. Michael Heckmeier, CEO of Siltronic AG on the developments.
Siltronic generated sales of EUR 357.3 million in Q3 2024, an increase of 1.7 percent compared to the previous quarter (Q2 2024: EUR 351.3 million). This is due to an increase in wafer area sold, which was partially offset by opposing product mix effects. After nine months, the company reported sales of EUR 1,052.2 million, a decrease of 9.1 percent year-on-year (Q1-Q3 2023: EUR 1,157.2 million). This was mainly due to the lower wafer area sold. In addition, product mix-, price- and FX effects also had a slightly negative impact.
Cost of sales increased by 2.6 percent in Q3 2024 compared to the previous quarter, mainly due to higher wafer area sold and a moderate increase in depreciation. For the first nine months of 2024, cost of sales decreased by 2.5 percent compared to the same period in 2023. The disproportionate decline compared to sales is primarily due to a reduced dilution of fixed costs and higher depreciation.
As a result, the gross profit fell by EUR 1.4 million compared to the previous quarter and from January to September 2024 by EUR 83.1 million compared to the previous year. The gross margin fell from 25.3 percent to 20.0 percent year-on-year.
EBITDA in Q3 was EUR 89.4 million and thus on the level of the previous quarter (Q2 2024: EUR 90.6 million). The EBITDA margin remained at a solid level of 25.0 percent (Q2 2024: 25.8 percent). After nine months, Siltronic reported an EBITDA of EUR 270.7 million (Q1-Q3 2023: EUR 342.8 million) and an EBITDA margin of 25.7 percent (Q1-Q3 2023: 29.6 percent).
Due to the lower EBITDA and higher depreciation, EBIT amounted to EUR 28.9 million in Q3 (Q2 2024: EUR 33.0 million) and to EUR 97.8 million after the first nine months (Q1-Q3 2023: EUR 194.5 million). Net profit for the quarter was EUR 18.8 million (Q2 2024: EUR 22.4 million) and earnings per share were EUR 0.60 (Q2 2024: EUR 0.73). Net income for the period from January to September was EUR 68.8 million (Q1-Q3 2023: EUR 169.0 million) and earnings per share of EUR 2.19 after EUR 5.13 in the same period of the previous year.
With an equity ratio of 47.1 percent as of September 30, 2024 (December 31, 2023: 46.6 percent), Siltronic continues to maintain a good balance sheet quality. Loan liabilities increased mainly due to the partial draw of a loan. Additionally a promissory note loan was successfully placed in September and paid out in early October. At roughly EUR 370 million, the original issue volume was significantly exceeded.
“We are pleased with the high level of interest in this transaction. The strong demand is a demonstration of the promissory note loan investors’ trust in the company,” adds Claudia Schmitt, CFO of Siltronic AG.
Cash flow from operating activities for the period January to September 2024 decreased by EUR 83.3 million compared to the previous year. This was mainly due to the lower EBITDA and the change in prepayments. In the same period of the previous year, there was a significant net inflow, while in the first nine months of the financial year there was a net outflow of prepayments.
Despite a noticable reduction in capex during the year, cash outflows for capex remained at a high level of EUR 565.1 million, mainly due to the construction of the new 300 mm fab in Singapore. Accordingly, net cash flow, which excludes cash inflows and outflows from prepayments, was negative as expected at EUR -317.7 million (Q1-Q3 2023: EUR -631.3 million).
As a result, cash and cash equivalents and financial investments decreased by EUR 168.4 million to EUR 290.7 million in the first nine months of 2024. Siltronic thus reported net financial debt of EUR 739.1 million at the end of September 2024.
As already communicated in the half-year report 2024, Siltronic AG’s Executive Board expects sales to be in the high single-digit percentage range below the previous year. This is primarily due to the lower wafer area sold, as well as each slightly negative FX rate (EUR/USD 1.10), price- and product mix effects.
The customer qualifications that are decisive for the start of depreciation of the new fab in Singapore have been delayed from the fourth quarter of 2024 into next year. As a result, depreciation of the new fab and other ramp costs that impact earnings will occur over the course of 2025. Accordingly, the full-year EBITDA margin guidance is adjusted to 24 to 26 percent. Depreciation and amortization for 2024 will therefore be lower and is expected to be between EUR 230 million and EUR 250 million. Capex including intangible assets remains unchanged and will be in the range of EUR 500 million to EUR 530 million.
Despite the challenging market environment, the company anticipates a significant growth potential in the medium and long term. Key drivers of this growth are megatrends such as Artificial Intelligence, Digitization, and Electromobility. With its investments in expanding production capacity and improving the product mix, Siltronic is well-positioned to profitably support this growth.
Original – Siltronic
