Earnings Sentiment

Sentiment Analysis of the earnings transcript to help figure out if there are any bullish or bearish sentiments that could be gathered from it. We're doing ML and AI based analysis on the earnings call to get some more insights.

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Sentiment Distribution

   

Earnings Call Transcript Word Cloud

     

Bullish Statements during Earnings call

Statement
And yes, our - so our design win rate in automotive continues to be quite positive
We're excited to report a strong finish to 2023, with annual contract value also trialing 12-month variable royalties of $56.1 million
We are encouraged by the above guidance performance and strong deal activity in the prior quarter
And non-GAAP free cash flow margin, of negative 9% to positive 11%, reflecting strong sales in the prior quarter
As we look back at 2023, this accelerating industry adoption, of commercial system IP solutions is demonstrated, by a record number of license deals, and record-high customer chip-design activity, with 29 confirmed design starts for the quarter, and 95 for the year
This is illustrated by a robust product pipeline, of new system technologies and solid relationships, with some of the largest electronics companies in the world, who continue to innovate in exciting areas, such as general AI and autonomous driving
Finally, in the fourth quarter, Arteris achieved ISO 9001 Quality Management System certification, further supporting customer confidence in our commitment, to product and process quality
License revenue was strong across all of our vertical markets and balanced across geographies
Notable achievement includes strong adoption of FlexNoC version 5, of the Physically Aware network on chip, which now represents the majority of FlexNoC sales
Customer design wins, from the past years are developing into a growing loyalty base for Arteris, as we've seen a 32% year-over-year increase in royalties in 2023
Our continued momentum in artificial intelligence and machine learning, or AI/ML space remains strong, with AI/ML representing over 50% of our license deals in the quarter, across a broad section of our verticals
SCALINX is another innovator in communications infrastructure, which is licensed both our Ncore and FlexNoC interconnect IPs for use in their next-generation modem SoC, with the aims to provide telecom players with power to deliver ultra-high capacity, multi gigabit links over longer distances, at an optimized total cost of ownership
Cash flow used in operations was approximately $3 million in the quarter, free cash flow, which includes capital expenditure was approximately negative $3.4 million, coming in better than the top end of our guidance range
While these dynamics do create near-term headwinds, we believe that the scale and scope of our long-term opportunity remains robust
Total revenue for the fourth quarter was $12.5 million, up 12% year-over-year and above the top end of our guidance range
Our customer base continues to expand, across all of our key verticals and regions, with particular success in Automotive, Enterprise, Consumer and Communications
But at the end, some of the people like - Mobileye have just a just huge momentum and huge critical mass in actually getting a mission-critical solution like that into the market
We had some really successful audits, thanks to our audit group
Remaining performance obligations, or RPO, at the end of the fourth quarter was $72.7 million, representing 26% year-over-year growth, going through its highest level, on record for Arteris
Communications, where AI supports the globally accelerating transition to 5G is another vertical, where we saw strong adoption of our Arteris products, heard the growing need for high bandwidth, low-power 5G chips that can only reach their performance goals by leveraging Arteris system IP
And then we see - we enjoy the benefits of that through 2026
Not only are we seeing growth in a number of our customers, we're also seeing further design penetration within our existing customer base
The strong focus on automotive was recognized in the fourth quarter, with Arteris being awarded the Autonomous Vehicle Technology of the Year Award by AutoTech Breakthrough
So the ASPs are rising well, driven by essentially new functionality that, we're delivering to the marketplace, to address the complexity of some of these generative AI and Automotive SoCs
I mean the first and fourth quarters, you probably saw in our commentary that we benefited again from a kind of a present from customers in fourth quarter of '23, with - to the tune of a few small number of millions of dollars
And then, we're wanting to do a good job so, that they feel comfortable ordering more based on the success of the initial projects
At the end of the fourth quarter, annual contract value or ACV, plus trailing 12-month variable royalties, and other revenue was $56.1 million, also above the top end of our guidance range
And the thesis is, that over the next four or five years, the market will go two-thirds commercial and one-third internal, and that provides a major opportunity for people like Arteris
So, we have a big tailwind from loyalty audits
A key milestone to ensure safe technology is incorporated into modern vehicles and other autonomous systems
       

Bearish Statements during earnings call

Statement
And non-GAAP free cash flow margin of negative 5% to positive 5%
The second quarter and the third quarter, tend to be weaker from a free cash flow perspective, the fourth quarter and then sometimes the first quarter depending on deals tend to be positive
Non-GAAP operating loss was $5.5 million, or 44%, compared to a loss of $5.8 million in the year ago period
So yes, we saw a significant decline in the middle of Q3, but things have not gotten, I think things are stable at the moment
I don't think the economy in China has improved
GAAP operating loss for the fourth quarter was $9.2 million, compared to a loss of $9.1 million in the year ago period
Net loss in the quarter was $10.5 million, or diluted net loss per share of $0.29
I guess, one thing I wanted to get an update on, Charlie, and you mentioned some of it in your script, but over the last couple of quarters just on a run rate basis, licensing in China was, a fairly material headwind
Total GAAP operating expense for the fourth quarter was $20.3 million, compared to $20.4 million in the third quarter, down 1% sequentially
Cash flow used in operations was $15.7 million in 2023, while free cash flow, which includes capital expenditure was negative $17.2 million, or 32% of revenue
trade, continue to impact our business
Currently, certain macroeconomic dynamics, including geopolitical uncertainties and the U.S
But there is a significant deal flow coming from China, and we do not see things getting any worse
Net loss in 2023, was $36.9 million, or net loss per share basic and diluted, of $1.03
The impact that we felt in 2023, from the China headwind was approximately $2 million
   

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