AXT, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Results

Revenue Grows 15 Percent Year on Year

FREMONT, Calif., Feb. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AXT, Inc. (NasdaqGS: AXTI), a leading manufacturer of compound semiconductor substrates, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year, ended December 31, 2020.

Management Qualitative Comments

“2020 was a year of solid improvement for AXT, capped off by strong indium phosphide growth, particularly in 5G, in Q4, which is typically a seasonally down quarter,” said Morris Young, chief executive officer. “We completed the relocation of our gallium arsenide manufacturing, elevated our business and manufacturing processes to meet Tier-1 standards, and expanded capacity in response to increasing demand. Now, with the gathering momentum of 5G and its related technologies, the technology progression in data center connectivity, and new applications emerging in healthcare and consumer devices, we believe AXT is in a strong position to lead our industry and enable many of the defining trends of the coming decade.”

Fourth Quarter 2020 Results

• Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $27.0 million, compared with $25.5 million in the third quarter of 2020 and $18.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2019.
  
  

• Gross margin was 34 percent of revenue for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared with 35 percent of revenue in the third quarter of 2020 and 21 percent for the fourth quarter of 2019.
  
  

• Operating expenses were $7.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, primarily due to substantial investment in R&D and year-end employee bonuses. This compares with $6.6 million in the third quarter of 2020 and $6.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2019.
  
  

• Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $1.9 million, compared with operating income of $2.2 million in the third quarter of 2020 and an operating loss $2.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2019.
  

• Net income in the fourth quarter of 2020 was $2.1 million, or $0.05 per share, compared with net income of $1.0 million or $0.02 per share in the third quarter of 2020, and a net loss of $2.0 million or $0.05 per share for the fourth quarter of 2019.
  

Fiscal Year 2020 Results (January 1 to December 31, 2020)

• Revenue for fiscal year 2020 was $95.4 million, an increase of 15 percent from $83.3 million in fiscal year 2019.
  
  

• Gross margin for fiscal year 2020 was 32 percent of revenue, up from 30 percent of revenue in fiscal year 2019.
  
  

• Operating expenses for fiscal year 2020 were $26.3 million, compared with $25.1 million in fiscal year 2019.
  
  

• Operating income for fiscal year 2020 was $3.9 million compared with an operating loss in fiscal 2019 of $0.3 million.
  
  

• Net income for fiscal 2020 was $3.2 million, or $0.07 per share, compared with a net loss of $2.6 million, or $0.07 per share for fiscal 2019.
  

STAR Market Listing Update

AXT previously announced on November 16, 2020 a strategic plan to access China’s capital markets and progress to an initial public offering by Beijing Tongmei Xtal Technology Co., Ltd. (“Tongmei”), its wafer manufacturing company in China, on the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s Sci-Tech innovAtion boaRd (the “STAR Market”). The first major step in this process is engaging reputable private equity firms in China to invest funds in Tongmei.

In January 2021, AXT completed the private equity investment funding in Tongmei. A number of private equity firms have invested approximately $49 million in exchange for an approximately 7.28 percent minority interest in Tongmei.

The process of going public on the STAR Market includes several periods of review and, therefore, is a lengthy process. Tongmei expects to accomplish this goal in mid-2022. AXT has posted a brief summary of the plan and the process on its website at www.axt.com.

Conference Call

The company will host a conference call to discuss these results today at 1:30 p.m. PT. The conference call can be accessed at (844) 892-6598 (passcode 5773028). The call will also be simulcast on the Internet at www.axt.com. Replays will be available at (855) 859-2056 (passcode 5773028) until February 24, 2021. Financial and statistical information to be discussed in the call will be available on the company’s website immediately prior to commencement of the call. Additional investor information can be accessed at http://www.axt.com or by calling the company’s Investor Relations Department at (510) 438-4700.

About AXT, Inc.

AXT is a material science company that develops and manufactures high-performance compound and single element semiconductor substrate wafers comprising indium phosphide (InP), gallium arsenide (GaAs) and germanium (Ge). The company’s substrate wafers are used when a typical silicon substrate wafer cannot meet the performance requirements of a semiconductor or optoelectronic device. End markets include 5G infrastructure, data center connectivity (silicon photonics), passive optical networks, LED lighting, lasers, sensors, power amplifiers for wireless devices and satellite solar cells. AXT’s worldwide headquarters are in Fremont, California where the company maintains sales, administration and customer service functions. AXT has its Asia headquarters in Beijing, China and manufacturing facilities in three separate locations in China. In addition, as part of its supply chain strategy, the company has partial ownership in ten companies in China producing raw materials for its manufacturing process. For more information, see AXT’s website at http://www.axt.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

The foregoing paragraphs contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal securities laws, including, for example, statements regarding completing other preliminary steps in connection with the proposed listing of shares of Tongmei on the STAR Market, being accepted to list shares of Tongmei on the STAR Market and the timing and completion of such listing of shares of Tongmei on the STAR Market. Additional examples of forward-looking statements include statements regarding the market demand for our products, our growth prospects and opportunities for continued business expansion, including technology trends and new applications, our market opportunity, our ability to lead our industry, our relocation and our expectations with respect to our business prospects and financial results. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to the company’s operations and business environment, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements contained in the foregoing discussion. These uncertainties and factors include but are not limited to: the withdrawal, cancellations or requests for redemptions by private equity funds in China of investments in Tongmei, the administrative challenges in satisfying the requirements of various government agencies in China in connection with the investments in Tongmei and the listing of shares of Tongmei on the STAR Market, continued open access to companies to list shares on the STAR Market, investor enthusiasm for new listings of shares on the STAR Market and geopolitical tensions between China and the United States. Additional uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to: the timing and receipt of significant orders; the cancellation of orders and return of product; emerging applications using chips or devices fabricated on our substrates; end-user acceptance of products containing chips or devices fabricated on our substrates; our ability to bring new products to market; product announcements by our competitors; the ability to control costs and improve efficiency; the ability to utilize our manufacturing capacity; product yields and their impact on gross margins; the relocation of manufacturing lines and ramping of production; possible factory shutdowns as a result of air pollution in China; COVID-19 or other outbreaks of a contagious disease; tariffs and other trade war issues; the financial performance of our partially owned supply chain companies; policies and regulations in China; and other factors as set forth in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each of these factors is difficult to predict and many are beyond the company’s control. The company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

FINANCIAL TABLES TO FOLLOW

AXT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

		Three Months Ended								Twelve Months Ended
		December 31,								December 31,
		2020				2019				2020				2019
Revenue		$	27,035			$	18,410			$	95,361			$	83,256
Cost of revenue			17,873				14,545				65,086				58,431
Gross profit			9,162				3,865				30,275				24,825
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative			5,081				5,058				19,200				19,305
Research and development			2,162				1,607				7,135				5,834
Total operating expenses			7,243				6,665				26,335				25,139
Income (loss) from operations			1,919				(2,800	)			3,940				(314	)
Interest income (expense), net			(41	)			2				(179	)			217
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures			354				(226	)			111				(1,876	)
Other income, net			260				1,002				3,200				947
Income (loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes			2,492				(2,022	)			7,072				(1,026	)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes			108				(214	)			2,031				562
Net income (loss)			2,384				(1,808	)			5,041				(1,588	)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests			(320	)			(241	)			(1,803	)			(1,012	)
Net income (loss) attributable to AXT, Inc.		$	2,064			$	(2,049	)		$	3,238			$	(2,600	)
Net income (loss) attributable to AXT, Inc. per common share:
Basic		$	0.05			$	(0.05	)		$	0.08			$	(0.07	)
Diluted		$	0.05			$	(0.05	)		$	0.07			$	(0.07	)
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic			40,678				39,636				40,152				39,487
Diluted			42,042				39,636				41,025				39,487

AXT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited, in thousands)

		December 31,				December 31,
		2020				2019
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	72,602			$	26,892
Short-term investments			240				9,427
Accounts receivable, net			24,558				19,031
Inventories			51,515				49,152
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			15,603				8,703
Total current assets			164,518				113,205
Long-term investments			5,726				—
Property, plant and equipment, net			115,825				97,403
Operating lease right-of-use assets			2,683				2,938
Other assets			10,110				9,803
Total assets		$	298,862			$	223,349
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	12,669			$	10,098
Accrued liabilities			15,995				11,681
Bank loan			10,411				5,747
Total current liabilities			39,075				27,526
Long-term portion of royalty payments			1,209				—
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities			2,374				2,695
Other long-term liabilities			672				366
Total liabilities			43,330				30,587
Redeemable noncontrolling interests			47,563				—
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock			3,532				3,532
Common stock			42				41
Additional paid-in capital			230,381				236,957
Accumulated deficit			(44,545	)			(47,783	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			3,209				(4,862	)
Total AXT, Inc. stockholders’ equity			192,619				187,885
Noncontrolling interests			15,350				4,877
Total stockholders’ equity			207,969				192,762
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholders’ equity		$	298,862			$	223,349

Contacts:
Gary Fischer
Chief Financial Officer
(510) 438-4700

Leslie Green
Green Communications Consulting, LLC
(650) 312-9060