Keysight (KEYS) Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates, Top Line Grows Y/Y

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Keysight Technologies, Inc. KEYS reported impressive first-quarter fiscal 2023 results, beating both the bottom-line and top-line estimates. Against the backdrop of moderating demand and challenging macro-dynamics, the company recorded year-over-year higher revenues backed by strong operating discipline and the strength of its differentiated portfolio.

Net Income

GAAP net income increased to $260 million or $1.45 per share from $229 million or $1.24 per share in the year-ago quarter primarily due to top-line expansion.

Non-GAAP net income in the reported quarter was $363 million or $2.02 per share compared with $305 million or $1.65 per share in the year-earlier quarter. The bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.85.

Keysight Technologies Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

 

Keysight Technologies Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Keysight Technologies Inc. Quote

 

Revenues

Revenues totaled $1,381 million, up 10% from the prior-year quarter’s levels of $1,250 million Led by healthy growth across all segments. The top line beat the consensus estimate of $1,370 million. However, orders declined to $1,300 million compared with $1,495 in the prior-year quarter. Geopolitical volatility owing to war in Europe and tensions with China, cautious demand trend from customers in the face of macroeconomic uncertainty led to a 13% year-over-year decline.

Revenues from Communication Solutions Group (CSG) were $939 million compared with $878 million reported in the prior-year quarter. Strong demand for the company’s 5G, O-RAN, 800G and terabit communication solutions and strength in aerospace, defense and government led to 7% year-over-year revenue growth.

The Electronic Industrial Solutions Group (EISG) segment revenues rose to $442 million compared with $372 million in the prior-year quarter. The solid 19% year-over-year growth was majorly propelled by expansion in general electronics, next-generation energy and automotive solutions.

Region-wise, the company witnessed 16% year-over-year growth in the Americas as revenues rose to $561 million from $483 million in the prior-year quarter. Revenues from Europe were $257 million, up 14% from the year-ago quarter’s levels of $226 million. Solid performance in electronic industrial solutions, commercial communications, aerospace, defense and government boosted revenue growth from these regions. Asia-Pacific revenues aggregated $563 million compared with $541 million in the prior-year quarter.

Other Details

During the quarter, the company’s non-GAAP gross profit totaled $901 million compared with $824 million in the year-ago quarter. Keysight’s non-GAAP gross margin was 65.2%, marginally lower than the year-ago quarter’s level of 65.9%. Non-GAAP operating margin was 29.7%.

CSG reported a non-GAAP gross margin of 67.5%, while EISG reported a non-GAAP gross margin of 60.5%. CSG's non-GAAP operating margin was 28.7% and EISG’s non-GAAP operating margin was 31.8%.

Cash Flow & Liquidity

In the first quarter of fiscal 2023, Keysight generated $366 million in cash from operating activities compared with $224 million a year ago. As of Jan 31, 2022, the company had $2,228 million in cash and cash equivalents with $1,793 million of long-term debt.

Outlook

For the second quarter of fiscal 2023, Keysight expects revenues in the range of $1.37-$1.39 billion, indicating revenue growth of 1-3%. Non-GAAP earnings are estimated between $1.91 and $1.97 per share. Net interest and other income/expenses are expected in the band of $6-$8 million and management estimates a non-GAAP tax rate of 12%.

Management expects macroeconomic challenges to persist in the near term and customers are likely to remain cautious for the next couple of quarters. However, the business expects that its software-centric solutions are well-positioned to meet customers' needs and will enable it to outperform the market.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Keysight currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

T-Mobile US, Inc. TMUS, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), delivered an earnings surprise of 67.6%, on average, in the trailing four quarters. Earnings estimates for TMUS for the current year stands at $6.67 per share.

T-Mobile US, Inc. is a national wireless service provider. The company offers its services under the T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Sprint brands. T-Mobile, through its subsidiaries, provides wireless services for branded postpaid and prepaid, and wholesale customers.

Aehr Test Systems AEHR, carrying a Zacks Rank #2, delivered an earnings surprise of 128.6%, in the last reported quarter.

Aehr Test Systems develops, manufactures and sells systems that are designed to reduce the cost of testing DRAMs and other memory devices, perform reliability screening or burn-in of complex logic and memory devices, and enable IC manufacturers to perform test and burn-in of bare die.

Splunk Inc. SPLK, carrying a Zacks Rank #2, delivered an earnings surprise of 222%, on average, in the trailing four quarters. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.39%.

Splunk Inc. provides software solutions that enable enterprises to gain real-time operational intelligence by harnessing the value of their data. The company’s offerings enable users to investigate, monitor, analyze and act on machine data and big data, irrespective of format or source and help in operational decision-making.

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