Fairchild Semiconductor reports Q2 2013 results

Fairchild reported second quarter adjusted gross margin of 29.8 percent, up 200 basis points from the prior quarter and 280 basis points lower than the second quarter of 2012. Adjusted gross margin excludes accelerated depreciation related to a line closure. Adjusted net income was $1.7 million or $0.01 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $2.0 million or $0.02 per diluted share in the prior quarter and net income of $17.6 million or $0.14 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2012.

We grew sales 4 percent sequentially in the second quarter and 7 percent through the first half of 2013, said Mark Thompson, Fairchild’s chairman and CEO. Our high voltage product sales supporting the industrial and appliance markets were up 15 percent sequentially. We posted record quarterly sales for our products serving the automotive market. Power conversion products also recorded solid sales growth in the second quarter. We saw some incremental demand weakness from the notebook PC market and at a couple of large mobile customers that impacted Q2 sales and our backlog heading into the third quarter. We expect the weakness in notebooks to persist but have limited impact on our future results now that it accounts for less than 3 percent of total sales. Mobile sales are expected to increase in the third quarter due largely to one major customer and continued growth from our Chinese customers. Our guidance reflects some conservatism given how difficult it has been for our customers to forecast actual mobile demand.

Second Quarter Financials

Adjusted gross margin increased 2 points sequentially due to higher factory loadings and better mix primarily in our high voltage products, said Mark Frey, Fairchild’s executive vice president and CFO. We expect the impact of higher factory utilization and improved product mix to drive continued improvement in gross margin going forward. R&D and SG&A expenses came in at the low end of guidance at $98.2 million. The increase from the prior quarter was due primarily to the annual merit raise and higher variable compensation accruals. Free cash flow was $30 million for the second quarter which was driven by favorable changes in working capital and continued lower capital spending.

Forward Guidance

We expect sales to be in the range of $355 to $370 million for the third quarter, said Frey. Our current scheduled backlog is nearly sufficient to achieve the low end of this range. We expect adjusted gross margin to be 31.5 to 33.0 percent due primarily to improved factory utilization and better product mix. We anticipate R&D and SG&A spending to be $97 to $99 million. The adjusted tax rate is forecast at 15 percent plus or minus 3 percentage points for the quarter. Consistent with our usual practices, we are not assuming any obligation to update this information, although we may choose to do so before we announce third quarter results.

Adjusted gross margin, adjusted net income and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures and should not be considered replacements for GAAP results.