Onto Innovation Reports 2019 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results

WILMINGTON, Mass.--()--Onto Innovation Inc. (NYSE: ONTO) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2019. The fourth quarter financial results are the first reported period since the completion of the merger between Nanometrics Incorporated and Rudolph Technologies, Inc. that occurred on October 25, 2019. Since Rudolph Technologies was the accounting acquirer in the transaction, the quarterly and full year results include the financial results of the former Rudolph Technologies for all periods presented and the financial results of the former Nanometrics for the period October 26, 2019 to year end 2019.

2019 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Highlights

  • Successful completion of the merger between Nanometrics and Rudolph Technologies on October 25, 2019, creating a combined global semiconductor equipment leader with a broad portfolio spanning the semiconductor manufacturing value chain from bare silicon, to leading-edge fabs to advanced packaging
  • Quarterly revenue of $120.6 million in 2019 fourth quarter, excludes approximately $10 million in shipments from Nanometrics that occurred in the fourth quarter prior to the merger and $1.7 million in deferred revenue eliminated in merger accounting
  • Quarterly GAAP diluted EPS of ($0.41); Non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.41, at the high end of guidance includes stock-based compensation expense
  • Cash and marketable securities of $320 million, after the payment of $25 million in merger related expenses
  • Adoption and the diversification of the Atlas® III+ metrology system in leading edge nodes continued with greater than 300% year-over-year growth in logic and foundry
  • Dragonfly® systems adopted by 15 new customers year-over-year and expanded into both memory and logic/foundry markets in 2019

Onto Innovation Inc.
Key Financial Data for the Quarters Ended December 31, 2019,
September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

   

US GAAP

 

 

 

December 2019

 

 

September 2019

 

 

December 2018

 

Revenue

 

$

120,558

 

 

$

62,935

 

 

$

62,780

 

Gross profit margin

 

 

33

%

 

 

50

%

 

 

52

%

Operating income (loss)

 

$

(23,359

)

 

$

5,290

 

 

$

9,316

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(17,752

)

 

$

6,560

 

 

$

8,082

 

Net income (loss) per diluted share

 

$

(0.41

)

 

$

0.26

 

 

$

0.32

 

US NON-GAAP

 

 

 

December 2019

 

 

September 2019

 

 

December 2018

 

Revenue

 

$

120,558

 

 

$

62,935

 

 

$

62,780

 

Gross profit margin

 

 

51

%

 

 

50

%

 

 

52

%

Operating income

 

$

20,241

 

 

$

8,107

 

 

$

9,703

 

Net income

 

$

18,065

 

 

$

8,296

 

 

$

8,388

 

Net income per diluted share

 

$

0.41

 

 

$

0.33

 

 

$

0.33

 

Michael Plisinski, chief executive officer of Onto Innovation commented, “This is an exciting time for the emergence of Onto Innovation. This new, yet highly experienced, semiconductor equipment supplier broadly serves the increasingly more complex semiconductor value chain. Onto Innovation customers count on our team to provide high quality solutions for advanced silicon, advanced logic and memory, and advanced packaging. As we prepare for potential growth in multiple markets, we are also making excellent progress with our integration. We continue to drive for operational efficiencies to reduce costs while improving how we support our customers. In addition to the exciting combination of talent and technology, we are discovering the ways our team can provide new and innovative solutions to our customers which we expect will open new doors for growth and increase shareholder value.”

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 GAAP Financial Results

Fourth quarter revenue totaled $120.6 million, an increase of 92% compared with $62.9 million for the third quarter of 2019 with the increase driven by the inclusion of the $66.3 million in sales from Nanometrics in the fourth quarter. For the full year, revenue totaled $305.9 million compared to $273.8 million in the prior year.

Gross profit margin was 33% of revenues in the fourth quarter of 2019, a decrease from 50% in the third quarter of 2019. The decrease in gross margin was primarily due to the step up to fair value of inventory that was sold in the quarter, restructuring charges, and to a lesser extent other non-merger related inventory charges totaling $22.5 million, offset by higher sales. For the full year 2019, gross profit margin was 44% compared to 54% in the prior year.

Operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2019 totaled $62.9 million, compared to $26.2 million in the third quarter of 2019. The increase was driven by the addition of $18.7 million in operating expenses of Nanometrics in the quarter, as well as merger and restructuring costs and the additional amortization of intangibles as a result of the merger as detailed in the accompanying GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliation tables. For the full year, operating expenses were $140.1 million compared to $97.2 million in the prior year.

GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter of 2019 was ($17.8) million, or ($0.41) per diluted share, compared with net income of $6.6 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for the 2019 third quarter. The net loss was in-line with previous guidance. For the full year, net income was $1.9 million, or $0.06 per diluted share compared to net income of $45.1 million, or $1.74 per diluted share in the prior year.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year Non-GAAP Financial Results

Fourth quarter 2019 non-GAAP net income was $18.1 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, as detailed in the attached table and at the high end of previous guidance. Third-quarter 2019 non-GAAP net income was $8.3 million, or $0.33 per diluted share. For the full year, non-GAAP net income was $41.8 million, or $1.39 per diluted share compared to $46.4 million or $1.79 per diluted share in the prior period. Non-GAAP results exclude merger-related expenses, restructuring costs and the amortization of intangible assets as detailed in the accompanying tables.

Balance Sheet

At December 31, 2019, cash and marketable securities totaled $320.2 million and working capital was $555.9 million. Accounts receivable totaled $123.7 million as of the end of the year and inventory ended the year at $176.1 million.

Outlook

The Company is currently anticipating revenue for the first quarter 2020 to be $136 million plus/minus 6%. This reflects our latest view of the evolving situation with the novel coronavirus in China. Within this revenue range the Company is expecting a GAAP net loss per diluted share to be in the range of ($0.22) to ($0.04) and non-GAAP net income per diluted share to be in the range of $0.23 to $0.41. Included in the GAAP net loss guidance are merger expenses related to the estimated impact of adjustments to the fair value of inventory stepped up in the merger that are anticipated to be sold in the quarter. The estimated earnings per share calculations for the first quarter are based on a projected weighted average diluted share of approximately 50.5 million shares as opposed to the 43.6 million shares used in the 2019 fourth quarter.

Webcast & Conference Call Details

Onto Innovation will host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time today to discuss its fourth quarter 2019 financial results in greater detail. To participate in the call, please dial (800) 347-6311 (Domestic) or +1 (646) 828-8144 (International), reference confirmation code 274-5571 at least five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled start time. A live webcast will also be available at www.ontoinnovation.com.

To listen to the live webcast, please go to the website at least fifteen (15) minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. There will be a replay of the conference call available from 7:30 p.m. ET on February 6 until 7:30 p.m. ET on February 13, 2020. To access the replay, please dial (888) 203-1112 (Domestic) or (719) 457-0820 (International) at any time during that period and use audio replay passcode 2745571. A replay will also be available at www.ontoinnovation.com.

Discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company has provided in this release non-GAAP financial measures, including non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP EPS, which exclude amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, certain acquisition-related expenses and benefits, and restructuring costs. Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP EPS can also exclude certain other gains and losses that are either isolated or cannot be expected to occur again with any predictability, tax provisions/benefits related to the previous items, and significant discrete tax events. We exclude the above items because they are outside of our normal operations and/or, in certain cases, are difficult to forecast accurately for future periods.

We utilize several different financial measures, both GAAP and non-GAAP, in analyzing and assessing the overall performance of our business, in making operating decisions, forecasting and planning for future periods, and determining payments under compensation programs. We consider the use of the non-GAAP measures to be helpful in assessing the performance of the ongoing operation of our business. We believe that disclosing non-GAAP financial measures provides useful supplemental data that, while not a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, allows for greater transparency in the review of our financial and operational performance. We also believe that disclosing non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results and future prospects in the same manner as management and in comparing financial results across accounting periods and to those of peer companies. More specifically, management adjusts for the excluded items for the following reasons:

Amortization of purchased intangible assets: we do not acquire businesses and assets on a predictable cycle. The amount of purchase price allocated to the purchased intangible assets and the term of amortization can vary significantly and are unique to each acquisition or purchase. We believe that excluding amortization of purchased intangible assets allows the users of our financial statements to better review and understand the historic and current results of our operations, and also facilitates comparisons to peer companies.

Merger or acquisition related expenses and benefits: we incur expenses or benefits with respect to certain items associated with our mergers and acquisitions, such as transaction and integration costs, change in control payments, adjustments to the fair value of assets, etc. We exclude such expenses or benefits as they are related to acquisitions and have no direct correlation to the operation of our on-going business.

Restructuring charges: we incur restructuring and impairment charges on individual or groups of employed assets, which arise from unforeseen circumstances and/or often occur outside of the ordinary course of our on-going business. Although these events are reflected in our GAAP financials, these unique transactions may limit the comparability of our on-going operations with prior and future periods

Significant litigation charges or benefits and legal costs: we may incur charges or benefits as well as legal costs in connection with litigation and other contingencies unrelated to our core operations. We exclude these charges or benefits, when significant, as well as legal costs associated with significant legal matters, because we do not believe they are reflective of on-going business and operating results.

Income tax expense: we estimate the tax effect of the items identified to determine a non-GAAP annual effective tax rate applied to the pretax amount in order to calculate the non-GAAP provision for income taxes. We also adjust for items for which the nature and/or tax jurisdiction requires the application of a specific tax rate or treatment.

From time to time in the future, there may be other items excluded if we believe that doing so is consistent with the goal of providing useful information to investors and management.

There are limitations in using non-GAAP financial measures because the non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. The non-GAAP financial measures are limited in value because they exclude certain items that may have a material impact on our reported financial results. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP in the United States. Investors should review the reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures as provided in the tables accompanying this press release.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”) which include Onto Innovation’s business momentum and future growth; the benefit to customers of Onto Innovation’s products and customer service; Onto Innovation’s ability to both deliver products and services consistent with our customers’ demands and expectations and strengthen its market position; Onto Innovation’s expectations regarding the semiconductor market outlook; Onto Innovation’s first quarter 2020 financial outlook; as well as other matters that are not purely historical data. Onto Innovation wishes to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provided for by the Act and cautions that actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of various factors, including risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Onto Innovation’s control. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the Company’s ability to leverage its resources to improve its position in its core markets; its ability to weather difficult economic environments; its ability to open new market opportunities and target high-margin markets; the strength/weakness of the back-end and/or front-end semiconductor market segments; fluctuations in customer capital spending and any potential impact as a result of the novel coronavirus situation. Additional information and considerations regarding the risks faced by Onto Innovation are available in Rudolph Technologies’ Form 10-K report for the year ended December 31, 2018 and Nanometrics Form 10-K report for the year ended December 29, 2018 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As the forward-looking statements are based on Onto Innovation’s current expectations, the Company cannot guarantee any related future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Onto Innovation does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

About Onto Innovation

Onto Innovation is a leader in process control, combining global scale with an expanded portfolio of leading-edge technologies that include: unpatterned wafer quality; 3D metrology spanning the chip from nanometer-scale transistors to micron-level die-interconnects; macro defect inspection of wafers and packages; metal interconnect composition; factory analytics; and lithography for advanced semiconductor packaging. Our breadth of offerings across the entire semiconductor value chain help our customers solve their most difficult yield, device performance, quality, and reliability issues. Onto Innovation strives to optimize customers’ critical path of progress by making them smarter, faster, and more efficient. Headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts, Onto Innovation supports customers with a worldwide sales and service organization. Additional information can be found at www.ontoinnovation.com.

ONTO INNOVATION INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands) - (Unaudited)

   

 

 

December 31,
2019

 

 

December 31,
2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Audited)

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities

 

$

320,236

 

 

$

175,072

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

123,656

 

 

 

64,194

Inventories

 

 

176,134

 

 

 

96,820

Prepaid and other assets

 

 

21,638

 

 

 

14,821

Total current assets

 

 

641,664

 

 

 

350,907

Net property, plant and equipment

 

 

98,420

 

 

 

18,874

Intangibles, net

 

 

679,101

 

 

 

29,943

Other assets

 

 

29,395

 

 

 

18,316

Total assets

 

$

1,448,580

 

 

$

418,040

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$

53,942

 

 

$

30,681

Other current liabilities

 

 

31,801

 

 

 

14,310

Total current liabilities

 

 

85,743

 

 

 

44,991

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

98,811

 

 

 

11,161

Total liabilities

 

 

184,554

 

 

 

56,152

Stockholders’ equity

 

 

1,264,026

 

 

 

361,888

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

1,448,580

 

 

$

418,040

ONTO INNOVATION INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts) - (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Twelve Months Ended

 

 

December 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

Revenue

 

$

120,558

 

 

$

62,935

 

 

$

62,780

 

 

$

305,896

 

 

$

273,784

Cost of revenue

 

 

80,971

 

 

 

31,424

 

 

 

30,112

 

 

 

170,868

 

 

 

125,505

Gross profit

 

 

39,587

 

 

 

31,511

 

 

 

32,668

 

 

 

135,028

 

 

 

148,279

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

16,705

 

 

 

10,455

 

 

 

10,038

 

 

 

48,358

 

 

 

39,953

Sales and marketing

 

12,637

 

 

 

5,090

 

 

 

5,217

 

 

 

28,251

 

 

 

22,010

General and administrative

 

 

24,320

 

 

 

10,289

 

 

 

7,710

 

 

 

53,017

 

 

 

33,698

Amortization

 

 

9,284

 

 

 

387

 

 

 

387

 

 

 

10,445

 

 

 

1,534

Total operating expenses

 

 

62,946

 

 

 

26,221

 

 

 

23,352

 

 

 

140,071

 

 

 

97,195

Operating income (loss)

 

 

(23,359

)

 

 

5,290

 

 

 

9,316

 

 

 

(5,043

)

 

 

51,084

Interest income, net

 

 

999

 

 

 

1,001

 

 

 

732

 

 

 

3,666

 

 

 

2,206

Other (expense) income, net

 

 

(61)

 

 

 

617

 

 

(34

)

 

 

780

 

 

 

56

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

 

(22,421

)

 

 

6,908

 

 

 

10,014

 

 

 

(597

)

 

 

53,346

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

 

 

(4,669

)

 

 

348

 

 

 

1,932

 

 

 

(2,507

)

 

 

8,250

Net income (loss)

 

$

(17,752

)

 

$

6,560

 

 

$

8,082

 

 

$

1,910

 

 

$

45,096

Earnings (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(0.41

)

 

$

0.26

 

 

$

0.32

 

 

$

0.06

 

 

$

1.77

Diluted

 

$

(0.41

)

 

$

0.26

 

 

$

0.32

 

 

$

0.06

 

 

$

1.74

Weighted average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

43,609

 

 

 

25,079

 

 

 

25,146

 

 

 

29,729

 

 

 

25,470

Diluted

 

 

43,609

 

 

 

25,305

 

 

 

25,449

 

 

 

30,007

 

 

 

25,895

ONTO INNOVATION INC.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL SUMMARY
(In thousands, except percentage and per share amounts) - (Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Twelve Months Ended

 

 

December 31,
2019

 

September 30,
2019

 

December 31,
2018

 

December 31,
2019

 

December 31,
2018

 

Revenue

$

120,558

 

$

62,935

 

$

62,780

 

$

305,896

 

$

273,784

 

Gross profit

$

60,920

 

$

31,511

 

$

32,668

 

$

156,361

 

$

148,279

 

Gross margin as percentage of revenue

 

51

%

 

50

%

 

52

%

 

51

%

 

54

%

Operating expenses

$

40,679

 

$

23,404

 

$

22,965

 

$

111,749

 

$

95,661

 

Operating income

$

20,241

 

$

8,107

 

$

9,703

 

$

44,612

 

$

52,618

 

Operating margin as a percentage of revenue

 

17

%

 

13

%

 

15

%

 

15

%

 

19

%

Net income

$

18,065

 

$

8,296

 

$

8,388

 

$

41,847

 

$

46,374

 

Net income per diluted share

$

0.41

 

$

0.33

 

$

0.33

 

$

1.39

 

$

1.79

 

RECONCILIATION OF U.S. GAAP GROSS PROFIT,
OPERATING EXPENSES AND OPERATING INCOME TO NON-GAAP
GROSS PROFIT, OPERATING EXPENSES AND OPERATING INCOME
(In thousands, except percentages) - (Unaudited)

   

 

Three Months Ended

 

Twelve Months Ended

 

 

December 31,
2019

 

September 30,
2019

 

December 31,
2018

 

December 31,
2019

 

December 31,
2018

 

U.S. GAAP gross profit

$

39,587

 

$

31,511

 

$

32,668

 

$

135,028

 

$

148,279

 

Pre-tax non-GAAP items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merger related expenses

 

15,388

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,388

 

 

 

Restructuring expense

 

5,945

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,945

 

 

 

Non-GAAP gross profit

 

60,920

 

 

31,511

 

 

32,668

 

 

156,361

 

 

148,279

 

U.S. GAAP gross margin as a percentage of revenue

 

33

%

 

50

%

 

52

%

 

44

%

 

54

%

Non-GAAP gross margin as a percentage of revenue

 

51

%

 

50

%

 

52

%

 

51

%

 

54

%

U.S. GAAP operating expenses

$

62,946

 

$

26,221

 

$

23,352

 

$

140,071

 

$

97,195

 

Pre-tax non-GAAP items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merger related expenses

 

9,867

 

 

2,430

 

 

 

 

14,761

 

 

 

Restructuring expense

 

3,116

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,116

 

 

 

Amortization of intangibles

 

9,284

 

 

387

 

 

387

 

 

10,445

 

 

1,534

 

Non-GAAP operating expenses

 

40,679

 

 

23,404

 

 

22,965

 

 

111,749

 

 

95,661

 

Non-GAAP operating income

$

20,241

 

$

8,107

 

$

9,703

 

$

44,612

 

$

52,618

 

GAAP operating margin as a percentage of revenue

 

(19

)%

 

8

%

 

15

%

 

(2

)%

 

19

%

Non-GAAP operating margin as a percentage of revenue

 

17

%

 

13

%

 

15

%

 

15

%

 

19

%

ONTO INNOVATION INC.
RECONCILIATION OF U.S. GAAP NET INCOME TO
NON-GAAP NET INCOME
(In thousands, except share and per share data) - (Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Twelve Months Ended

 

 

December 31,
2019

 

September 30,
2019

 

December 31,
2018

 

December 31,
2019

 

December 31,
2018

 

U.S. GAAP net income (loss)

$

(17,752

)

$

6,560

 

$

8,082

 

$

1,910

 

$

45,096

 

Pre-tax non-GAAP items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merger related expenses

 

25,255

 

 

2,430

 

 

 

 

30,149

 

 

 

Restructuring expense

 

9,060

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,060

 

 

 

Amortization of intangibles

 

9,284

 

 

387

 

 

387

 

 

10,445

 

 

1,534

 

Net tax benefit adjustments

 

(7,782

)

 

(1,081

)

 

(81

)

 

(9,717

)

 

(256

)

Non-GAAP net income

$

18,065

 

$

8,296

 

$

8,388

 

$

41,847

 

$

46,374

 

Non-GAAP net income per diluted share

$

0.41

 

$

0.33

 

$

0.33

 

$

1.39

 

$

1.79

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ONTO INNOVATION INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF FIRST QUARTER 2020
GAAP TO NON-GAAP GUIDANCE (net of tax)

   

 

Low

 

High

 

Estimated GAAP net income per diluted share

$

(0.22

)

 

$

(0.04

)

 

Estimated non-GAAP items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merger related expense

 

0.24

 

 

 

0.24

 

 

Amortization of intangibles

 

0.21

 

 

 

0.21

 

 

Estimated non-GAAP net income per diluted share

$

0.23

 

 

$

0.41

 

 

Source: Onto Innovation Inc.

Contacts

Investors:
Michael Sheaffer
+1.978.253.6273
Mike.Sheaffer@OntoInnovation.com

Release Summary

Onto Innovation announces fourth quarter 2019 financial results, the first combined results since the completion of the merger.

Contacts

Investors:
Michael Sheaffer
+1.978.253.6273
Mike.Sheaffer@OntoInnovation.com