Nova Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results

REHOVOT, Israel, Feb. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nova (Nasdaq: NVMI) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023.

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Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights:

    --  Quarterly revenue of $134.2 million, up 4% QoQ, exceeding the high end
        of the guidance of $132 million.
    --  Record GAAP net income of $38.1 million, or $1.20 per diluted share, up
        13% QoQ, exceeding the high end of the guidance of $1.11.
    --  Record Non-GAAP net income of $43.6 million, or $1.36 per diluted share,
        up 10% QoQ, exceeding the high end of the guidance of $1.31.
    --  Continued proliferation of materials and chemical metrology solutions
        across both Frontend and Backend markets.
    --  Expanding the adoption of optical metrology solutions among multiple
        DRAM customers for High Bandwidth Memory.

Full Year 2023 Highlights:

    --  Annual revenue of $517.9 million.
    --  GAAP net income of $136.3 million, or $4.28 per diluted share.
    --  Non-GAAP net income of $155.9 million, or $4.86 per diluted share.
    --  Solidifying Nova's leadership position in materials process control.
    --  Multiple PRISM wins in Memory, Logic and Hybrid Bonding customers.

GAAP Results (K)


                                  Q4 2023 Q3 2023  Q4 2022   FY 2023    FY 2022



     Revenues                   $134,219 $128,808  $151,238   $517,922    $570,729



     Net Income                  $38,068  $33,689   $36,098   $136,310    $140,213



     Earnings per Diluted Share    $1.20    $1.06     $1.15      $4.28       $4.43

Non-GAAP Results (K)


                                 Q4 2023 Q3 2023  Q4 2022   FY 2023    FY 2022



     Net Income                 $43,597  $39,405   $40,778   $155,891    $161,509



     Earnings per Diluted Share   $1.36    $1.23     $1.28      $4.86       $5.07

A reconciliation between GAAP operating results and non-GAAP operating results is provided following the financial statements included in this release. See also "Use of Non-GAAP Adjusted Financial Measures" section.

Management Comments

"Nova delivered a robust quarter, exceeding the top end of our guidance for revenue and profit, concluding the fiscal year on a stronger note than initially anticipated," said Gaby Waisman, President and CEO. "Our diversified exposure across territories and markets allowed us to achieve record performance in chemical metrology and services. Nova is uniquely positioned to accelerate its market penetration in Hybrid Bonding and to capitalize on the transition to GAA through our strong position in advanced logic manufacturing. Looking forward, we see positive performance indicators across our growth engines, expected to steer Nova to a path of growth in 2024."

2024 First Quarter Financial Outlook

Management provided an outlook for the first quarter, the period ending March 31, 2024. Based on current estimates, management expects:

    --  $134 million to $140 million in revenue
    --  $1.00 to $1.12 in diluted GAAP EPS
    --  $1.21 to $1.33 in diluted non-GAAP EPS

2023 Fourth Quarter Results

Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2023 were $134.2 million, an increase of 4% compared with the third quarter of 2023 and a decrease of 11% compared with the fourth quarter of 2022.

Gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2023 was 55%, compared with 57% in the third quarter of 2023 and 54% in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2023 were $40.4 million, compared with $38.1 million in the third quarter of 2023 and $45.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2022.

On a GAAP basis, the Company reported net income of $38.1 million, or $1.20 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2023. This is compared with net income of $33.7 million, or $1.06 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2023, and $36.1 million, or $1.15 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2022.

On a non-GAAP basis, the Company reported net income of $43.6 million, or $1.36 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2023. This is compared with net income of $39.4 million, or $1.23 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2023, and $40.8 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2022.

2023 Full Year Results

Total revenues for 2023 were $517.9 million, a decrease of 9% compared to total revenues of $570.7 million for 2022.

Gross margin in 2023 was 57%, compared with 56% in 2022.

Operating expenses in 2023 were $160.9 million, compared with operating expenses of $167.0 million in 2022.

On a GAAP basis, the Company reported net income of $136.3 million, or $4.28 per diluted share, in 2023. This is compared with a net income of $140.2 million, or $4.43 per diluted share, in 2022.

On a non-GAAP basis, the Company reported net income of $155.9 million, or $4.86 per diluted share, in 2023. This is compared with net income of $161.5 million, or $5.07 per diluted share, in 2022.

Conference Call Information

Nova will host a conference call today, February 15, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, to discuss the Company's fourth quarter 2023 financial results and outlook. To attend the conference call, please dial one of the following teleconferencing numbers. Please begin by placing your calls five minutes before the conference call commences. If you are unable to connect using the toll-free numbers, please try the international dial-in number.

U.S. TOLL-FREE Dial-in Number: 1-833-816-1427
ISRAEL TOLL-FREE Dial-in Number: 1809-213-284
INTERNATIONAL Dial-in Number: 1-412-317-0519

At:

8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
5:30 a.m. Pacific Time
3:30 p.m. Israel Time

The conference call will also be webcast live from a Link on Nova's website at https://www.novami.com/investors/events/.

A replay of the conference call will be available from February 15, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time until November 22, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. To access the replay, please dial one of the following numbers:

Replay Dial-in U.S. TOLL-FREE: 1-877-344-7529
Replay Dial-in INTERNATIONAL: 1-412-317-0088
Replay Pin Number: 6569905

A replay will also be available for 90 days on Nova's website link at https://www.novami.com/investors/events/.

About Nova
Nova is a leading innovator and key provider of material, optical and chemical metrology solutions for advanced process control in semiconductor manufacturing. Nova delivers continuous innovation by providing state-of-the-art, high-performance metrology solutions for effective process control throughout the semiconductor fabrication lifecycle. Nova's product portfolio, which combines high-precision hardware and cutting-edge software, provides its customers with deep insight into developing and producing the most advanced semiconductor devices. Nova's unique capability to deliver innovative solutions enables its customers to improve performance, enhance product yields and accelerate time to market. Nova acts as a partner to semiconductor manufacturers from its offices worldwide. Additional information may be found on Nova's website link - https://www.novami.com/.

Nova is traded on the Nasdaq and TASE, Nasdaq ticker symbol NVMI.

Use of Non-GAAP Adjusted Financial Measures
This press release provides financial measures that exclude amortization of acquired intangible assets, acquisition-related expenses, inventory step-up and contingent consideration revaluation, stock-based compensation expenses, revaluation of operating lease liabilities and remeasurement of intercompany loans, amortization of debt discount and issuance costs and tax effect of non-GAAP adjustment, as applicable, and are therefore not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding Nova's performance because they reflect our operational results and enhance management's and investors' ability to evaluate Nova's performance before charges or benefits considered by management to be outside Nova's ongoing operating results. The presentation of this non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that it is in the best interest of its investors to provide financial information that will facilitate comparison of both historical and future results and allow greater transparency to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A reconciliation of each GAAP to non-GAAP financial measure discussed in this press release is contained in the accompanying financial tables.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to future events or our future performance, such as statements regarding, but not limited to, anticipated growth opportunities and projections about our business and its future revenues, expenses and profitability. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements. Factors that may affect our results, performance, circumstances or achievements include, but are not limited to, the following: political, economic and military instability in Israel, including related to the recent attack by Hamas and other terrorist organizations from the Gaza Strip and Israel's war against them; increased information technology security threats and sophisticated computer crime; foreign political and economic risks including supply-chain difficulties; regulations that could restrict our operations such as economic sanctions and export restrictions; changes in U.S. trade policies; indirect effects of the Russia - Ukraine conflict; market instability including inflation and recessionary pressures; risks related to doing business with China; catastrophic events such as the outbreak of COVID-19; inability to protect our intellectual property; open source technology exposure; failure to compete effectively or to respond to rapid technological changes; consolidation in our industry; difficulty in predicting the length and strength of any downturn or expansion period of the market we target; factors that adversely affect the pricing and demand for our product lines; dependency on a small number of large customers; dependency on a single manufacturing facility per product line; dependency on a limited number of suppliers; difficulty in integrating current or future acquisitions; lengthy sales cycle and customer delays in orders; risks related to our convertible notes; currency fluctuations; and quarterly fluctuations in our operating results. We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties summarized under the heading "Risk Factors" in Nova's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2023. These factors are updated from time to time through the filing of reports and registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Nova Ltd. does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

(Tables to Follow)


                                            
              NOVA LTD.
                                    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                            
              (U.S. dollars in thousands) - (Unaudited)




                                                                                                    As of December
                                                                                                     31,



     
                ASSETS                                                             2023     2022



     Current assets



     Cash and cash equivalents                                                    107,574  111,121



     Short-term interest-bearing bank deposits                                    119,850   95,305



     Marketable securities                                                        216,258  167,073



     Trade accounts receivable, net                                               111,256  109,320



     Inventories                                                                  138,198  116,600



     Other current assets                                                          17,084   13,527



     
                Total current assets                                            710,220  612,946



     Non-current assets



     Marketable securities                                                        191,351  153,462



     Interest-bearing bank deposits and restricted cash                             6,254    2,083



     Deferred tax assets                                                           23,583   20,097



     Operating lease right-of-use assets                                           41,856   44,885



     Property plant and equipment, net                                             66,874   55,886



     Intangible assets, net                                                        39,184   43,586



     Goodwill                                                                      50,080   49,009



     Other long-term assets                                                         4,405    2,151



     
                Total non-current assets                                        423,587  371,159



     
                Total assets                                                  1,133,807  984,105



     
                LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY



     Current liabilities



        Convertible senior notes, net                                             197,678



     Trade accounts payable                                                        35,158   42,732



     Deferred revenues                                                             41,978   30,543



     Operating lease current liabilities                                            6,703    5,968



     Other current liabilities                                                     41,294   54,825



     
                Total current liabilities                                       322,811  134,068



     Non-current liabilities



     Convertible senior notes, net                                                      - 196,394



     Operating lease long-term liabilities                                         39,762   43,697



     Long-term deferred tax liability                                              10,574   12,190



     Other long-term liabilities                                                    9,908   10,793



     
                Total non-current liabilities                                    60,244  263,074



     
                Shareholders' equity                                            750,752  586,963



     
                Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                    1,133,807  984,105


                                                               
              NOVA LTD.
                                                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                        
               
              (U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data) - 
     (Unaudited)




                                                                                                                               Three months ended                Year ended
                                                                                                             December 31,
                                                                                                                                                    December 31,


                                                                                                             2023         2022      2023       2022



              Revenues:



              Products                                                                                   104,108      123,486   405,037    464,152



              Services                                                                                    30,111       27,752   112,885    106,577



              Total revenues                                                                             134,219      151,238   517,922    570,729



              Total cost of revenues                                                                      60,207       68,817   224,745    253,759



              
                Gross profit                                                                   74,012       82,421   293,177    316,970



              Operating expenses:



              Research and development, net                                                               21,290       26,206    88,043     90,458



              Sales and marketing                                                                         13,580       14,214    52,467     52,729



              General and administrative                                                                   5,480        5,077    20,404     23,852



              Total operating expenses                                                                    40,350       45,497   160,914    167,039



              
                Operating income                                                               33,662       36,924   132,263    149,931



              Financing income, net                                                                        7,283        2,157    22,436      8,478



              
                Income before taxes on income                                                  40,945       39,081   154,699    158,409



              Income tax expenses                                                                          2,877        2,983    18,389     18,196



              
                Net income for the period                                                      38,068       36,098   136,310    140,213





              
                Earnings per share:



              Basic                                                                                         1.31         1.26      4.73       4.89



              Diluted                                                                                       1.20         1.15      4.28       4.43





              
                Shares used in calculation of earnings per share
     (in thousands):



              Basic                                                                                       28,975       28,731    28,828     28,697



              Diluted                                                                                     32,023       31,737    32,089     31,870


                                                                                     
              NOVA LTD.
                                                                       CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                                     
              (U.S. dollars in thousands) - (Unaudited)




                                                                                                                                                 Three months ended                Year ended
                                                                                                                               December 31,
                                                                                                                                                                      December 31,


                                                                                                                               2023         2022         2023          2022



      Cash flows from operating activities:



     
                Net income                                                                                                38,068       36,098      136,310       140,213



     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:



          Depreciation of property and equipment                                                                             2,756        2,491       10,344         8,621



          Amortization of intangible assets                                                                                  1,461        1,463        5,857         6,033



          Amortization of premium and accretion of discount on marketable securities, net                                  (1,134)       (254)     (3,001)        1,666



          Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs                                                                     324          322        1,284         1,282



          Share-based compensation                                                                                           5,654        4,381       18,286        16,647



          Net effect of exchange rate fluctuation                                                                          (2,591)         412        1,754         4,523



     Changes in assets and liabilities:



          Trade accounts receivable, net                                                                                  (18,606)     (9,421)     (1,183)     (31,634)



          Inventories                                                                                                        2,851      (2,168)    (26,000)     (29,311)



          Other current and long-term assets                                                                                 (361)       5,926      (5,752)      (4,223)



          Deferred taxes, net                                                                                                (185)     (6,598)     (6,241)     (13,740)



          Operating lease right-of-use assets                                                                                  259          841        3,050         3,873



          Trade accounts payable                                                                                             8,917         (79)     (7,807)        5,142



          Deferred revenues                                                                                                  (292)      10,492       11,391        15,243



          Operating lease liabilities                                                                                        2,091          115      (3,221)      (6,351)



          Other current and long-term liabilities                                                                          (9,671)       5,548     (11,352)        1,509



          Accrued severance pay, net                                                                                            64           27        (188)           46



     
                Net cash provided by operating activities                                                                 29,605       49,596      123,531       119,539



      Cash flows from investment activities:



     Acquisition of subsidiary, net of acquired cash                                                                             -                             (78,469)



     Change in short-term and long-term interest-bearing bank deposits                                                      31,367     (26,517)    (29,658)      129,944



     Investment in marketable securities                                                                                 (106,695)     (30,064)   (273,572)    (211,742)



     Proceeds from maturity of marketable securities                                                                        44,443       23,390      195,087        81,325



     Purchase of property and equipment                                                                                    (7,601)     (8,429)    (17,188)     (21,314)



     
                Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities                                                     (38,486)    (41,620)   (125,331)    (100,256)



     
                Cash flows from 
                financing activities:



     Settlement of a contingent consideration liability                                                                          -                              (8,480)



     Purchases of treasury shares                                                                                                -    (15,000)       (112)     (21,416)



     Proceeds from exercise of options                                                                                           -           8          122            90



     
                Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities                                                            -    (14,992)          10      (29,806)



     Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents                                                        (25)        (77)     (2,357)      (4,454)



     
                Changes in cash and cash equivalents 
                and restricted cash                                    (8,906)     (7,093)     (4,147)     (14,977)



     
                Cash and cash equivalents 
                and restricted cash
                 -beginning of period             116,480      118,814      111,721       126,698



     
                Cash and cash equivalents - end of period                                                                107,574      111,721      107,574       111,721


                                                                                               
              NOVA LTD.
                                                                                    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP RESULTS

                                                            
              (U.S. dollars in thousands, except percentage and per share data) - (Unaudited)




                                                                                                                                                                  Three months ended


                                                                                                                                                       December                      September 30,  December
                                                                                                                                                              31,                                           31,
                                                                                                                                                             2023                              2023         2022



              GAAP gross profit                                                                                                                           74,012                            72,241       82,421



              Stock-based compensation*                                                                                                                    1,537                             1,173        1,148



              Amortization of acquired intangible assets                                                                                                   1,354                             1,369        1,307



              Non-GAAP gross profit                                                                                                                       76,903                            74,783       84,876



              
                GAAP gross margin as a percentage of revenues                                                                                    55 %                             56 %        54 %



              
                Non-GAAP gross margin as a percentage of revenues                                                                                57 %                             58 %        56 %





              GAAP operating
               income                                                                                                            33,662                            34,148       36,924



              Stock-based compensation*                                                                                                                    5,654                             4,571        4,381



              Acquisition-related 
              expenses
               and contingent                                                                                -                                        (752)


               consideration revaluation



              Amortization of acquired intangible assets                                                                                                   1,461                             1,477        1,463



              Non-GAAP operating income                                                                                                                   40,777                            40,196       42,016



              
                GAAP operating margin as a percentage of revenues                                                                                25 %                             27 %        24 %



              
                Non-GAAP operating margin as a percentage of revenues                                                                            30 %                             31 %        28 %





              GAAP net income                                                                                                                             38,068                            33,689       36,098



              Stock-based compensation*                                                                                                                    5,654                             4,571        4,381



              Acquisition-related expenses and contingent                                                                                                      -                                        (752)


               consideration revaluation



              Amortization of acquired intangible assets                                                                                                   1,461                             1,477        1,463



              Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs                                                                                               324                               324          322



              Revaluation of operating lease and intercompany loans                                                                                        (827)                              423          294



              Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments                                                                                                         (1,083)                          (1,079)     (1,028)



              Non-GAAP net income                                                                                                                         43,597                            39,405       40,778





              GAAP basic earnings per share                                                                                                                 1.31                              1.17         1.26



              Non-GAAP basic earnings per share                                                                                                             1.50                              1.36         1.42





              GAAP diluted earnings per share                                                                                                               1.20                              1.06         1.15



              Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share                                                                                                           1.36                              1.23         1.28





              Shares used for calculation of earnings per share
    (in thousands):



              Basic                                                                                                                                       28,975                            28,870       28,731



              Diluted                                                                                                                                     32,023                            31,983       31,737







              * Stock-based compensation for the three months ended December 31, 2023 included in - Cost of revenues - 1,537;
    Research and development, net - 2,554; Sales and marketing - 1,039; General and administrative - 524.


                                                                                  
              NOVA LTD.
                                                                       RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP RESULTS

                                               
              (U.S. dollars in thousands, except percentage and per share data) - (Unaudited)




                                                                                                                                                  Year ended December 31,


                                                                                                                                             2023       2022



              GAAP gross profit                                                                                                          293,177    316,970



              Stock-based compensation*                                                                                                    4,946      4,166



              Acquisition-related inventory step-up                                                                                        5,430      5,426



              Non-GAAP gross profit                                                                                                      303,553    329,534



              GAAP gross margin as a percentage of revenues                                                                                 57 %      56 %



              Non-GAAP gross margin as a percentage of revenues                                                                             59 %      58 %





              GAAP operating income                                                                                                      132,263    149,931



              Stock-based compensation*                                                                                                   18,286     16,647



              Acquisition-related inventory step-up                                                                                            -     2,972



              Acquisition-related expenses and contingent                                                                                      -     2,995


               consideration revaluation



              Amortization of acquired intangible assets                                                                                   5,857      6,033



              Non-GAAP operating income                                                                                                  156,406    178,578



              GAAP operating margin as a percentage of revenues                                                                             26 %      26 %



              Non-GAAP operating margin as a percentage of revenues                                                                         30 %      31 %





              GAAP net income                                                                                                            136,310    140,213



              Stock-based compensation*                                                                                                   18,286     16,647



              Acquisition-related inventory step-up                                                                                            -     2,972



              Acquisition-related expenses and contingent                                                                                      -     2,995


               consideration revaluation



              Amortization of acquired intangible assets                                                                                   5,857      6,033



              Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs                                                                             1,284      1,282



              Revaluation of operating lease liabilities                                                                                 (1,994)   (4,174)



              Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments                                                                                         (3,852)   (4,459)



              Non-GAAP net income                                                                                                        155,891    161,509





              GAAP basic earnings per share                                                                                                 4.73       4.89



              Non-GAAP basic earnings per share                                                                                             5.41       5.63





              GAAP diluted earnings per share                                                                                               4.28       4.43



              Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share                                                                                           4.86       5.07





              Shares used for calculation of earnings per share
    (in thousands):



              Basic                                                                                                                       28,828     28,697



              Diluted                                                                                                                     32,089     31,870





              * Stock-based compensation for the year ended December 31, 2023, included in - Cost of revenues - 4,946; Research
    and development, net - 7,736; Sales and marketing - 3,437; General and administrative - 2,167.



     
                NOVA LTD.

       SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF FIRST QUARTER 2024

       GAAP TO NON-GAAP GUIDANCE


     (U.S. dollars) (Unaudited)




                                                                           Low   High



     Estimated GAAP net income per diluted share                         1.00    1.12



     Estimated non-GAAP items:



     Stock-based compensation                                            0.20    0.20



     Amortization of acquired intangible assets                          0.04    0.04



     Amortization of issuance costs                                      0.01    0.01



     Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments                                (0.04) (0.04)



     Estimated non-GAAP net income per diluted share                     1.21    1.33

Company Contact:
Dror David, Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +972-73-229-5760
E-mail - investors@novami.com
Nova website link - https://www.novami.com/

Investor Relations Contact:
Miri Segal MS-IR LLC
Tel: +917-607-8654
E-mail - msegal@ms-ir.com

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SOURCE Nova