KLA Corporation Reports Fiscal 2024 Third Quarter Results

    --  Total revenues were $2.36 billion, above the midpoint of the guidance
        range of $2.30 billion +/- $125 million;
    --  GAAP diluted EPS attributable to KLA was $4.43 and non-GAAP diluted EPS
        attributable to KLA was $5.26, both of which were near the upper end of
        the respective adjusted guidance ranges;
    --  Cash flow from operating activities for the quarter and last nine months
        were $910.0 million and $2.42 billion, respectively, and free cash flow
        was $838.2 million and $2.20 billion, respectively; and
    --  Capital returns for the quarter and last nine months were $569.4 million
        and $1.84 billion, respectively.

MILPITAS, Calif., April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- KLA Corporation (NASDAQ: KLAC) today announced financial and operating results for its third quarter of fiscal year 2024, which ended on March 31, 2024, and reported GAAP net income of $601.5 million and GAAP earnings per diluted share of $4.43 on revenue of $2.36 billion.

"KLA's March quarter results were above our adjusted guidance as customer demand and company execution tracked consistent with our expectations," said Rick Wallace, president and CEO, KLA Corporation. "As we have highlighted over the past few quarters, market conditions have stabilized and we expect our business levels to improve as we progress through the year. We are encouraged by the improvement in our customers' businesses across multiple end markets and this improvement is translating into constructive discussions with our customers about future opportunities for leading edge capacity investments."


                                                         
       
       GAAP Results


                                                                                        Q3 FY 2024         Q2 FY 2024          Q3 FY 2023



     Total Revenue                                                             
       $2,360 million 
       $2,487 million  
       $2,433 million



     Net Income Attributable to KLA                                              
       $602 million   
       $583 million    
       $698 million



     Net Income per Diluted Share Attributable to KLA                                       $4.43               $4.28                $5.03




                                                       
       
       Non-GAAP Results


                                                                                        Q3 FY 2024         Q2 FY 2024          Q3 FY 2023



     Net Income Attributable to KLA                                              
       $715 million   
       $839 million    
       $761 million



     Net Income per Diluted Share Attributable to KLA                                       $5.26               $6.16                $5.49

A reconciliation between GAAP operating results and non-GAAP operating results is provided following the financial statements included in this release. KLA will discuss the results for its fiscal year 2024 third quarter, along with its outlook, on a conference call today beginning at 3 p.m. PT. A webcast of the call will be available at: www.kla.com.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Guidance

The following details our guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 ending in June:

    --  Total revenues is expected to be in a range of $2.50 billion +/- $125
        million
    --  GAAP gross margin is expected to be in a range of 59.5% +/- 1.0%
    --  Non-GAAP gross margin is expected to be in a range of 61.5% +/- 1.0%
    --  GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in a range of $5.66 +/- $0.60
    --  Non-GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in a range of $6.07 +/- $0.60

For additional details and assumptions underlying our guidance metrics, please see the company's published Letter to Shareholders, Earnings Slide Presentation and Earnings Infographic on the KLA investor relations website. Such Letter to Shareholders, Earnings Slide Presentation and Earnings Infographic are not incorporated by reference into this earnings release.

About KLA:

KLA Corporation ("KLA") develops industry-leading equipment and services that enable innovation throughout the electronics industry. We provide advanced process control and process-enabling solutions for manufacturing wafers and reticles, integrated circuits, packaging and printed circuit boards. In close collaboration with leading customers across the globe, our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem-solvers design solutions that move the world forward. Investors and others should note that KLA announces material financial information including SEC filings, press releases, public earnings calls and conference webcasts using an investor relations website (ir.kla.com). Additional information may be found at: www.kla.com.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
Statements in this press release other than historical facts, such as statements pertaining to total revenues, GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin and GAAP and non-GAAP diluted EPS for the quarter ending June 30, 2024, are forward-looking statements and are subject to the Safe Harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current information and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in such statements due to various factors, including but not limited to: our vulnerability to a weakening in the condition of the financial markets and the global economy; risks related to our international operations; evolving Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce rules and regulations and their impact on our ability to sell products to and provide services to certain customers in China; costly intellectual property disputes that could result in our inability to sell or use the challenged technology; risks related to the legal, regulatory and tax environments in which we conduct our business; increasing attention to ESG matters and the resulting costs, risks and impact on our business; unexpected delays, difficulties and expenses in executing against our environmental, climate, diversity and inclusion or other ESG targets, goals and commitments; our ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel; our vulnerability to disruptions and delays at our third party service providers; cybersecurity threats, cyber incidents affecting our and our business partners' systems and networks; our inability to access critical information in a timely manner due to system failures; our ability to identify suitable acquisition targets and successfully integrate and manage acquired businesses; climate change, earthquake, flood or other natural catastrophic events, public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic or terrorism and the adverse impact on our business operations; the war between Ukraine and Russia, and the war between Israel and Hamas, and the significant military activity in that region; lack of insurance for losses and interruptions caused by terrorists and acts of war, and our self-insurance of certain risks including earthquake risk; risks related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; risks related to fluctuations in interest rates and the market values of our portfolio investments; risks related to tax and regulatory compliance audits; any change in taxation rules or practices and our effective tax rate; compliance costs with federal securities laws, rules, regulations, NASDAQ requirements, and evolving accounting standards and practices; ongoing changes in the technology industry, and the semiconductor industry in particular, including future growth rates, pricing trends in end-markets, or changes in customer capital spending patterns; our vulnerability to a highly concentrated customer base; the cyclicality of the industries in which we operate; our ability to timely develop new technologies and products that successfully address changes in the industry; our ability to maintain our technology advantage and protect proprietary rights; our ability to compete in the industry; availability and cost of the materials and parts used in the production of our products; our ability to operate our business in accordance with our business plan; risks related to our debt and leveraged capital structure; we may not be able to declare cash dividends at all or in any particular amount; liability to our customers under indemnification provisions if our products fail to operate properly or contain defects or our customers are sued by third parties due to our products; our government funding for R&D is subject to audit, and potential termination or penalties; we may incur significant restructuring charges or other asset impairment charges or inventory write offs; and risks related to receivables factoring arrangements and compliance risk of certain settlement agreements with the government. For other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected and anticipated in forward-looking statements in this press release, please refer to KLA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2023, and other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including, but not limited to, the risk factors described therein). KLA assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update these forward-looking statements.



       
                KLA Corporation



       
                Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Balance Sheets





       
                
                  
                    (In thousands)  March 31, 2024 June 30, 2023

    ---


       
                ASSETS



       Current assets:



       Cash and cash equivalents                                        $1,848,167     $1,927,865



       Marketable securities                                             2,446,135      1,315,294



       Accounts receivable, net                                          1,625,257      1,753,361



       Inventories                                                       3,007,053      2,876,784



       Other current assets                                                601,470        498,728



       Total current assets                                              9,528,082      8,372,032



       Land, property and equipment, net                                 1,106,278      1,031,841



       Goodwill, net                                                     2,015,727      2,278,820



       Deferred income taxes                                               879,380        816,899



       Purchased intangible assets, net                                    727,601        935,303



       Other non-current assets                                            700,221        637,462



       Total assets                                                    $14,957,289    $14,072,357



       
                LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY



       Current liabilities:



       Accounts payable                                                   $354,720       $371,026



       Deferred system revenue                                             994,469        651,720



       Deferred service revenue                                            450,933        416,606



       Current portion of long-term debt                                   749,889



       Other current liabilities                                         1,908,527      2,303,490



       Total current liabilities                                         4,458,538      3,742,842



       Long-term debt                                                    5,879,025      5,890,736



       Deferred tax liabilities                                            480,270        529,287



       Deferred service revenue                                            271,365        176,681



       Other non-current liabilities                                       773,206        813,058



       Total liabilities                                                11,862,404     11,152,604



       Stockholders' equity:



       Common stock and capital in excess of par value                   2,177,501      2,107,663



       Retained earnings                                                   958,904        848,431



       Accumulated other comprehensive loss                               (41,520)      (36,341)



       Total stockholders' equity                                        3,094,885      2,919,753



       Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                      $14,957,289    $14,072,357



       
                KLA Corporation



       
                Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Statements of Operations


                                                                                                         Three Months Ended March 31,                     Nine Months Ended March 31,



       
                
                  
                    (In thousands, except per share amounts)       2024          2023                   2024        2023

    ---


       Revenues:



       Product                                                                               $1,769,369    $1,903,484             $5,527,842  $6,562,501



       Service                                                                                  590,461       529,124              1,715,670   1,578,418



       Total revenues                                                                         2,359,830     2,432,608              7,243,512   8,140,919



       Costs and expenses:



       Costs of revenues                                                                        993,885     1,005,346              2,917,522   3,255,358



       Research and development                                                                 321,590       328,276                953,222     979,617



       Selling, general and administrative                                                      237,514       238,393                714,403     735,469



       Impairment of goodwill and purchased intangible assets                                    70,474                             289,474



       Interest expense                                                                          79,981        74,774                228,417     223,449



       Loss on extinguishment of debt                                                                                                          13,286



       Other expense (income), net                                                             (45,622)     (14,864)             (104,515)   (79,944)



       Income before income taxes                                                               702,008       800,683              2,244,989   3,013,684



       Provision for income taxes                                                               100,467       102,846                319,539     310,987



       Net income                                                                               601,541       697,837              1,925,450   2,702,697



       Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest                                                                                   74



       Net income attributable to KLA                                                          $601,541      $697,837             $1,925,450  $2,702,623



       Net income per share attributable to KLA



       Basic                                                                                      $4.46         $5.06                 $14.20      $19.26



       Diluted                                                                                    $4.43         $5.03                 $14.11      $19.16



       Weighted-average number of shares:



       Basic                                                                                    134,954       137,865                135,638     140,349



       Diluted                                                                                  135,856       138,645                136,428     141,073



       
                KLA Corporation



       
                Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Statements of Cash Flows


                                                                                                                         Three Months Ended March 31,



       
                
                  
                    (In thousands)                                                            2024                     2023

    ---


       Cash flows from operating activities:



       Net income                                                                                                         $601,541                 $697,837



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



       Impairment of goodwill                                                                                               70,474



       Depreciation and amortization                                                                                        99,263                  104,854



       Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss and other                                                                     7,629                 (16,531)



       Stock-based compensation expense                                                                                     56,682                   48,130



       Deferred income taxes                                                                                                11,886                 (66,596)



       Changes in assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business acquisitions:



       Accounts receivable                                                                                                 194,311                  342,090



       Inventories                                                                                                          28,359                (211,216)



       Other assets                                                                                                      (111,233)                (60,973)



       Accounts payable                                                                                                   (10,238)               (119,606)



       Deferred system revenue                                                                                             110,442                  (1,765)



       Deferred service revenue                                                                                             54,288                    5,332



       Other liabilities                                                                                                 (203,426)                 289,299



       Net cash provided by operating activities                                                                           909,978                1,010,855



       Cash flows from investing activities:



       Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired                                                                         (3,682)



       Capital expenditures                                                                                               (71,793)                (84,914)



       Purchases of available-for-sale and equity securities                                                           (1,172,264)               (402,672)



       Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities                                                                  55,722                   37,786



       Proceeds from maturity of available-for-sale securities                                                             342,808                  345,972



       Purchases of trading securities                                                                                    (46,456)                (40,176)



       Proceeds from sale of trading securities                                                                             37,619                   30,797



       Net cash used in investing activities                                                                             (858,046)               (113,207)



       Cash flows from financing activities:



       Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of issuance costs                                                               735,043



       Repayment of debt                                                                                                                         (225,000)



       Common stock repurchases                                                                                          (372,251)               (478,186)



       Payment of dividends to stockholders                                                                              (197,154)               (180,854)



       Tax withholding payments related to vested and released restricted stock units                                     (24,274)                (16,154)



       Contingent consideration payable and other, net                                                                     (2,440)                 (2,527)



       Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities                                                                 138,924                (902,721)



       Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents                                                        (7,743)                   2,109



       Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                                                                183,113                  (2,964)



       Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                                                                  1,665,054                1,571,477



       Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                                                                       $1,848,167               $1,568,513



       Supplemental cash flow disclosures:



       Income taxes paid, net                                                                                             $159,848                  $56,779



       Interest paid                                                                                                      $113,372                 $125,055



       Non-cash activities:



       Contingent consideration payable - financing activities                                                     
     $           -                   $(75)



       Dividends payable - financing activities                                                                             $2,105                   $1,915



       Unsettled common stock repurchase - financing activities                                                            $10,999                  $15,943



       Accrued purchase of land, property and equipment - investing activities                                             $15,378                  $14,390

KLA Corporation
Segment Information (Unaudited)

The following is a summary of results for each of our three reportable segments and reconciliations to total revenues for the indicated periods:


                                                                          Three Months Ended March 31,                 Nine Months Ended March 31,



              
                
                  (In thousands)            2024        2023                  2024       2023

    ---


              Revenues:



              Semiconductor Process Control                   $2,096,005  $2,171,557            $6,425,562 $7,226,711



              Specialty Semiconductor Process                    130,649     128,438               407,433    414,390



              PCB, Display and Component Inspection              133,399     131,923               412,474    502,627



              Total revenues for reportable segments           2,360,053   2,431,918             7,245,469  8,143,728



              Corporate allocations and effects of changes in      (223)        690               (1,957)   (2,809)
    foreign currency exchange rates



              Total revenues                                  $2,359,830  $2,432,608            $7,243,512 $8,140,919

KLA Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Supplemental Information

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Non-GAAP Net Income


                                                                                                                                                                                    Three Months Ended                                            Nine Months Ended


                                                                                                                        (In thousands, except per share
                                                                                                                         amounts)                                March 31,                     Dec. 31,           March 31,              March 31,                  March 31,
                                                                                                                                                                    2024                          2023                 2023                    2024                        2023




              GAAP net income attributable to KLA                                                                                                      $601,541           $582,534                      $697,837             $1,925,450                 $2,702,623



              
                Adjustments to reconcile GAAP net income to
    non-GAAP net income:

    ---

                                                                                   Acquisition-related charges                                                 a    58,573                        59,307               65,050                 181,124                     206,999


                                                                                   Restructuring, severance and other
                                                                                    charges                                                                    b     2,042                         1,270               19,089                   3,312                      13,900


                                                                                   Impairment of goodwill and purchased                                        c    70,474                       219,000                                     289,474
                                                                        intangible assets


                                                                                   Loss on extinguishment of debt                                              d                                                                                                       13,286


                                                                                   Income tax effect of non-GAAP
                                                                                    adjustments                                                                e  (19,879)                     (22,806)            (22,942)               (63,084)                   (69,517)


                                                                        
              Discrete tax items                                                          f     2,386                         (103)               1,688                   4,538                    (52,277)



              Non-GAAP net income attributable to KLA                                                                                                  $715,137           $839,202                      $760,722             $2,340,814                 $2,815,014



              GAAP net income per diluted share attributable                                                                                              $4.43              $4.28                         $5.03                 $14.11                     $19.16
    to KLA



              Non-GAAP net income per diluted share                                                                                                       $5.26              $6.16                         $5.49                 $17.16                     $19.95
    attributable to KLA



              Shares used in diluted net income per share                                                                                               135,856            136,254                       138,645                136,428                    141,073
    calculation

Pre-tax Impact of GAAP to Non-GAAP Adjustments Included in Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Statements of Operations



       
                
                  
                    (In thousands)           Acquisition -             Restructuring,               Goodwill and              Total Pre-tax
                                                                                                                                                                    GAAP
                                                                      Related               Severance and                  Purchased                to Non-GAAP
                                                                      Charges               Other Charges                 Intangible                Adjustments
                                                                                                                             Asset
                                                                                                                          Impairment

    ---


       
                
                  Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

    ---


       Costs of revenues                                                           $44,839                        $805 
            $                -                    $45,644



       Research and development                                                        867                         922                                                  1,789



       Selling, general and administrative                                          12,867                         315                                                 13,182



       Impairment of goodwill                                                                                                             70,474                      70,474



       Total in three months ended March 31, 2024                                  $58,573                      $2,042                     $70,474                    $131,089



       
                
                  Three Months Ended Dec. 31, 2023

    ---


       Costs of revenues                                                           $46,078                        $467 
            $                -                    $46,545



       Research and development                                                                                   417                                                    417



       Selling, general and administrative                                          13,229                         386                                                 13,615



       Impairment of goodwill and purchased intangible assets                                                                            219,000                     219,000



       Total in three months ended Dec. 31, 2023                                   $59,307                      $1,270                    $219,000                    $279,577



       
                
                  Three Months Ended March 31, 2023

    ---


       Costs of revenues                                                           $45,437                      $6,039 
            $                -                    $51,476



       Research and development                                                                                 6,664                                                  6,664



       Selling, general and administrative                                          19,613                       6,386                                                 25,999



       Total in three months ended March 31, 2023                                  $65,050                     $19,089 
            $                -                    $84,139

Free Cash Flow Reconciliation


                                                                          Three Months Ended March 31,                      Nine Months Ended March 31,


                                                  (In thousands)     2024          2023                   2024         2023

    ---


       Net cash provided by operating activities                $909,978    $1,010,855             $2,415,960   $2,710,690



       Capital expenditures                                     (71,793)     (84,914)             (216,639)   (262,908)



       Free cash flow                                           $838,185      $925,941             $2,199,321   $2,447,782

Capital Returns Calculation


                                                                      Three Months Ended March 31,               Nine Months Ended March 31,


                                              (In thousands)     2024       2023                 2024       2023

    ---


       Payments of dividends to stockholders                $197,154   $180,854             $575,520   $553,046



       Common stock repurchases                              372,251    478,186            1,265,480    923,039



       Capital returns                                      $569,405   $659,040           $1,841,000 $1,476,085

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Guidance

Reconciliation of GAAP Diluted EPS to Non-GAAP Diluted EPS


                                                                                     Three Months Ending June 30,
                                                                                                   2024



       
                
                  (In millions, except per share amounts)      Low                                High

    ---


       GAAP net income per diluted share                                      $5.06                                $6.26



       Acquisition-related charges                                         a   0.44                                 0.44



       Restructuring, severance and other charges                          b   0.14                                 0.14



       Income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments                           e (0.17)                              (0.17)



       Non-GAAP net income per diluted share                                  $5.47                                $6.67



       Shares used in net income per diluted share calculation                135.4                                135.4

Reconciliation of GAAP Gross Margin to Non-GAAP Gross Margin


                                                          Three Months Ending June 30,
                                                                        2024


                                                      Low                                High



     GAAP gross margin                            58.5 %                              60.5 %



     Acquisition-related charges                a  1.9 %                               1.9 %



     Restructuring, severance and other charges b  0.1 %                               0.1 %



     Non-GAAP gross margin                        60.5 %                              62.5 %

The non-GAAP and supplemental information provided in this press release is a supplement to, and not a substitute for, KLA's financial results presented in accordance with United States GAAP.

To supplement our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements presented in accordance with GAAP, we provide certain non-GAAP financial information, which is adjusted from results based on GAAP to exclude certain gains, costs and expenses, as well as other supplemental information. The non-GAAP and supplemental information is provided to enhance the user's overall understanding of our operating performance and our prospects in the future. Specifically, we believe that the non-GAAP information, including non-GAAP net income attributable to KLA, non-GAAP net income per diluted share attributable to KLA, non-GAAP gross margin and free cash flow, provides useful measures to both management and investors regarding financial and business trends relating to our financial performance by excluding certain costs and expenses that we believe are not indicative of our core operating results to help investors compare our operating performances with our results in prior periods as well as with the performance of other companies. The non-GAAP information is among the budgeting and planning tools that management uses for future forecasting. However, because there are no standardized or generally accepted definitions for most non-GAAP financial metrics, definitions of non-GAAP financial metrics are inherently subject to significant discretion (for example, determining which costs and expenses to exclude when calculating such a metric). As a result, non-GAAP financial metrics may be defined very differently from company to company, or even from period to period within the same company, which can potentially limit the usefulness of such information to an investor. The presentation of non-GAAP and supplemental information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results prepared and presented in accordance with United States GAAP. The following are descriptions of the adjustments made to reconcile GAAP net income attributable to KLA to non-GAAP net income attributable to KLA:


     a.   Acquisition-related charges primarily include amortization of intangible assets, transaction costs associated with our acquisitions and dispositions, as well as
           intangible asset impairment charges. Although we exclude the effect of amortization of all acquired intangible assets from these non-GAAP financial measures,
           management believes that it is important for investors to understand that such intangible assets were recorded as part of purchase price accounting arising from
           acquisitions, and such amortization of intangible assets related to past acquisitions will recur in future periods until such intangible assets have been fully
           amortized. Investors should note that the use of these intangible assets contributed to our revenues earned during the periods presented and are expected to contribute
           to our future period revenues as well.


     b.   Restructuring, severance and other charges primarily include costs associated with employee severance including associated acceleration of recognition of certain stock-
           based and other compensation expenses, gains and losses from exiting non-core businesses and adjustments related to non-controlling interest. Restructuring, severance
           and other charges in the nine months ended March 31, 2023 included a gain on the sale of Orbograph, Ltd. ("Orbograph"), which was sold in the first quarter of fiscal
           2023, partially offset by certain transaction bonuses triggered by the sale of Orbograph.


     c.   Impairment of goodwill and purchased intangible assets included non-cash expense recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2023, following the
           downward revision of financial outlook for the PCB and Display reporting units in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 and the subsequent decision to exit the Company's
           Display business that was based on many factors, including the cancellation of a significant new technology project by a major customer, in the third quarter of fiscal
           2024. Management believes that it is appropriate to exclude these impairment charges as they are not indicative of ongoing operating results and therefore limit
           comparability. Management also believes excluding this item helps investors compare our operating performance with our results in prior periods as well as with the
           performance of other companies.


     d.   Loss on extinguishment of debt during the nine months ended March 31, 2023 included a pre-tax loss on early extinguishment of the $500 million 4.650% Senior Notes due
           in Nov. 2024.


     e. 
     Income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments includes the income tax effects of the excluded items noted above.


     f.   Discrete tax items in the nine months ended March 31, 2024 included a one-time tax benefit resulting from changes made to our international structure to better align
           ownership of certain intellectual property rights with how our business operates. Discrete tax items in all periods presented included a tax impact relating to the
           amortization of the aforementioned tax benefit or similar tax benefits recorded in other periods. Discrete items in the nine months ended March 31, 2023 included an
           adjustment of the net benefit of the Orbotech Ltd. 2012 to 2018 Israel tax audit settlement, for which the net benefit includes the liability on the audit settlement
           less reductions in unrecognized tax positions and deferred tax assets and liabilities. Discrete tax items in the nine months ended March 31, 2023 also included a tax
           impact from the sale of Orbograph and a tax expense of $19.8 million from an internal restructuring.

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SOURCE KLA Corporation