10-QPeriod: Q1 FY2006

KLA CORP Quarterly Report for Q1 Ended Sep 30, 2005

Filed November 8, 2005For Securities:KLAC

Summary

KLA Corporation (KLAC) reported its first fiscal quarter of 2006 results, with revenues of $484 million, a slight decrease from the prior quarter and year-over-year. The company's net orders also declined year-over-year, indicating a softening demand in the semiconductor equipment market, which is facing a projected slowdown after a robust 2004. A significant development for the period is the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) for share-based payments, which introduced stock-based compensation expense into the financial statements for the first time, impacting gross margin and operating expenses. Despite the revenue and order trends, KLA Corporation maintained a strong financial position with over $2.1 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. The company initiated its first quarterly cash dividend and continued its share repurchase program. Management expressed confidence in long-term demand for process control solutions, driven by technological advancements in semiconductor manufacturing, and believes its liquidity will be sufficient for at least the next twelve months.

Key Highlights

  • 1Revenues for the first fiscal quarter of 2006 were $484 million, a decrease of 2% from the previous quarter ($492 million) and 7% from the same period last year ($519 million).
  • 2Net orders decreased by 17% year-over-year to $440 million, reflecting a slowdown in the semiconductor equipment industry.
  • 3The company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), leading to the recognition of stock-based compensation expense for the first time, impacting gross margin and operating expenses.
  • 4Gross margin declined to 56% from 58% in the prior periods, partly due to stock-based compensation expense and lower revenue levels.
  • 5KLA Corporation held substantial liquidity, with $2.18 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of September 30, 2005.
  • 6The company initiated a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per share and continued its share repurchase program.

Frequently Asked Questions

KLA Corporation adopted SFAS No. 123(R) on July 1, 2005, which requires expensing stock-based compensation at fair value. This resulted in the recognition of stock-based compensation expenses in cost of revenues, R&D, and SG&A for the first time. This adoption impacted gross margin, which decreased by 1 percentage point, and increased operating expenses, though the company provided non-GAAP measures to show results excluding these charges.

Net orders declined by 17% year-over-year to $440 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2005. This reflects a projected slowdown in the semiconductor equipment industry for calendar year 2005. However, KLA's management remains optimistic about the long-term demand for process control solutions due to the increasing complexity and shrinking feature sizes in semiconductor manufacturing.

KLA Corporation maintains a strong liquidity position with $2.18 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of September 30, 2005. Cash flow from operations was $12 million for the quarter. The company believes its existing cash balances and cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet its liquidity needs for at least the next twelve months.

In the third fiscal quarter of 2005, KLA's Board of Directors approved and declared its first quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per share. The company also continued its share repurchase program, buying back 738,500 shares during the quarter at an average price of $48.05.