10-QPeriod: Q2 FY2004

LAM RESEARCH CORP Quarterly Report for Q2 Ended Dec 28, 2003

Filed February 9, 2004For Securities:LRCX

Summary

Lam Research Corporation (LRCX) reported its financial results for the quarter and six months ended December 28, 2003. Total revenue for the quarter saw a modest increase of 3.8% year-over-year to $191.5 million, driven by improved customer demand. For the six-month period, revenue decreased slightly by 1.8% to $375.2 million, attributed to a short-lived demand surge in the prior year's September quarter. The company demonstrated improved profitability with a gross margin of 45.5% in the current quarter, up from 39.3% in the prior year, driven by better factory utilization and reduced installation/warranty costs. Operating expenses, including R&D and SG&A, saw slight decreases and increases respectively, with overall operating income improving significantly from a loss in the prior year's quarter to a profit of $8.0 million. Financially, the company maintained a strong liquidity position, with cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaling $704.5 million at the end of the period. Net cash provided by operating activities was robust at $34.2 million for the six months. The company also continued its restructuring efforts, incurring net charges but anticipating future cost savings. The company's outlook for the next quarter (March 2004) projects revenues of approximately $215 million, indicating a continued expectation of revenue growth.

Key Highlights

  • 1Revenue for the quarter ended December 28, 2003, increased by 3.8% year-over-year to $191.5 million, signaling an improvement in customer demand for wafer processing equipment.
  • 2Gross margin improved significantly to 45.5% of revenue for the quarter, up from 39.3% in the prior year, due to better factory utilization and lower installation/warranty costs.
  • 3Operating income turned positive at $8.0 million for the quarter, a substantial improvement from an operating loss of ($1.0 million) in the same period last year.
  • 4The company reported net income of $6.4 million ($0.05 per diluted share) for the quarter, compared to a net income of $1.5 million ($0.01 per diluted share) in the prior year's quarter.
  • 5Total assets increased to $1.25 billion, with a healthy cash and short-term investments balance of $586 million.
  • 6The company continued its strategic restructuring efforts, incurring charges but aiming for future cost savings and operational efficiencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

For the quarter ended December 28, 2003, revenue increased by 3.8% to $191.5 million compared to the prior year quarter. For the six-month period ended December 28, 2003, revenue slightly decreased by 1.8% to $375.2 million compared to the prior year period.

The gross margin percentage improved significantly to 45.5% for the three months ended December 28, 2003, up from 39.3% in the same period last year. For the six-month period, the gross margin was 44.2%, up from 39.6% in the prior year. This improvement is attributed to better utilization of factory resources and assets, and a reduction in installation and warranty costs.

As of December 28, 2003, Lam Research Corporation had $129.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and $456.8 million in short-term investments, totaling $586 million. Total cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments, and restricted cash increased to $704.5 million. The company believes its liquidity reserves are sufficient to support anticipated operations, investments, and capital expenditures for at least the next twelve months.

The company has been undertaking a series of restructuring plans, beginning in fiscal 2001 through fiscal 2004, to respond to industry volatility. These plans involved workforce reductions and facility consolidations. For the six months ended December 28, 2003, net restructuring charges were approximately $5.7 million. The company anticipates future cost savings from these activities.