PLAB Q1 Earnings Call: Revenue Miss and CEO Transition Amid Industry Uncertainty

Semiconductor photomask manufacturer Photronics (NASDAQ:PLAB) missed Wall Street’s revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales falling 2.8% year on year to $211 million. Its non-GAAP EPS of $0.40 per share was 16.7% below analysts’ consensus estimates.

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StockStory’s Take

Photronics’ first quarter results were shaped by continued softness in demand for mainstream photomasks and the impact of customer wafer fab utilization, particularly in segments tied to power, industrial, and consumer applications. Management attributed the performance to a combination of muted demand in older-generation nodes and a shift in product mix, emphasizing the need to focus on higher-end photomask offerings. CEO Frank Lee noted, “The mainstream market still remains weak, mainly because a lot of our age fab customers still have very low wafer fab utilization.” The quarter also saw stability in gross margins, supported by long-term agreements with major customers that provided pricing stability despite broader market headwinds.

Looking ahead, management emphasized caution due to ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, especially related to tariffs and subdued demand visibility. Outgoing CEO Frank Lee and newly appointed CEO George Makrokostas highlighted that near-term growth will be challenged by customer hesitancy and the timing of advanced node projects, with the outlook for recovery pushed further into next year. CFO Eric Rivera said, “We are seeing customers feeling the uncertainty that’s reflected in the market... the current tariff environment is creating that uncertainty.” The company’s capital allocation will remain balanced between capacity investments and share repurchases, with an ongoing focus on expanding high-end capabilities and responding to regional shifts in semiconductor manufacturing.

Key Insights from Management’s Remarks

Management pointed to weak mainstream demand, ongoing node migration, and a major leadership transition as key themes influencing the quarter and near-term outlook.

• Mainstream segment softness: Demand for photomasks in legacy nodes declined as wafer fab customers operated at low utilization rates, particularly in power and industrial end markets. Management described this as a broad-based trend rather than one isolated to Asia or new market entrants.
• High-end node migration: The company continued to see customer designs move toward higher-end nodes, which require more complex and higher-value photomasks. This trend was especially evident in the United States and Asia, where capacity expansion is being targeted.
• Leadership transition: Frank Lee announced his retirement as CEO after three years, with Chairman George Makrokostas stepping into the role. Makrokostas emphasized continuity and a dual focus on operational discipline and market share growth.
• Capital allocation priorities: Photronics repurchased $72 million in shares during the quarter, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder returns while also investing in capacity and technology upgrades, particularly in the U.S. to support reshoring initiatives.
• Tariff and macroeconomic impacts: The ongoing tariff environment and global macro uncertainty were cited as reasons for cautious near-term guidance, with management noting the company’s diversified manufacturing footprint as a tool to mitigate supply chain and cost risks.

Drivers of Future Performance

Management’s outlook centers on cautious demand expectations, with future performance driven by advanced node adoption, regional manufacturing shifts, and ongoing supply-demand imbalances.

• Demand uncertainty persists: Management flagged continued hesitancy among customers due to tariffs and macroeconomic uncertainty, resulting in reduced visibility and shorter order backlogs. This environment is expected to weigh on revenue until industry conditions stabilize.
• Strategic capacity investments: The company is prioritizing capital expenditures for high-end node capabilities in the U.S. and Asia, aiming to capture growth tied to advanced semiconductor applications, including those supporting AI ecosystems. This focus reflects a shift away from legacy nodes toward higher-value segments.
• Market share and cost discipline: Newly appointed CEO George Makrokostas stated his intention to balance cost containment with efforts to grow market share, especially given the finite size of the photomask market and the need to respond to competitive and regional shifts in the industry.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

In the upcoming quarters, our analysts will monitor (1) the pace and impact of high-end node adoption across regional markets, (2) progress on U.S. capacity expansions and the effectiveness of these investments in capturing reshoring-related demand, and (3) stabilization or recovery in mainstream mask utilization rates. Developments in tariff negotiations and broader semiconductor industry demand will also be important signals for Photronics’ outlook.

Photronics currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 9.7×. In the wake of earnings, is it a buy or sell? The answer lies in our full research report (it’s free).

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