Himax’s second quarter was marked by revenue and non-GAAP profit that matched or slightly surpassed Wall Street’s expectations, but the market responded negatively due to persistent margin pressures and ongoing uncertainty in core end markets. Management attributed the year-on-year revenue decline primarily to reduced demand across large display drivers and persistent macroeconomic headwinds, with tariffs and volatility in the automotive sector also weighing on results. CEO Jordan Wu cited ongoing softness in both notebook and monitor IC sales, as well as the impact of global trade tensions and currency fluctuations. Operating expenses increased, driven by foreign exchange movements and annual bonus timing, further compressing margins. Management acknowledged the challenging environment, noting, “Automotive market demand visibility remains low, with customers continuing to adopt a cautious stance by maintaining low inventory levels and delaying new product introductions.”

Is now the time to buy HIMX? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).

While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.

Our Top 5 Analyst Questions From Himax’s Q2 Earnings Call

During the Q&A session, management addressed several analyst questions focused on:

• The status and timeline for Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), including updates on the transition from engineering validation in 2025 to anticipated mass production in 2026, and the revenue potential for CPO as it scales with adoption in data centers and potentially new markets such as automotive and robotics.
• Progress on next-generation CPO products, with management indicating ongoing development for future generations that could provide higher revenue per unit and broader scope of optics integration.
• The reasons behind projected Q3 losses, with management explaining the impact of the company’s annual employee bonus expense recognition, which causes a spike in Q3 expenses due to accounting practices—management noted that, absent this accounting treatment, Q3 would otherwise be profitable and cash flow positive.
• Management also reaffirmed that customer collaborations on CPO are not being deterred by macro uncertainty or tariff issues, and that the company is committed to pushing technological boundaries and preparing for customer ramp-up plans.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

In coming quarters, our team will be closely monitoring (1) the pace of automotive IC design wins translating into tangible revenue, (2) adoption rates for WiseEye AI solutions across new customer platforms, and (3) progress in geographic supply chain diversification to mitigate macro and policy risks. Further clarity on the impact of new U.S. tariffs and any signs of recovery in large display and consumer electronics demand will also be critical for assessing Himax’s ability to stabilize margins and resume growth.

Himax currently trades at $7.46, down from $8.64 just before the earnings. In the wake of this quarter, is it a buy or sell? The answer lies in our full research report (it’s free).

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