About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

Silvaco Stock: Consider Early Investment in New Semiconductor

By: MarketBeat

Close-up view on a new semiconductor microchip in gloved hand of computer scientist

Silvaco Group (NASDAQ: SVCO) is a small fish in the technology sector and semiconductor industry, with a market capitalization of less than $500 million. The firm could either see explosive growth or be destroyed by its larger competitors. The company provides software essential to designing and manufacturing semiconductors. The firm went public in early May and reported its first earnings last week.

Exploring Silvaco Group's Lines of Business and Expertise

Silvaco Group has three main products: TCAD software, EDA software, and SIP solutions. TCAD and EDA software contribute most to the firm's revenue. TCAD (Technology Computer-Aided Design) software optimizes the semiconductor fabrication process to help reduce costs and increase chip performance.

Designing chips requires EDA (Electronic Design Automation) software; cutting-edge chip design is nearly impossible without it. The United States government knows this. It's banned the export of EDA software to Chinese firms to help maintain the country's stranglehold on high-end chip design.

SIP (Silicon Intellectual Property) solutions are standard chip designs that provide basic chip functions and allow for the creation of more complex designs.

Silvaco competes against big players like ARM (NASDAQ: ARM), Cadence (NASDAQ: CDNS), and Synopsys (NASDAQ: SNPS), which have market capitalizations of $80 billion or more.

Analyzing Silvaco Group's Impressive Earnings Report

The company went public at $19 per share. The shares dropped to a low of $16.34 but have increased to around $18 since reporting earnings on Jun. 20, 2024. Silvaco reported earnings per share (EPS) of 12 cents versus analyst estimates of 6 cents. The firm was in line with revenue expectations, coming in at $15.9 million. Let's dive deeper into these results to see where growth is coming from.

Total revenue increased 11% from the prior year. TCAD and EDA software drove revenue growth, rising by $2.4 million. SIP sales declined by $0.7 million. TCAD revenue was up 21% from the previous year, EDA revenue was up 13%, and SIP was down 57%. This is a positive sign, as the avenues for innovation and growth lie in TCAD and EDA software, while SIP is a more commoditized space. It's good to see Silvaco continuing to make headway in these products.

The firm expects its SIP business to recover. The lapse of a critical licensing agreement in the fourth quarter of 2023 contributed to the decline in SIP revenue. Silvaco renewed the deal in 2024 and has since seen SIP bookings (contract signings) pick up. The firm increased its estimate of yearly bookings growth for the second quarter from 18% to 29%. The firm renewed the agreement for the next five years. This should create stability in the business for the foreseeable future.

The firm was also able to increase its already impressive margins. Gross profit margin grew from 86% to 88% over the year, and non-GAAP operating margin increased from 21% to 15%. The firm is maintaining and growing its customer base. It renewed a contract with a key Japanese customer and added nine new customers over the quarter.

Silvaco Group's Optimistic Financial Guidance and Strategic Partnership with Micron

Silvaco provided encouraging guidance in its financial results. The firm expects revenue to increase by 16% to 22% over the full year compared to 2023. This is encouraging, as consensus estimates put the number at just over 17%, on the low end of the firm's guidance. It also expects non-GAAP operating income to increase between 82% and 150%. All six analysts covering the firm rate it a buy with an average forecasted price target of $25.83. This target implies an upside of 44%.

Another encouraging sign is that Silvaco is receiving support from one of the most prominent players in the semiconductor industry, Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU). Silvaco announced a partnership with Micron that will expand the scope of the software it provides Micron and extend the term of the contract. The agreement expands the partnership for Silvaco's new software that helps optimize silicon wafer fabrication.

This software allows wafer fabricators to run simulations that mimic the fabrication process. This will enable manufacturers to experiment with new designs without actually having to produce a physical wafer. This technology will reduce the time and the amount of material needed to create better wafers. Micron also made a $5 million investment in the technology through a convertible bond. Seeing big players in the industry partner with and invest in Silvaco's technologies is a good sign.

Investors should consider getting in early on Silvaco Group, as the firm aims to make a name for itself in the semiconductor industry.

More News

View More
SoundHound Breaks Critical Resistance: How High Can It Get Now?
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers SOUN
Klarna IPO: BNPL Stock or Something Bigger?
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence Initial Public Offering
Tickers AFRM KLAR
Why Teradyne Is a Core Play in the AI Hardware Boom
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence Economy
Tickers TER
Meta Debuts Next-Gen AI Glasses—A Turning Point for Reality Labs?
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers AAPL META
How IREN is Building an AI Powerhouse on a Bitcoin Foundation
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence Supply Chain
Tickers IREN NVDA
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.