Shares of Navitas Semiconductor Corp (NVTS) experienced a sharp 13.47% decline in a 24-hour period, as investors reacted to the company's third-quarter earnings report and disappointing fourth-quarter guidance. The semiconductor firm, which had been riding high with a year-to-date gain of 277%, faced a significant setback in the wake of its latest financial disclosures.
Navitas reported Q3 revenue of $10.11 million, slightly beating analyst estimates of $10.01 million. However, this figure represented a steep 53.4% drop from the same quarter last year. The company posted an adjusted loss of 5 cents per share, in line with expectations but showing no improvement from the previous year. Despite meeting or marginally exceeding these metrics, the market's response was decidedly negative.
The most significant factor driving the stock's plummet appears to be Navitas' weak guidance for the fourth quarter. The company projects Q4 revenue to be between $6.75 million and $7.25 million, falling far short of the $10.05 million analysts had anticipated. This guidance reflects a strategic pivot by Navitas, as explained by CEO Chris Allexandre: "Navitas' decade-long technology leadership in gallium nitride (GaN) and high-voltage silicon carbide (SiC) strongly positions us to capitalize on these global megatrends." The company is deprioritizing its low power, lower profit China mobile and consumer business to focus on higher power revenue and customers, a move that may impact short-term results but aims for long-term growth in AI data centers, performance computing, and industrial electrification markets.
While Navitas' strategic shift may eventually yield positive results, the immediate market reaction underscores investor concerns about the company's near-term growth prospects. As the semiconductor industry faces global challenges, Navitas' ability to successfully execute its new strategy will be crucial in regaining investor confidence and reversing the current downtrend in its stock price.