Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Access earnings results, analyst expectations, report, slides, earnings call, and transcript.
Overview
The earnings report shows strong EPS growth, robust free cash flow, and positive sector growth expectations. The Q&A highlights strong industrial and data center growth, favorable gross margin trends, and strategic investments. Despite some concerns about auto segment stabilization and unclear pricing details, overall sentiment is positive due to strong financial performance and optimistic guidance.
Key Financial Performance
Revenue $3.16 billion, growing 3% sequentially and 30% year-over-year. Growth driven by broad-based strength across end markets, particularly industrial and communications.
Industrial Revenue 47% of total revenue, up 5% sequentially and 38% year-over-year. Growth driven by all segments delivering 25% or more year-over-year growth, including record quarters for ATE and aerospace and defense.
Automotive Revenue 25% of total revenue, down 8% sequentially but up 8% year-over-year. Growth attributed to connectivity and functionally safe power portfolios, particularly in Level 2+ ADAS systems.
Communications Revenue 15% of total revenue, up 20% sequentially and 63% year-over-year. Growth driven by data center business and AI infrastructure investments, as well as cyclical improvements in wireless.
Consumer Revenue 13% of total revenue, up 2% sequentially and 27% year-over-year. Growth due to gains in wearables and premium handsets.
Gross Margin 71.2%, up 140 basis points sequentially and 240 basis points year-over-year. Improvement driven by higher utilization, favorable mix, and discrete items.
Operating Margin 45.5%, up 200 basis points sequentially and 500 basis points year-over-year. Improvement attributed to higher gross margin and disciplined expense management.
Earnings Per Share (EPS) $2.46, up 9% sequentially and 51% year-over-year. Growth driven by higher revenue and improved margins.
Free Cash Flow $4.6 billion over the trailing 12 months, representing 39% of revenue. Reflects strong operational performance and disciplined capital allocation.
You have reached the limit. Sign up to access full content
Get started
Operating Highlights
Automated Test Equipment (ATE): Revenue increased approximately 40% in fiscal '25 and further accelerated in the first quarter of '26. ADI's ATE portfolio is central to complex semiconductor production test systems, enabling customers to validate advanced nodes and packaging technologies faster and more thoroughly at lower costs, with up to 30% less energy consumption per system.
Data Center Business: Grew approximately 50% in fiscal '25 and saw accelerated growth in the most recent quarter. ADI's analog and mixed signal, power, and optical portfolios are critical to addressing AI's demand for faster processing speeds and greater power density. ADI enables customers to move power safely, regulate intelligently, and scale AI infrastructure for the future.
Industrial Market: Represented 47% of first-quarter revenue, growing 5% sequentially and 38% year-over-year. Growth was broad-based, with all segments delivering over 25% year-over-year growth, including record quarters for ATE and aerospace and defense.
Communications Market: Represented 15% of revenue, growing 20% sequentially and 63% year-over-year. Growth was driven by increasing investments in AI infrastructure, robust demand for optical and power portfolios, and cyclical improvements in wireless.
Gross Margin: Increased to 71.2%, up 140 basis points sequentially and 240 basis points year-over-year, driven by higher utilization, favorable mix, and discrete items.
Operating Margin: Reached 45.5%, above the high end of guidance, up 200 basis points sequentially and 500 basis points year-over-year.
AI and Data Center Investments: Focused on AI-driven computing and connectivity, with significant investments in automated test equipment and data center businesses. ADI's solutions address AI's massive performance requirements, enabling faster innovation cycles and new architectures.
Dividend Increase: Announced an 11% increase in the annual dividend, reinforcing a commitment to consistent shareholder returns.
You have reached the limit. Sign up to access full content
Get started
Risk or Challenges
Macroeconomic and Geopolitical Uncertainty: The company acknowledges that unforeseen material changes in the macroeconomic and geopolitical backdrop could impact its performance in fiscal 2026.
Automotive Segment Performance: The automotive segment experienced an 8% sequential decline in revenue, which could indicate challenges in maintaining growth in this area.
Inventory Management: Inventory levels increased by $111 million sequentially, with days of inventory at 171. While this supports upside demand, it could pose risks if demand does not materialize as expected.
Data Center Power Constraints: AI data centers face strategic constraints related to power management, including the need for safe power delivery, fault isolation, and efficient power regulation. These challenges could impact the company's ability to scale AI infrastructure.
Optical Connectivity Complexity: The increasing complexity of optical connectivity in data centers, driven by AI workloads, requires precise control and monitoring. Failure to manage this complexity could hinder the company's growth in this area.
You have reached the limit. Sign up to access full content
Get started
Guidance & Outlook
Second Quarter Revenue: Revenue is expected to be $3.5 billion, plus or minus $100 million.
Second Quarter Operating Margin: Operating margin at the midpoint is expected to be 47.5%, plus or minus 100 basis points.
Second Quarter Tax Rate: Tax rate is expected to be between 11% and 13%.
Second Quarter Adjusted EPS: Adjusted EPS is expected to be $2.88 plus or minus $0.15.
Fiscal 2026 CapEx: CapEx is expected to be within the long-term model of 4% to 6% of revenue.
Fiscal 2026 Outlook: A strong second quarter outlook and improving demand signals reinforce the belief that fiscal '26 has the potential to be a banner year for ADI barring unforeseen material changes in the macroeconomic and geopolitical backdrop.
AI Data Center Power: ADI enables customers to move power safely, regulate it intelligently, and scale AI infrastructure for the future. The company is well-positioned for the next wave of AI-driven infrastructure growth.
Optical Connectivity Portfolio: As AI workloads drive faster upgrade cycles and new network architectures, ADI's ability to manage optical complexity, performance, and economics positions it well to benefit from AI-driven infrastructure investment in the future.
You have reached the limit. Sign up to access full content
Get started
Shareholder Return Plan
Dividend Increase: An 11% increase to this year's dividend was announced, marking the 22nd consecutive annual dividend increase. The new quarterly dividend amount is $1.10.
Dividend Growth Track Record: ADI has a long-standing track record of annual dividend growth, reinforcing its commitment to consistent shareholder returns.
Share Repurchase Program: Since the inception of the capital return program in 2004, ADI has returned more than $32 billion to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases. Since the Maxim acquisition in 2021, ADI has returned more than 100% of its free cash flow to shareholders.
Capital Return Strategy: ADI targets 100% free cash flow return over the long term, allocating 40% to 60% for dividends and the remainder for share count reduction.
You have reached the limit. Sign up to access full content
Get started
Key Q&A
Q:Do you expect to see above seasonal performance in the Industrial segment over the next quarter or two? Are there signs of OEM customer restocking?
A:The company expects industrial to continue strong, up 20% sequentially and 50% year-over-year, aided by cyclical recovery and strength in ATE and ADAS. Comms is expected to grow high single digits sequentially and 60% year-over-year due to AI surge and wireless recovery. Auto is expected to be flat to down sequentially, below seasonal, due to tariff and macro pull-in unwind. Consumer is expected to decline mid-single digits, in line with seasonality. No evidence of OEM customer restocking was observed.
Q:Can you provide color on gross margin and OpEx drivers embedded in the guide?
A:Q1 gross margin was 71.2%, higher than expected due to better mix, stronger utilization, and unforeseen items. Q2 gross margin is expected to expand by 100 bps, driven by favorable mix and price uplift, with 50 bps being a one-time effect. OpEx is expected to grow mid-single digits in Q2 due to hiring, higher bonus factors, and strategic investments, but OpEx as a percentage of revenue will fall. Full-year OpEx growth is expected to trail revenue growth by half.
Q:How is the company leveraging software, DSP, and systems capabilities in the AI business?
A:The company focuses on application system knowledge to capture customer complexity and increase ASPs. Digital signal processing is increasingly used in digitally controlled power systems and optical modems. The company integrates analog, digital, and software technologies, including machine learning in some products.
Q:What is the company's data center exposure across ATE, optical, and power? How is growth expected in this segment?
A:Data center business is 20% of total revenue, over a $2 billion run rate. 40% of this is ATE, with the rest split between power and optical. These areas are expected to grow at double digits over the next several years.
Q:Are customers ordering to consumption, and will the company be shipping to consumption by the end of the year?
A:Customers are now ordering to consumption, nearing the long-term linear trend line for shipments. The company expects to be shipping to consumption across the board by the end of the year.
Q:Where is the company seeing the biggest signs of demand recovery in industrial? How much of industrial growth is ex-ATE?
A:Industrial has grown sequentially every quarter since the bottom, with a book-to-bill well above 1 in Q1. Growth is broad-based across industrial segments, with ATE and Aerospace and Defense achieving new highs. The other two-thirds of industrial is still 20% below previous peaks, with room for growth. Industrial is expected to grow 20% sequentially, led by ATE at over 30%.
Q:Are there any regional strengths or weaknesses?
A:In Q1, there was double-digit year-over-year growth in Asia, Americas, and Europe. Sequentially, Asia and Europe showed strength, while the Americas were down due to weaker auto demand and typical consumer buying behavior.
Q:What are the signs of stabilization or potential growth in the auto segment?
A:Auto has been a strong growth market, with double-digit growth through the cycle. Q1 was below seasonal due to tariff-related order acceleration and softer bookings. Auto is expected to be flat in Q2 but is anticipated to grow in the second half of the year and in fiscal '26.
Q:How much of industrial growth is driven by ASPs, secular trends, and cyclical trends?
A:Industrial growth of 20%+ is driven by a mix of ASPs, cyclical momentum, and secular trends. ATE and Aerospace and Defense, about one-third of industrial, are achieving new highs. The other parts of industrial are benefiting from secular trends in automation, energy, and healthcare.
Q:What is the company's approach to pricing, and how does it impact growth?
A:The company dynamically adjusts prices to reflect the value of its solutions. Recent pricing actions, including adjustments with channel partners, contributed to about one-third of Q2's revenue increase. Half of the price lift relates to one-time channel inventory repricing, which will not repeat in Q3. Incremental growth of 50 bps is expected in Q3 and Q4 due to pricing.
Q:Review of Unclear Management Responses
A:Management avoided directly addressing the specific breakdown of industrial growth ex-ATE and the exact contribution of secular versus cyclical trends. Additionally, while they provided general comments on pricing, they did not offer detailed data on blended pricing for the year or specific customer impacts.
You have reached the limit. Sign up to access full content
Get started
Earnings Word Cloud
The most frequently occurring keywords in this quarter's earning call
ADI ATE
ADI CFO
ADI analog
ADI material
ADI power
ADI prosperity
AI center
AI infrastructure
Head Investor
ICs
RF
amount
analog signal
approach
architecture
center power
change
complexity
consumption
control power
converter
density
device
fault
future
module
monitoring power
network
pin
platform
potential
power control
power delivery
power system
precision control
protection
rack
role
semiconductor
speed power
story
suite
system level
voltage
wave
ADI Transcript
Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive2-18
The earnings report shows strong EPS growth, robust free cash flow, and positive sector growth expectations. The Q&A highlights strong industrial and data center growth, favorable gross margin trends, and strategic investments. Despite some concerns about auto segment stabilization and unclear pricing details, overall sentiment is positive due to strong financial performance and optimistic guidance.
Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) Presents at UBS Global Technology and AI Conference 2025 Transcript
Neutral12-2
Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive11-25
The earnings call summary and Q&A indicate strong financial performance with a 35% YoY EPS increase, margin expansion, and double-digit growth in key segments like communications and consumer. Despite some uncertainties in the macro environment and limited visibility, the overall guidance remains optimistic with expectations of broad-based growth in fiscal '26. Positive factors like strong content gains and design wins in auto, alongside promising AI and defense sectors, contribute to a positive outlook. The lack of specific guidance for Q2 is a minor concern but doesn't overshadow the overall positive sentiment.
Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) Presents at JPMorgan U.S. All Stars Conference Transcript
Neutral9-16
ADI Report
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this earnings call transcript come from?
All transcripts are sourced directly from the official live webcast or the company’s official investor relations website. We use the exact words spoken during the call with no paraphrasing of the core discussion.
How soon is the transcript available after the earnings call ends?
Full verbatim transcripts are typically published within 4–12 hours after the call ends. Same-day availability is guaranteed for all S&P 500 and most mid-cap companies.
Is the transcript edited or altered in any way?
No material content is ever changed or summarized in the “Full Transcript” section. We only correct obvious spoken typos (e.g., “um”, “ah”, repeated 10 times”, or clear misspoken ticker symbols) and add speaker names/titles for readability. Every substantive sentence remains 100% as spoken.
Why do some answers appear as “Unclear” or “Inaudible”?
When audio quality is poor or multiple speakers talk over each other, we mark the section instead of guessing. This ensures complete accuracy rather than introducing potential errors.
Who creates the AI Summary and Key Q&A highlights shown above the transcript?
They are generated by a specialized financial-language model trained exclusively on 15+ years of earnings transcripts. The model extracts financial figures, guidance, and tone with 97%+ accuracy and is regularly validated against human analysts. The full raw transcript always remains available for verification.
