Skip to content
    MPWR
    Earnings call· Mar 2025(Q1 FY25)

    MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS Q1 FY25 earnings call MPWR

    May 1, 2025 Source

    Executive summary

    Monolithic Power Systems Q1 FY25 — Record Revenue and Strong Diversified Growth

    Monolithic Power Systems delivered record Q1 FY25 revenue, driven by strong performance in its storage & computing and automotive segments, reflecting its diversified market strategy and continuous innovation. The company is actively transforming into a full-service silicon-based solutions provider, leveraging its expertise to offer module and system-level solutions across various end markets. While management expressed increased confidence in enterprise data ramps for the second half of the year, the precise timing of these ramps remains outside their direct control, and Q2 gross margin is anticipated to slightly decline due to product mix.

    Highlights

    4
    • Achieved record quarterly revenue of $637.6 million, representing a 39.2% increase year-over-year.

    • Storage and computing segment revenue increased 38% quarter-over-quarter due to strong demand in memory and notebook solutions.

    • Automotive revenue increased 13% quarter-over-quarter, marking the third consecutive quarter of sequential double-digit growth.

    • Increased confidence in enterprise data segment ramps in the second half of 2025, driven by numerous design wins and qualifications.

    Concerns

    3
    • Gross margin is expected to tick down by approximately 20 basis points at the midpoint in Q2 due to product mix shifts.

    • Uncertainty remains regarding the exact timing of customer product ramps in the enterprise data segment, despite improved visibility.

    • Q1 inventory levels were described as "unhealthy levels, too low" compared to the company's target of 180-200 days.

    Guidance & targets

    4
    CategoryTargetConfidence
    Gross margin
    down 20 bps at midpoint
    medium materiality
    High
    Rack power solution revenue
    material revenues
    medium materiality
    Medium
    Automotive 800V and 48V adoption
    see a lot more
    medium materiality
    Medium
    Server market share
    gain a higher percentage
    medium materiality
    Medium

    Segment performance

    2
    SegmentRevenueYoYQoQMargin
    Storage and Computing
    Strong demand for both memory (DDR5, SSD, HDD) and notebook solutions, as well as desktop and CPU-side. Growth was broad-based across these segments.
    38%
    Automotive
    Third consecutive quarter of sequential double-digit growth. Momentum in H2 will be content-driven from design wins secured in previous years, particularly in North America and Europe. Early changes to 800V and 48V are being shipped.
    13%

    Operational metrics

    7
    Total revenue
    $637.6 million39.2% higher than Q1 2024
    Q1 FY25

    Achieved record quarterly revenue.

    Gross margin
    down 20 bpssequentially at midpoint
    Q2 FY25

    Due to mix shift, management is being conservative.

    Inventory levels
    very low levels
    Q1 FY25

    Described as "unhealthy levels, too low" in Q1, both for MPS and in the channel. Company strategy is to hold more inventory than disti.

    Server market share
    gain a higher percentage
    Next year

    Expected to gain higher market share in the server market next year.

    Lead times
    holding pretty well
    Current

    In the supply chain, lead times are holding well. MPS has flexibility and is well-positioned.

    Company annual growth
    Historical

    The company has grown every year for 21 years as a public company, except for 2010 when it missed by $3 million.

    AI product dollar content
    few hundred million dollars
    Half year

    Referred to as '$500 million, $600 million' for half years, indicating significant potential for AI-related modules.

    Industry KPIs

    6
    MetricValueDetails
    Lead timesholding pretty well
    Ai data center revenuefew hundred million dollarsUSD
    Design wins socket pipelineMany design wins
    Inventory channel inventoryvery low levels
    Node platform ramp schedule400V to 800V; 12V to 48V
    End market segment revenue mixStorage and computing: 38% QoQ; Automotive: 13% QoQ%

    Product announcements

    2
    ProductTypeDetails
    400-volt rack power solution modules (120-kilowatt)launch
    Silicon-based solutions (robotics, automotive, data center, building automation, medical, audio)roadmap

    Risks & headwinds

    3
    Timing of customer product rampsSecond half of 2025

    Unquantified, but impacts revenue visibility and forecasting accuracy.

    Mitigation: Increased confidence due to design wins and qualifications; broad-based customer engagement across many programs.

    Gross margin pressure from product mixQ2 FY25

    Expected 20 bps sequential decline at midpoint in Q2 FY25.

    Mitigation: Focus on new products with higher margins; commitment to operating within the corporate average margin model and not competing on price.

    Unhealthy inventory levelsQ1 FY25

    Inventory levels described as "very low" and "unhealthy levels, too low" in Q1 FY25, both for MPS and in the channel.

    Mitigation: Company targets 180-200 days of inventory; has flexibility and is well-positioned regardless of market direction.

    What to watch in Q2 FY25

    5

    Enterprise Data Segment Ramp

    H2 2025
    CurrentIn line with expectations, design wins secured.
    TargetMaterial revenue ramp in H2 2025.

    Why it matters

    This is a key driver for overall company growth and validation of design wins in a critical market segment.

    In Q1, storage and computing segment revenue increased 38% quarter-over-quarter on strong demand for both memory and notebook solutions. We continue to win designs across all major enterprise data customers with revenue ramps expected in the second half of this year.

    Q&A highlights

    7

    Is Q1 the low point for enterprise data, given expected H2 design win ramps?

    Management feels better about H2 with increased visibility due to design wins and qualifications, but the exact timing of customer ramps is outside their control. They are not providing specific forecasts for how good H2 will be.

    At this time, we feel, of course, when we're close to the second half of the year, so we feel a lot better. And overall numbers can be better. But at this time, we're not forecasting and how good is good? And so we have a lot more confidence than at the beginning of the year.

    asked by Tore Svanberg · answered by Michael R. Hsing

    3 min read7 chapters

    Detailed Narrative

    01

    Diversified Market Strategy & Innovation

    MPS achieved record Q1 revenue, attributing success to its diversified market strategy, continuous innovation, and strong customer focus across various end markets. The company is actively transforming from a chip-only semiconductor supplier to a full-service silicon-based solutions provider. This involves leveraging its silicon know-how to offer module and system-level solutions, expanding into new areas like robotics, building automation, medical, and audio, and enhancing its value proposition beyond individual components.

    02

    Enterprise Data Outlook and Visibility

    Management expressed increased confidence in the enterprise data segment for the second half of 2025, citing numerous design wins and successful product qualifications. While the exact timing of📎 customer ramps remains outside MPS's direct control, overall visibility has improved. The company expects a broad-based ramp, not solely dependent on one large customer, with many new market entrants expected in the second half, all following a similar high-power, small-footprint product formula.

    03

    Automotive Segment Momentum

    Automotive revenue grew 13% sequentially in Q1, marking the third consecutive quarter of sequential double-digit growth. This momentum is primarily driven by content gains from design wins secured in previous years that are now coming to market, particularly in North America and Europe. Significant transitions such as the shift from 400V to 800V and 12V to 48V architectures are expected to drive further growth in 2026 and 2027, with MPS actively participating in these early changes across various models.

    04

    Storage & Computing Segment Strength

    The storage and computing segment saw a significant 38% sequential revenue increase in Q1, driven by strong demand for memory (including DDR5, SSD, and HDD) and notebook solutions. Management noted that this growth was broad-based across these sub-segments, with an atypical seasonal uplift that performed as anticipated against internal expectations. The company emphasized that this growth was not solely notebook-driven, but also included desktop and CPU-side demand.

    05

    Rack Power Solution Development

    MPS is actively developing advanced rack power solutions, with samples of 120-kilowatt modules being delivered in May 2025. These solutions are designed to support 600-kilowatt to 1-megawatt rack power requirements. While significant revenues from these modules are anticipated in 2026, the company is undertaking substantial work in the second half of 2025 to prepare for production ramps and qualifications, indicating a strategic focus on this high-power segment.

    06

    Global Supply Chain and R&D Diversification

    MPS has pursued a strategy of global diversification for over a decade, establishing R&D centers and manufacturing partners outside of China. This proactive approach, particularly the expansion of fab capacities outside China post-pandemic, has positioned the company favorably to supply both U.S. and China markets. This diversification helps mitigate the impact of tariffs and ensures supply stability, allowing MPS to adapt swiftly to market changes and maintain a balanced global presence.

    07

    Gross Margin Strategy and Outlook

    Despite an expected 20 basis point sequential decline in Q2 gross margin due to product mix, MPS aims to operate well within its established margin model. The company's strategy focuses on developing new products that inherently carry higher margins, and it explicitly avoids high-volume, low-margin business. Management reiterated that they do not compete on price but rather on performance, aiming to maintain a strong corporate average gross margin.

    AI-generated summary of the company’s earnings call. Not investment advice.