Sumco (SUOPY) Q4 2025 Earnings Report

The call presents a mixed picture: operational and cash-generation strengths (stable EBITDA, JPY 100b operating cash flow, material CapEx reduction, full-year operating profit) and clear execution/market headwinds (Q4 and full-year net losses, sharply higher depreciation, product-mix pressure, structural 200mm decline, legacy inventory overhang and near-term guidance for Q1 losses). Management is constructive on longer-term AI-driven demand and leading-edge positioning but warns of near-term inventory normalization and NAND capacity lag.

Management guided Q1 with sales of JPY 100.0 billion, an operating loss of JPY 6.0 billion, an ordinary loss of JPY 10.0 billion and a net loss attributable to owners of the parent of JPY 10.0 billion, assuming FX of JPY 155/USD; they said Q1 operating losses widen JPY 1.5 billion Q‑on‑Q (sales down from JPY 105.2b to JPY 100.0b), driven by periodic plant maintenance and one‑off maintenance costs, costs rising JPY 2.1 billion Q‑on‑Q and depreciation declining JPY 4.3 billion Q‑on‑Q. For the full year ended Dec‑2025 they reported sales JPY 409.6 billion, operating profit JPY 1.3 billion, ordinary loss JPY 3.8 billion, net loss attributable JPY 11.7 billion, EBITDA JPY 112.4 billion, total CapEx JPY 79.9 billion (down from JPY 214.9b in 2024), depreciation JPY 115.6 billion (up JPY 36.7b YoY) and free cash flow negative JPY 11.4 billion after operating cash flow JPY 100.0 billion and investing outflow JPY 111.4 billion; balance sheet metrics include total assets JPY 1,127.9 billion, liabilities JPY 480.2 billion, equity‑to‑asset ratio 51.3% and gross D/E 0.61x, and the board set a fiscal year‑end dividend of JPY 10 per share. Management expects structural declines in 200‑mm (‑21% in 2023, ‑13% in 2024, ‑4% in 2025) but recovery in 300‑mm (‑11% in 2023, +2% in 2024, +9% in 2025), forecasts wafer consumption to grow from this year into next as NAND/DRAM capacity ramps (DRAM AI demand ~500–600k wafers/month today rising to ~1.5m over 3–4 years, NAND inference demand ~200k wafers/month), and said customer capacity additions will take ~12 months with leading‑edge wafer increases expected in H2 when the new plant comes online.