Delayed E-mobility Investments and Soft Industrial Demand Negatively Impacted Results Strong Operating Cash Flow Benefited from Working Capital Management MARLBOROUGH, Mass., April 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IPG Photonics Corporation (NASDAQ:IPGP) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.     Three Months Ended March 31,       (In millions, except per share data and percentages)     2024       2023     Change Revenue   $ 252.0     $ 347.2     (27 )% Gross margin     38.7 %     42.3 %       Operating income   $ 19.1     $ 75.4     (75 )% Operating margin     7.6 %     21.7 %       Net income attributable to IPG Photonics Corporation   $ 24.1     $ 60.1     (60 )% Earnings per diluted share   $ 0.52     $ 1.26     (59 )%                         Management Comments "In the first quarter, we continued to generate strong cash flow from operations, reduce inventory and control manufacturing expenses, in spite of the challenging conditions. We also remained focused on our strategy to unlock additional growth opportunities for fiber lasers such as welding, cleaning, heating and medical, which would allow us to diversify our revenue away from highly competitive markets," said Dr. Eugene Scherbakov, IPG Photonics' Chief Executive Officer. "While delayed investments in electric battery capacity worldwide, soft industrial demand across most of our major geographies, and inventory management by some large OEM customers impacted first quarter results, we believe that our strong technology differentiation helps us continue to displace other laser and non-laser tools across a growing range of applications, positioning our business for growth in the future." Financial Highlights First quarter revenue of $252 million decreased 27% year over year. Changes in foreign exchange rates reduced revenue growth by approximately $8 million or 2%. By region, sales decreased across all major geographies and were down 38% in China, 16% in North America, 21% in Europe and 23% in Japan on a year-over-year basis. Materials processing sales accounted for 90% of total revenue and decreased 28% year over year. The decline was due to lower revenue in most applications, except for growth in 3D printing and heating, and flat sales in parts and services. Other applications sales decreased 25% year over year due to lower revenue in medical and advanced applications. Emerging growth products sales accounted for 45% of total revenue and were negatively impacted by lower demand in e-mobility and solar cell manufacturing applications, lower sales in handheld welding applications and inventory adjustment by a large medical customer. Gross margin of 38.7% decreased 360 basis points year over year due to reduced absorption of manufacturing expenses and increased inventory reserves, partially offset by lower product and shipping costs. Earnings per diluted share (EPS) of $0.52 decreased 59% year over year. The gain on sale of assets increased operating income by $7 million and increased diluted EPS by $0.11. Foreign exchange transaction loss decreased operating income by $2 million and earnings per share by $0.03 in the first quarter. The effective tax rate in the quarter was 28%. During the first quarter, IPG generated $55 million in cash from operations and spent $28 million on capital expenditures and $90 million on share repurchases. Business Outlook and Financial Guidance "Despite a challenging first quarter, our book-to-bill was slightly above one for the first time since the first quarter last year, which may indicate that industrial demand is stabilizing and could start to improve modestly later in the year," concluded Dr. Scherbakov. For the second quarter of 2024, IPG expects revenue of $240 million to $270 million. The Company expects the second quarter tax rate to be approximately 25%, including certain discrete items. IPG anticipates delivering earnings per diluted share in the range of $0.30 to $0.60. As discussed in more detail in the "Safe Harbor" passage of this news release, actual results may differ from this guidance due to various factors including, but not limited to, trade policy changes and trade restrictions, product demand, order cancellations and delays, competition, tariffs, currency fluctuations and general economic conditions. This guidance is based upon current market conditions and expectations, and is subject to the risks outlined in the Company's reports filed with the SEC, and assumes exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar of euro 0.93, Russian ruble 92, Japanese yen 151 and Chinese yuan 7.10, respectively. Supplemental Financial Information Additional supplemental financial information is provided in the unaudited Financial Data Workbook and First Quarter 2024 Earnings Call Presentation available on the investor relations section of the Company's website at investor.ipgphotonics.com. Conference Call Reminder The Company will hold a conference call today, April 30, 2024 at 10:00 am ET. To access the call, please dial 877-407-6184 in the US or 201-389-0877 internationally. A live webcast of the call will also be available and archived on the investor relations section of the Company's website at investor.ipgphotonics.com. Contact Eugene FedotoffSenior Director, Investor Relations IPG Photonics Corporation About IPG Photonics Corporation IPG Photonics Corporation is the leader in high-power fiber lasers and amplifiers used primarily in materials processing and other diverse applications. The Company's mission is to develop innovative laser solutions making the world a better place. IPG accomplishes this mission by delivering superior performance, reliability and usability at a lower total cost of ownership compared with other types of lasers and non-laser tools, allowing end users to increase productivity and decrease costs. IPG is headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts and has more than 30 facilities worldwide. For more information, visit www.ipgphotonics.com. Safe Harbor Statement Information and statements provided by IPG and its employees, including statements in this press release, that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties. Any statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including indications of stabilizing industrial demand and improvements later in the year, revenue outlook, tax rate and earnings guidance, and the impact of the U.S. dollar on our guidance for second quarter of 2024. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with the strength or weakness of the business conditions in industries and geographic markets that IPG serves, particularly the effect of downturns in the markets IPG serves; uncertainties and adverse changes in the general economic conditions of markets; inability to manage risks associated with international customers and operations; changes in trade controls and trade policies; IPG's ability to penetrate new applications for fiber lasers and increase market share; the rate of acceptance and penetration of IPG's products; foreign currency fluctuations; high levels of fixed costs from IPG's vertical integration; the appropriateness of IPG's manufacturing capacity for the level of demand; competitive factors, including declining average selling prices; the effect of acquisitions and investments; inventory write-downs; asset impairment charges; intellectual property infringement claims and litigation; interruption in supply of key components; manufacturing risks; government regulations and trade sanctions; and other risks identified in IPG's SEC filings. Readers are encouraged to refer to the risk factors described in IPG's Annual Report on Form 10-K (filed with the SEC on February 21, 2024) and IPG's reports filed with the SEC, as applicable. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. IPG undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. IPG PHOTONICS CORPORATIONCONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)           Three Months Ended March 31,       2024       2023       (In thousands, except per share data) Net sales   $ 252,009     $ 347,174   Cost of sales     154,473       200,236   Gross profit     97,536       146,938   Operating expenses:         Sales and marketing     22,998       21,088   Research and development     29,381       22,770   General and administrative     31,158       30,128   Gain on sale of assets     (6,776 )     —   Restructuring charges, net     —       181   Loss (gain) on foreign exchange     1,675       (2,655 ) Total operating expenses     78,436       71,512   Operating income     19,100       75,426   Other income, net:         Interest income, net     14,177       7,533   Other income, net     325       331   Total other income     14,502