Broadcom Reports Weaker-Than-Expected Revenue, Stock Slides
Quick Look
- Broadcom's fiscal second-quarter revenue fell short of expectations, causing its stock to decline in extended trading.
- Despite this, the company anticipates strong future revenue driven by AI chip demand.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Broadcom reported its fiscal second-quarter earnings, with revenue falling short of analyst expectations. The company's stock experienced a decline in extended trading following the announcement. Sales have been boosted by demand for custom AI chips.
Broadcom reported weaker-than-expected revenue in its fiscal second-quarter earnings report. The stock slid in extended trading.
Here's how the chipmaker did versus LSEG consensus estimates:
Earnings per share: $2.44, adjusted, versus $2.40 estimated
Revenue: $22.19 billion versus $22.27 billion estimated
Revenue climbed 48% from $15 billion in the same quarter a year earlier, Broadcom said in a statement. Sales have climbed in recent quarters, driven by demand for custom AI chips, including Google's tensor processing unit.
The company said revenue this quarter will be about $29.4 billion, versus $28.53 billion expected by Wall Street analysts.
Broadcom shares are up close to 40% this year as of Wednesday's close, topping the Nasdaq's 16% gain. The stock has multiplied almost ninefold since the end of 2022, when ChatGPT kicked off the generative AI boom.
Net income increased to $9.31 billion, or $1.91 per share, up 88% from $4.97 billion, or $1.03 per share in the same quarter a year earlier. Adjusted earnings exclude stock-based compensation and tax adjustments.
Broadcom helps other technology companies build custom chip designs, offering intellectual property and other essential technologies that AI chips require. It has attracted increased attention from investors as cloud giants including Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft design their own custom chips. In December, Tan said that Anthropic had placed an order for $10 billion in AI chips.
AI revenue more than doubled in the second quarter on an annual basis to $10.8 billion, which CEO Hock Tan attributed in a statement to the company's custom AI chips as well as other parts needed to network them together. He said the company expected AI revenue to triple in the current quarter to $16 billion.
Broadcom reported $15.1 billion in revenue from semiconductor solutions, the company's chip sales division, which also includes WiFi chips in addition to AI accelerators and networking. That revenue topped a StreetAccount estimate of $14.72 billion.
This story is developing.Please check back for updates.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Broadcom's revenue will reach approximately $29.4 billion in the current quarter.
Very likely
AI revenue is expected to triple in the current quarter to $16 billion.
Very likely
Open Questions
- What specific factors contributed to the revenue miss?
- Will the strong Q3 forecast be met?
- How will increased competition in the AI chip market affect Broadcom?
- What is the impact of the stock slide on investor confidence?
