MARLBOROUGH, Mass., July 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IPG Photonics Corporation (NASDAQ:IPGP) today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.   Three Months Ended June 30,           Six Months Ended June 30,         (In millions, except per share data and percentages)   2024       2023       Change       2024       2023       Change   Revenue $ 257.6     $ 340.0       (24 )%   $ 509.7     $ 687.1       (26 )% Gross margin   37.3 %     43.4 %             38.0 %     42.9 %         Operating income $ 12.0     $ 72.1       (83 )%   $ 31.1     $ 147.5       (79 )% Operating margin   4.7 %     21.2 %             6.1 %     21.5 %         Net income attributable to IPG Photonics Corporation $ 20.2     $ 62.3       (68 )%   $ 44.3     $ 122.5       (64 )% Earnings per diluted share $ 0.45     $ 1.31       (66 )%   $ 0.97     $ 2.57       (62 )% Management Comments "IPG's second quarter results reflect a challenging demand environment, particularly across industrial and e-mobility markets. Our focus on financial execution allowed the company to generate strong cash flow from operations and significantly reduce inventory, while continuing to work on significant product cost reductions," said Dr. Mark Gitin, IPG Photonics' Chief Executive Officer. "The Company has a very strong innovation pipeline and we are making great progress diversifying our business by focusing on complete solutions to customers in welding, cleaning, medical and other applications, while fortifying our position and strong customer relations in the cutting OEM business. These moves will best position us for improved performance as the global demand environment recovers." Financial Highlights Second quarter revenue of $258 million decreased 24% year over year. Changes in foreign exchange rates reduced revenue by approximately $6 million or 2%. By region, sales decreased 2% in North America and were down 34% in China, 27% in Europe and 39% in Japan on a year-over-year basis. While materials processing sales accounted for 88% of total revenue and decreased 28% year over year, other sales increased 24% year over year due to higher revenue in medical and advanced applications. The decline in materials processing was primarily due to lower revenue in cutting and welding applications as a result of soft demand from industrial and e-mobility customers. Emerging growth products sales accounted for 46% of total revenue, which was an improvement from the prior quarter, driven by higher sales in handheld welding, medical and advanced applications. Gross margin of 37.3% decreased 610 basis points year over year due to reduced absorption of manufacturing expenses and increased inventory reserves, partially offset by lower tariffs and shipping costs. Earnings per diluted share (EPS) of $0.45 decreased 66% year over year. Foreign exchange transaction loss decreased operating income by $3 million and earnings per share by $0.05 while the gain on sale of assets increased operating income by $1 million and increased diluted EPS by $0.01 in the second quarter. The effective tax rate in the quarter was 19%. During the second quarter, IPG generated $53 million in cash from operations and spent $24 million on capital expenditures and $122 million on share repurchases. Business Outlook and Financial Guidance "Our book-to-bill was below one for the second quarter, reversing the sequential improvement we saw in the prior quarter. Uncertainty across all major geographies, which is impacting industrial and e-mobility markets, is likely to weigh on demand through the remainder of the year," concluded Dr. Gitin. For the third quarter of 2024, IPG expects revenue of $210 million to $240 million, gross margin between 34% and 37%, and operating expenses of $82 million to $84 million. The Company expects the third quarter tax rate to be approximately 25%, including certain discrete items. IPG anticipates delivering earnings per diluted share in the range of $0.00 to $0.30. 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 86, Japanese yen 161 and Chinese yuan 7.13, respectively. Supplemental Financial Information Additional supplemental financial information is provided in the unaudited Financial Data Workbook and Second 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, July 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 potential for improved performance as global demand environment recovers, uncertainty weighing on demand through the remainder of the year, revenue, gross margin and operating expenses outlook, tax rate and earnings guidance, and the impact of the U.S. dollar on our guidance for third 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 June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,     2024       2023       2024       2023     (In thousands, except per share data) Net sales $ 257,645     $ 339,971     $ 509,654     $ 687,145   Cost of sales   161,459       192,280       315,932       392,516   Gross profit   96,186       147,691       193,722       294,629   Operating expenses:               Sales and marketing   22,487       20,187       45,485       41,275   Research and development   27,487       23,512       56,868       46,282   General and administrative   31,602       29,660       62,760       59,788   Gain on sale of assets   (674 )     —       (7,450 )     —   Restructuring charges, net   —       963       —       1,144   Loss (gain) on foreign exchange   3,244       1,306       4,919       (1,349 ) Total operating expenses