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ACM Research (ACMR)
NASDAQ:ACMR
US Market

ACM Research (ACMR) AI Stock Analysis

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AC

ACM Research

(NASDAQ:ACMR)

Rating:80Outperform
Price Target:
$26.00
▲(11.64%Upside)
ACM Research exhibits strong financial performance and valuation metrics, bolstered by positive corporate events and strategic growth initiatives. Technical analysis suggests moderate momentum, and while earnings call highlights growth, shipment declines and trade challenges pose risks.
Positive Factors
Earnings
ACM Research reported a solid 1Q25 that beat consensus estimates on both the top and bottom lines.
Market Expansion
The firm now has an estimated share of over 25% for the Chinese cleaning and plating market.
Product Qualification
ACM achieved process qualification of its Thermal and Plasma Enhanced ALD furnace tools at two semiconductor customers in mainland China.
Negative Factors
Macro Uncertainty
Management's confidence for 2025 remains high despite the plateauing China WFE, the growing macro uncertainty, and the potential for indirect tariff impacts related to its customers.
Shipment Decline
Preliminary total shipments for the first quarter of 2025 are expected to represent a year-to-year decrease of 36% to 37%.

ACM Research (ACMR) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

ACM Research Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionACM Research, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and sells single-wafer wet cleaning equipment for enhancing the manufacturing process and yield for integrated chips worldwide. It offers space alternated phase shift technology for flat and patterned wafer surfaces, which employs alternating phases of megasonic waves to deliver megasonic energy in a uniform manner on a microscopic level; timely energized bubble oscillation technology for patterned wafer surfaces at advanced process nodes, which provides cleaning for 2D and 3D patterned wafers; Tahoe technology for delivering cleaning performance using less sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide; and electro-chemical plating technology for advanced metal plating. The company markets and sells its products under the Ultra C brand name through direct sales force and third-party representatives. ACM Research, Inc. was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Fremont, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyACM Research generates revenue primarily through the sale of its semiconductor processing equipment. The company designs and sells a range of custom equipment tailored to meet the specific needs of semiconductor manufacturers, enabling them to enhance the efficiency and quality of their production processes. Key revenue streams include the sale of single-wafer wet cleaning machines and related services such as spare parts, service contracts, and support. Additionally, ACM Research benefits from strategic partnerships with semiconductor foundries and manufacturers, which help to secure repeat business and expand its market presence. The company's financial performance is significantly influenced by the capital expenditure cycles of its customers, the global demand for semiconductors, and technological advancements in the semiconductor industry.

ACM Research Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 08, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 16.28%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 01, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mixed picture, with notable achievements in revenue growth, market recognition, and product innovation. However, challenges such as a decline in shipments and a complex trade environment were highlighted. The company's strategic initiatives in the U.S. and its innovative product offerings position it well for future growth.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Revenue Growth
Revenue for Q1 2025 was $172 million, up 13.2% compared to Q1 2024.
Strong Gross Margin Performance
Gross margin was 48.2%, exceeding the targeted range of 42% to 48%.
Recognition in Semiconductor Industry
ACM was listed among the Top 20 Global Semiconductor Equipment companies for 2024 by a leading market research firm.
Innovative Product Development
ACM's Panel Level Packaging tool received the 3D InCites Technology Enablement Award for high performance AI chip packaging.
Market Share Growth in China
ACM's market share in wafer cleaning and cleaning products in China reached over 25%, translating to over 9% globally for each category.
Expansion in the U.S. Market
Investment in an Oregon facility for demo lab, clean room, and initial production to reduce tariff uncertainties and support U.S. customers.
Furnace Product Advancements
Strong traction for furnace products with high temperature annealing solutions for power semiconductor IGBT devices.
Negative Updates
Decline in Total Shipments
Total shipments for Q1 2025 were $157 million, down from $245 million in Q1 2024, a decrease of 36%.
Decreased Operating Income
Operating income was $35.6 million, down 10.6% compared to the previous year.
Challenges with Tariff and Trade Environment
Global trade environment shifting with new tariffs and evolving policies, creating a complex and less predictable operating environment.
Company Guidance
During the ACM Research First Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, the company provided guidance for the fiscal year 2025. ACM is maintaining its revenue outlook in the range of $850 million to $950 million, which implies a year-over-year growth of 15% at the midpoint. The company anticipates a return to year-over-year shipment growth in the second quarter of 2025, despite a decline in shipments in the first quarter compared to the previous year. Gross margin for Q1 2025 was reported at 48.2%, which exceeded their long-term target range of 42% to 48%. ACM expects R&D expenses to be 13% to 14% of revenue, with sales and marketing at 7%, and general and administrative expenses in the range of 5% to 6%. The effective tax rate for 2025 is projected to be between 10% and 15%. The company is also investing in U.S. infrastructure, with plans to add initial manufacturing capabilities at its Oregon facility, which currently spans 40,000 square feet. ACM continues to focus on delivering innovative semiconductor equipment solutions and aims to achieve its long-term revenue target of $3 billion, equally split between China and global markets.

ACM Research Financial Statement Overview

Summary
ACM Research demonstrates strong growth and profitability with significant revenue and net income growth. The financial health is supported by efficient leverage and capital structure, despite some cash flow fluctuations.
Income Statement
88
Very Positive
ACM Research exhibits a strong revenue growth trajectory, with Total Revenue rising significantly from 2020 to TTM 2025. The Gross Profit Margin remains robust, reflecting cost efficiency. The Net Profit Margin and EBIT Margin have improved, indicating better operational efficiency and profitability. However, the EBITDA Margin shows a slight downward trend, suggesting rising depreciation or amortization costs.
Balance Sheet
75
Positive
The company maintains a healthy Debt-to-Equity Ratio, indicating strong financial leverage management. The Return on Equity (ROE) has been consistently strong, showcasing efficient use of equity capital. The Equity Ratio demonstrates a solid capital structure with a high proportion of equity financing, though there was a slight increase in total liabilities over the years.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
ACM Research shows a substantial improvement in Free Cash Flow over the years, highlighting effective cash management and capex control. The Operating Cash Flow to Net Income Ratio is favorable, indicating strong cash conversion. However, the high volatility in Free Cash Flow in earlier years suggests potential risk in cash flow stability.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
802.27M782.12M557.72M388.83M259.75M156.62M
Gross Profit
394.98M391.55M276.21M183.62M114.86M69.60M
EBIT
151.54M151.00M95.84M59.03M38.70M6.65M
EBITDA
172.44M180.42M126.99M74.38M41.05M22.55M
Net Income Common Stockholders
106.57M103.63M77.35M39.26M37.76M18.78M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
285.01M444.10M283.93M338.65M592.57M100.00M
Total Assets
1.49B1.86B1.49B1.24B1.05B341.26M
Total Debt
99.10M188.78M99.10M79.50M39.14M50.10M
Net Debt
-84.08M-218.66M-82.99M-168.45M-523.93M-21.67M
Total Liabilities
559.90M759.82M564.75M423.33M240.51M133.09M
Stockholders Equity
767.39M904.63M767.39M674.86M676.20M141.15M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
92.40M69.99M-139.66M-154.71M-49.80M-69.03M
Operating Cash Flow
166.78M152.45M-75.32M-62.19M-40.09M-13.55M
Investing Cash Flow
-40.49M-11.96M-6.75M-265.67M-11.28M-69.95M
Financing Cash Flow
132.84M92.48M18.53M45.87M538.77M32.83M

ACM Research Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price23.29
Price Trends
50DMA
22.58
Positive
100DMA
22.12
Positive
200DMA
20.11
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.51
Negative
RSI
54.07
Neutral
STOCH
17.32
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ACMR, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 23.29 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 22.12, above the 50-day MA of 22.58, and above the 200-day MA of 20.11, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.51 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 54.07 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 17.32 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for ACMR.

ACM Research Risk Analysis

ACM Research disclosed 61 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. ACM Research reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 1 New Risks
1.
Our operations in mainland China and Korea, including the import of components, technology, and activities of U.S. personnel therein, may be further impacted by the addition of ACM Shanghai, ACM Korea and related entities to the BIS Entity List. Q4, 2024

ACM Research Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
80
Outperform
$1.43B14.3312.21%26.21%17.34%
80
Outperform
$1.24B8.2613.70%-3.85%5.95%
73
Outperform
$1.15B18.048.68%3.30%
70
Outperform
$2.15B22.8012.33%3.12%10.78%58.82%
61
Neutral
$11.28B10.16-6.88%2.97%7.41%-8.93%
59
Neutral
$899.82M32.263.30%20.20%
52
Neutral
$559.91M-2.35%13.41%72.56%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ACMR
ACM Research
23.29
-0.28
-1.19%
PLAB
Photronics
20.06
-7.23
-26.49%
SIMO
Silicon Motion
63.58
-10.86
-14.59%
UCTT
Ultra Clean Holdings
20.68
-23.72
-53.42%
VECO
Veeco
19.78
-21.81
-52.44%
ICHR
Ichor Holdings
16.94
-21.09
-55.46%

ACM Research Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
ACM Research Reports Strong Q1 Sales and Growth Plans
Positive
May 23, 2025

ACM Research (Shanghai), Inc. held an earnings call on May 15, 2025, discussing its first-quarter performance and future prospects. The company reported strong sales of its 3D stacking electroplating systems and sulfuric acid cleaning equipment, highlighting their competitive advantages and localization efforts in China. ACM Shanghai also announced plans to expand its global footprint, particularly in the semiconductor industry, with innovative products like the PECVD system and panel-level horizontal electroplating equipment. The company projects significant revenue growth in 2025, driven by its differentiated technologies and strategic focus on customer value creation.

The most recent analyst rating on (ACMR) stock is a Buy with a $38.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on ACM Research stock, see the ACMR Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
ACM Research Director Chenming Hu to Step Down
Neutral
Apr 21, 2025

On April 18, 2025, Chenming C. Hu, a member of the Board of Directors of ACM Research, Inc., announced his decision not to stand for reelection at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Dr. Hu’s decision was not due to any disagreement with the company’s operations, policies, or practices, and he will continue to serve until the end of his term at the 2025 meeting.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
ACM Research Appoints Charlie Pappis to Board
Positive
Mar 18, 2025

ACM Research, Inc. announced the appointment of Charlie Pappis to its Board of Directors, effective March 15, 2025. Mr. Pappis, a veteran in the semiconductor industry with over 40 years of experience, will bring valuable insights to ACM’s growth strategy as the company aims to expand its investments and business operations in the U.S. His expertise aligns with ACM’s mission to become a key supplier of capital equipment to major global semiconductor companies, enhancing the company’s leadership and market positioning.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.