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Littelfuse (LFUS)
NASDAQ:LFUS

Littelfuse (LFUS) AI Stock Analysis

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Littelfuse

(NASDAQ:LFUS)

61Neutral
Littelfuse's overall stock score reflects a mixed financial performance with strengths in its balance sheet but challenges in income and cash flow metrics. Declining semiconductor sales and impairment charges weigh on prospects. Valuation appears stretched, while technical indicators suggest bearish momentum. Earnings call highlights provide some optimism in specific segments, but overall sentiment remains balanced.
Positive Factors
Order Trends
Firming order trends drive optimism for a return to growth as order trends continue to improve.
Revenue Growth
For the full year, revenue growth is expected to resume, providing strong leverage to drive margin expansion and solid earnings power.
Negative Factors
Earnings Expectations
Earnings are guided to be significantly below expectations, missing by about 15%.
Semiconductors
Semiconductors remain a drag overall, at least for the near term.

Littelfuse (LFUS) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Littelfuse Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionLittelfuse, Inc. (LFUS) is a global manufacturer of leading technologies in circuit protection, power control, and sensing. The company serves a diverse range of industries including automotive, industrial, and electronics. Littelfuse offers a comprehensive portfolio of products, including fuses, semiconductors, polymers, relays, and sensors, designed to enhance safety, reliability, and efficiency in various applications.
How the Company Makes MoneyLittelfuse generates revenue primarily through the sale of its products across its three main business segments: Electronics, Automotive, and Industrial. The Electronics segment offers circuit protection devices and power control products, which are integral in consumer electronics and telecommunication equipment. The Automotive segment provides a range of products including fuses, sensors, and power control solutions for vehicles, supporting the growing adoption of electric vehicles and advanced safety systems. The Industrial segment supplies products that enhance the safety, reliability, and performance of industrial equipment and systems. Additionally, Littelfuse's revenue is bolstered by strategic partnerships and acquisitions that expand its technological capabilities and market reach, enabling the company to cater to evolving customer needs in the global market.

Littelfuse Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Littelfuse presents a mixed financial outlook. While the balance sheet remains robust, income statement metrics indicate declining profitability and revenue. Cash flows are generally strong, but a recent decrease in free cash flow could be a concern. The company needs to address declining revenue and improve net profitability to maintain financial health.
Income Statement
65
Positive
The income statement shows a decline in revenue and profitability. Gross Profit Margin stands at 36.6%, indicating efficient cost control, but the Net Profit Margin has dropped to 5.2%, largely due to reduced EBIT Margin at 7.8%. Despite past revenue growth, recent trends show a concerning decline in revenue and net income.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
The balance sheet is strong with a healthy equity ratio of 62.0%, indicating a stable capital structure. The Debt-to-Equity Ratio is low at 0.05, reflecting conservative leverage. Return on Equity is modest at 4.7%, suggesting room for improvement in profitability.
Cash Flow
68
Positive
Cash flow analysis reveals a decline in Free Cash Flow, yet the company maintains a solid Operating Cash Flow to Net Income Ratio of 3.3. The Free Cash Flow covers net income, but Free Cash Flow has decreased by 21.3%, posing a potential risk if this trend continues.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Mar 2022Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
2.19B2.36B2.51B2.08B1.45B
Gross Profit
787.54M900.24M1.01B771.93M501.17M
EBIT
158.78M378.36M500.83M385.64M162.37M
EBITDA
321.03M503.61M589.87M458.19M278.51M
Net Income Common Stockholders
100.19M259.49M373.31M283.81M129.99M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
725.90M555.75M562.67M478.50M687.58M
Total Assets
3.89B4.00B3.90B3.15B2.75B
Total Debt
128.17M933.52M1.05B659.20M699.98M
Net Debt
-596.75M378.00M484.57M180.73M12.46M
Total Liabilities
1.48B1.51B1.69B1.26B1.14B
Stockholders Equity
2.41B2.48B2.21B1.89B1.61B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
291.74M371.20M315.38M282.78M201.84M
Operating Cash Flow
367.62M457.39M419.72M373.34M258.03M
Investing Cash Flow
-65.78M-284.32M-636.40M-499.16M-51.43M
Financing Cash Flow
-112.44M-185.73M310.20M-68.98M-67.81M

Littelfuse Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price149.72
Price Trends
50DMA
219.59
Negative
100DMA
229.84
Negative
200DMA
242.65
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-7.63
Positive
RSI
29.26
Positive
STOCH
6.46
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For LFUS, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 149.72 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 197.39, below the 50-day MA of 219.59, and below the 200-day MA of 242.65, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -7.63 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 29.26 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 6.46 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for LFUS.

Littelfuse Risk Analysis

Littelfuse disclosed 25 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Littelfuse reported the most risks in the “Production” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Littelfuse Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (57)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
ESESE
80
Outperform
$3.66B33.309.22%0.23%8.94%18.56%
73
Outperform
$3.05B25.739.27%-3.53%-3.90%
65
Neutral
$4.25B22.417.93%1.40%-0.99%
VNVNT
63
Neutral
$4.23B10.3543.49%0.35%-3.75%13.76%
62
Neutral
$4.15B39.857.03%1.26%9.19%-5.77%
61
Neutral
$3.77B38.134.62%1.80%-7.28%-56.46%
57
Neutral
$18.43B9.69-13.94%2.74%5.03%-23.61%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
LFUS
Littelfuse
149.72
-88.76
-37.22%
CGNX
Cognex
23.27
-18.59
-44.41%
ESE
Esco Technologies
139.86
35.57
34.11%
MKSI
MKS Instruments
58.78
-69.69
-54.25%
PLXS
Plexus
110.95
12.82
13.06%
VNT
Vontier
28.04
-14.60
-34.24%

Littelfuse Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Jan 28, 2025 | % Change Since: -32.98% | Next Earnings Date: May 6, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflects a mixed sentiment with strong free cash flow and balance sheet positions, improved book-to-bill ratios, and growth in industrial and transportation segments. However, the company faced challenges with declining semiconductor sales, significant impairment charges, and revenue declines, making the overall sentiment balanced.
Highlights
Strong Free Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Position
Generated $292 million in free cash flow for 2024, with a cash on hand of $725 million and a net debt-to-EBITDA leverage of 1.2x.
Improved Book-to-Bill Ratios
Electronics segment book-to-bill at its highest since Q2 2022, with passives above 1, indicating potential recovery in demand.
Growth in Industrial and HVAC Segments
Industrial products segment saw a 12% organic sales increase in Q4, with strong demand in HVAC, data centers, and industrial safety applications.
Transportation Segment Margin Expansion
Achieved double-digit operating margins in the Transportation segment for 2024, reflecting significant margin expansion due to cost actions and pricing strategies.
Lowlights
Decline in Semiconductor Sales
Semiconductor products saw a decline of 13% in Q4 and 20% for the full year, indicating ongoing softness in this area.
Intangible Asset Impairment Charges
Recorded $93 million in noncash goodwill and intangible impairment charges, primarily related to weak EV charging infrastructure trends.
Revenue Decline
Full-year 2024 sales were down 7% in total and organically versus last year, with Q4 revenue at $530 million, down 1% compared to last year.
Ongoing Challenges in Power Semiconductor Segment
Power semiconductor book-to-bill remains below 1 due to heavy industrial focus, particularly in Europe and China.
Company Guidance
During Littelfuse's fourth quarter 2024 earnings call, the company provided guidance indicating a mixed macroeconomic environment but projected solid earnings expansion for fiscal year 2025. The guidance outlined that the first quarter sales are expected to range between $520 million to $550 million, with an EPS between $1.70 to $1.90. For the full year, Littelfuse anticipates a 2% sales growth from the recent acquisition of the Dortmund semiconductor fab, and a neutral EPS impact from this arrangement. The company projects a full-year tax rate between 23% to 25% and plans to invest $90 million to $95 million in capital expenditures. Key metrics highlighted include a book-to-bill ratio above 1 for its Electronics segment, indicating a positive trend, and a net debt-to-EBITDA leverage of 1.2x, reflecting a strong balance sheet. Additionally, Littelfuse aims to achieve 100% free cash flow conversion aligned with its long-term goals, following strong cash generation in 2024.

Littelfuse Corporate Events

DividendsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Littelfuse Reports 2024 Financial Results and Outlook
Neutral
Jan 28, 2025

Littelfuse reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024, showing a 1% decline in net sales for the quarter and a 7% decrease for the year compared to the previous period. Despite challenging market conditions, the company maintained strong cash conversion and profitability enhancements, positioning itself for expected earnings growth in 2025. The company announced a cash dividend and provided guidance for the first quarter of 2025, indicating steady market performance. Littelfuse continues to focus on operational improvements and market expansion opportunities to drive future growth.

Executive/Board Changes
Littelfuse Announces Leadership Transition with New CEO
Neutral
Jan 13, 2025

Littelfuse announced the retirement of its CEO David Heinzmann, effective February 10, 2025, after a distinguished 40-year career. Dr. Greg Henderson, a seasoned industry executive and board member, will succeed Heinzmann as President and CEO. This leadership transition signifies Littelfuse’s commitment to fostering growth and innovation, with Henderson bringing extensive experience from his previous roles at Analog Devices. The company has postponed its planned Investor Day to ensure a seamless leadership transition.

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.