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How Delayed Plant Construction and Legal Troubles Have Impacted Wolfspeed Stock

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Written by Timothy Sykes
Reviewed by Jack Kellogg Fact-checked by Ellis Hobbs

Reports of Wolfspeed Inc.’s disappointing quarterly earnings, coupled with a pessimistic revenue forecast, have sparked considerable concern among investors. The company’s stock experienced a sharp decline, exacerbated by overall market pressures and uncertainty in the semiconductor sector. On Friday, Wolfspeed Inc.’s stocks are trading down by 9.02 percent.

  • The Schall Law Firm is investigating Wolfspeed for potential fraud after a Reuters report about a major delay in constructing a $3 billion plant in Germany sent shares plummeting by 8.62%.
  • Levi & Korsinsky is also investigating Wolfspeed for potential securities law violations, citing a significant stock price drop following a weak business outlook and delays in Germany.
  • Several firms, including Piper Sandler and TD Cowen, have lowered their price targets for Wolfspeed, with reasons ranging from manufacturing roadmap changes to liquidity concerns.

Candlestick Chart

Live Update at 10:33:25 EST: On Friday, September 20, 2024 Wolfspeed Inc. stock [NYSE: WOLF] is trending down by -9.02%! Discover the key drivers behind this movement as well as our expert analysis in the detailed breakdown below.

Quick overview of Wolfspeed Inc.’s recent earnings report and key financial metrics

Wolfspeed’s recent financial reports tell a story of struggle and hope. Let’s dive into the rabbit hole of numbers, summaries, and quick bites of the latest developments.

Wolfspeed posted a Q4 loss of $0.89 per share, barely missing the street estimate of $0.88. It’s crucial to understand that this slight miss impacts market perceptions. Earnings reports are like report cards for companies, and even a slight miss can lead to a harsh downgrade.

Revenue figures paint a clear picture. Wolfspeed pulled in $200.7M in Q4, which may sound quite impressive, yet it faced total expenses of $345.2M. Imagine hosting a grand event but ending up with more expenses than you budgeted for. Not a happy ending, right? Despite generating $240,000 in gross profit, the net income from continuing operations settled at a grim $189.6M loss. Essentially, the company is spending more than it earns, and that’s the simplest takeaway.

Key Ratios and Figures

Several ratios portray the financial health of a company better than words:

  • Gross margin: 9.6%. They’re keeping 9.6% of each dollar earned.
  • EBIT margin: -70.9%. For every dollar made, Wolfspeed is losing about 71 cents before interest and taxes.
  • Current ratio: 4.5. This signifies that Wolfspeed is quite effective in covering short-term obligations.
  • Leverage ratio: 9.1. It’s on the higher side, indicating significant debt relative to its equity.

Financial Strength: Wolfspeed’s total debt to equity stands at an alarming 7x. With assets turnover at 0.1, it’s clear that the company isn’t quite squeezing enough juice from its assets.

The balance sheet reflects a different struggle. Long-term debt is pegged at $6.17B, while total assets hit $7.98B. Current assets stand at nearly $3B, but payables are climbing with $524M on the docket.

Insights from Recent Trends

Reviewing the stock prices over the past few days offers further clarity:

  • Recent values show a downward trend, from $9.1 (on Aug 30) to $8.015 (on Sep 24).
  • Intraday data shows frequent volatility, with notable drops and minor spikes within short time frames.

This frequency in price changes could be attributed to the recent news and analysts’ reactions.

More Breaking News

How the News Articles Affect Wolfspeed’s Stock

The German Plant Delay:

The Schall Law Firm’s investigation has cast a long shadow over Wolfspeed. When Reuters reported the delay in constructing the $3 billion plant in Germany, it wasn’t just a minor setback—it turned into a whirlwind causing an 8.62% drop in shares. Such sizeable projects are not just construction but part of an expansive vision. A delay means stalled aspirations and impacts production timelines.

Think of this as ordering a new car with all the bells and whistles only to get notified that the delivery is postponed indefinitely. Frustration is natural, and the market reflects this sentiment.

Weak Business Outlook:

Levi & Korsinsky’s investigation into potential securities law violations adds salt to the wound. The firm pointed out a weaker-than-expected business outlook for 2024, compounded by construction delays. For investors, this mixed bag of bad news is like spotting a small crack in a giant dam—it signals more trouble ahead.

Analysts Reactions and Price Target Revisions:

Analysts didn’t miss a beat. Piper Sandler and TD Cowen lowered their price targets to $20 and $15 respectively. It’s akin to a teacher adjusting the grading scale mid-semester. The reasons are straightforward but harsh: below-expectation June quarter results, reduced revenue guidance for September, and a $200M cut in capital spending plans for the upcoming fiscal year.

TD Cowen’s notes on the changes in manufacturing roadmap and liquidity concerns are like seeing tiny red flags (or major) on an already battered flagpole. Though they appreciate progress on the 200mm front, tepid demand overshadowed these positive signs.

Deutsche Bank followed suit, reducing the price target to $14 from $17. Even though they acknowledged operational stability and positive yield signs, sales and EBITDA forecasts took a hit. Reducing annual capex by FY26 indicates management’s effort to tighten spending, but the need remains to curb high spending to avoid cash issues.

BofA’s action to cut the price target from $25 to $15 highlights long-term challenges like slow demand, cost issues, and ongoing cash burn which might linger until 2026 without strategic maneuvering. They mentioned the persistent high spending and low demand. Imagine running a marathon in heavy boots—you’ll tire out before crossing the finish line.

The Immediate Impact:

Combine all these elements, and it’s evident why Wolfspeed is facing a tough road ahead. Legal troubles, investor investigations, and reduced price targets are weighing down the company. The ripple effect of these events on stock prices is staggering.

What Lies Ahead?

Wolfspeed’s journey from being a market darling to a company under scrutiny tells an intense tale. They face a pivotal moment, and how they navigate these choppy waters will define their trajectory. For traders, the company remains an interesting watchlist candidate, but investing now would be akin to sailing in stormy seas.

Market sentiment around Wolfspeed is akin to navigating a roller coaster ride—emerging hope, steep drops, high curves, and the occasional smooth sailing. While the potential upside lies in rooting for the company’s resilience, prudent risk management needs to be the guiding light for trading strategies at this juncture.

For now, the impact of news, earnings numbers, and financial ratios paints a sobering picture. Whether the company can adjust its sails to ride this storm will be a narrative for future quarters. For investors and traders, keeping a close watch, staying informed, and being adaptable could be the best course of action.

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Citations for Disclaimer

Barber, Brad M. and Odean, Terrance, Trading is Hazardous to Your Wealth: The Common Stock Investment Performance of Individual Investors. Available at SSRN: “Day Trading for a Living?”

Barber, Brad M. and Lee, Yi-Tsung and Liu, Yu-Jane and Odean, Terrance and Zhang, Ke, Learning Fast or Slow? (May 28, 2019). Forthcoming: Review of Asset Pricing Studies, Available at SSRN: “https://ssrn.com/abstract=2535636”

Chague, Fernando and De-Losso, Rodrigo and Giovannetti, Bruno, Day Trading for a Living? (June 11, 2020). Available at SSRN: “https://ssrn.com/abstract=3423101”