SAN JOSE, Calif., April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pixelworks, Inc. (NASDAQ: PXLW), a leading provider of innovative video and display processing solutions, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

First Quarter Financial Highlights

• Mobile revenue increased 64% year-over-year, driven by shipments of 5^th generation visual processors and Soft Iris solutions in support of a growing number of newly launched smartphones
• Implemented cost containment measures in proactive response to COVID-19 pandemic, reducing cash operating expenses by more than 10% from the midpoint of guidance while retaining 100% of employees
• Secured additional liquidity by drawing down $5.2 million from existing line of credit to end quarter with $20.4 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

First Quarter and Recent Business Highlights

• Announced new collaboration with Qualcomm to integrate OTA local TV with 5G broadband video solutions
• Black Shark incorporated Iris visual processor in newly launched gaming smartphones, the Black Shark 3 and Black Shark 3 Pro
• OPPO launched Find X2 and Find X2 Pro smartphones, the first to feature 120 Hz variable refresh rate displays enabled by Pixelworks’ 5^th generation visual processor and optimization software
• HMD Global launched Nokia 8.3 5G smartphone with PureDisplay technology powered by Pixelworks
• Extended partnership with TCL Communication, resulting in development and launch of the TCL 10 Pro, TCL 10L and TCL 10 5G smartphones
• OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro smartphones launched featuring 120 Hz Fluid Displays leveraging Pixelworks’ 5^th generation visual processor and optimization software

President and CEO of Pixelworks, Todd DeBonis, commented, “As disclosed in our early April press release, first quarter results were in-line or above our original guidance despite the extremely challenging business environment. During the quarter, we proactively took action in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to protect our employees and successfully implemented remote working procedures in multiple geographies. We have remained fully operational following the extended Chinese New Year, including active engagement in support of our customers as well as ongoing new product development efforts. Additionally, we’ve further protected the Company’s financial position in preparation for a potentially prolonged economic recovery by reducing cash operating expenses by more than 10% compared to the midpoint of our guidance.

“Our team has remained focused and continued to aggressively execute on our mobile growth initiatives, which collectively have demonstrated substantial traction in recent months. Year-to-date, our Iris visual processors and software have been incorporated into a total of 10 smartphones launched by five OEM customers, two of which were first-time customers. In addition to many of these recently launched devices receiving excellent third-party reviews, Pixelworks’ advanced display technology enabled several of these new smartphones to achieve industry records for mobile display quality and performance.

“While we anticipate the near-term environment to remain challenging across our target markets as our customers struggle with heightened uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic, end market demand and potential supply constraints, Pixelworks is well positioned to benefit from renewed momentum as the business landscape begins to normalize.”

First Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Revenue in the first quarter of 2020 was $13.8 million, compared to $16.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 and revenue of $16.6 million in the first quarter of 2019. The sequential and year-over-year decline in revenue reflected a combination of first quarter seasonality and inventory corrections in the digital projector and video delivery markets, coupled with continued year-over-year growth in the mobile market.

On a GAAP basis, gross profit margin in the first quarter of 2020 was 49.2%, compared to 45.6% in the fourth quarter of 2019 and 50.9% in the first quarter of 2019. First quarter 2020 GAAP operating expenses were $12.1 million, which included a $0.6 million restructuring charge, compared to operating expenses of $12.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 and $11.9 million in the year-ago quarter.

For the first quarter of 2020, the Company recorded a GAAP net loss of $5.4 million, or ($0.14) per share, compared to a GAAP net loss of $4.5 million, or ($0.12) per share, in the fourth quarter of 2019 and GAAP net income of $0.1 million, or $0.00 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.

On a non-GAAP basis, first quarter 2020 gross profit margin was 52.1%, compared to 48.0% in the fourth quarter of 2019 and 53.3% in the year-ago quarter. First quarter 2020 non-GAAP operating expenses were $9.7 million, compared to $10.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 and $10.3 million in the year-ago quarter.

For the first quarter of 2020, the Company recorded a non-GAAP net loss of $2.6 million, or ($0.07) per share, compared to a non-GAAP net loss of $2.3 million, or ($0.06) per share, in the fourth quarter of 2019 and a non-GAAP net loss of $1.5 million, or ($0.04) per share, in the first quarter of 2019.

Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2020 was a negative $1.5 million, compared to a negative $1.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 and a negative $0.5 million in the year-ago quarter.

Business Outlook

The Company’s current business outlook, including guidance for the second quarter of 2020, will be provided as part of the scheduled quarterly conference call.

Conference Call Information

Pixelworks will host a conference call today, April 30, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time, which can be accessed by calling 1-877-359-9508 and using passcode 6381659. A live audio webcast of the call can also be accessed by visiting the Company's investor page at www.pixelworks.com. For those unable to listen to the live webcast, it will be archived for approximately 90 days. A replay of the conference call will also be available through Thursday, May 7, 2020, and can be accessed by calling 1-855-859-2056 and using passcode 6381659.

About Pixelworks, Inc.

Pixelworks provides industry-leading content creation, video delivery and display processing solutions and technology that enable highly authentic viewing experiences with superior visual quality, across all screens – from cinema to smartphone and beyond. The Company has a 20-year history of delivering image processing innovation to leading providers of consumer electronics, professional displays and video streaming services. Pixelworks is headquartered in San Jose, CA. For more information, please visit the company’s web site at www.pixelworks.com.

Note: Pixelworks and the Pixelworks logo are registered trademarks of Pixelworks, Inc.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This earnings release makes reference to non-GAAP gross profit margins, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP net loss and non-GAAP net loss per share, which exclude gain on sale of patents, inventory step-up and backlog amortization, amortization of acquired intangible assets, stock-based compensation expense, and restructuring expenses, which are all required under GAAP as well as the tax effect of the non-GAAP adjustments. The press release also makes reference to and reconciles GAAP net loss and adjusted EBITDA, which Pixelworks defines as GAAP net loss before interest income and other, net, income tax provision (benefit), depreciation and amortization, as well as the specific items listed above.

Pixelworks management uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally to understand, manage and evaluate the business and establish its operational goals, review its operations on a period to period basis, for compensation evaluations, to measure performance, and for budgeting and resource allocation. Pixelworks management believes it is useful for the Company and investors to review, as applicable, both GAAP information and non-GAAP financial measures to help assess the performance of Pixelworks’ continuing business and to evaluate Pixelworks’ future prospects. These non-GAAP measures, when reviewed together with the GAAP financial information, provide additional transparency and information for comparison and analysis of operating performance and trends. These non-GAAP measures exclude certain items to facilitate management’s review of the comparability of our core operating results on a period to period basis.