Chip Giant Arm’s Q3: Revenue Up 13.81%, Shares Leap 40%

At A Glance

• Revenue for Q3 FY2024 reached US$824 million, marking a 13.81% increase year-over-year.
• Operating income and profit saw a significant reduction, decreasing by about 50% from the previous year.
• China’s contribution to total revenue grew to 25%, with revenue from related parties in the region accounting for 30%.
• Q4 revenue projections range between US$850-900 million, well above Bloomberg’s forecast of US$778 million.
• Royalty revenue hit a record high of US$470 million due to the adoption of Armv9 technology.
• Arm Holdings PLC shares surged by 40% since its IPO, influencing Softbank’s NAV to surpass US$121 billion potentially.

Arm Holdings PLC’s fiscal Q3 2024 results present a growth story amid challenges. The company saw a 13.81% year-over-year increase in revenue, reaching US$824 million, despite a significant 50% drop in operating income and profit. This contrast highlights Arm’s resilient revenue sources, particularly from China, which now accounts for 25% of its total revenue, marking a noticeable rise from the previous quarter.

Looking forward, Arm Holdings anticipates Q4 revenue to be between US$850-900 million, surpassing Bloomberg’s average forecast of US$778 million. This positive outlook indicates strong demand for Arm’s technology, projecting fiscal year 2024 revenue to fall between US$3105-3205 million, demonstrating the company’s strategic edge in the changing tech landscape.

Revenue Sources and Market Expansion

The revenue breakdown sheds light on Arm’s key growth areas. Royalty revenue hit a record US$470 million, an 11% increase year-over-year, mainly due to the rising adoption of advanced Armv9 technology. License revenue also grew by 18% compared to last year, reaching US$354 million, showcasing Arm’s expanding influence in essential tech sectors.

Market insights point to Arm’s growing presence in cloud servers and the automotive sector, driven by the increased use of Arm-based chips in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). However, this expansion was partly counterbalanced by a dip in the automotive microcontroller market, with IoT/embedded market royalty revenue remaining steady. Chip shipment volumes saw a slight 3% decline year-over-year, totalling 7.7 billion in Q3 FY2024, reflecting ongoing market challenges.

Stock Performance and Strategic Direction

Since its IPO, Arm Holdings PLC’s stock has impressively risen by 40%, significantly boosting Softbank’s net asset value, potentially surpassing US$121 billion. This achievement highlights Arm’s US$79 billion valuation and its strategic value to Softbank, especially as the tech world increasingly focuses on AI and machine learning technologies.

Arm’s emphasis on AI and strategic parallels with industry leaders like Nvidia highlight the critical need for a coherent AI strategy. This approach not only matches broader market trends but also positions Arm to leverage the growing demand for AI across various industries, securing its market standing and future growth prospects.