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PDF Solutions Inc (PDFS)



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Upturn Advisory Summary
04/01/2025: PDFS (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -11.36% | Avg. Invested days 37 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Star Rating ![]() ![]() | Upturn Advisory Performance ![]() | Stock Returns Performance ![]() |
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Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 750.20M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 191.8 | 1Y Target Price 36.25 |
Price to earnings Ratio 191.8 | 1Y Target Price 36.25 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 265922 | Beta 1.58 | 52 Weeks Range 18.50 - 39.70 | Updated Date 04/1/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 18.50 - 39.70 | Updated Date 04/1/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 0.1 |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Revenue by Geography
Geography revenue - Year on Year
Earnings Date
Report Date - | When - | Estimate - | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin 2.26% | Operating Margin (TTM) 1.02% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 0.19% | Return on Equity (TTM) 1.71% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 191.8 | Forward PE 57.47 | Enterprise Value 640495820 | Price to Sales(TTM) 4.18 |
Enterprise Value 640495820 | Price to Sales(TTM) 4.18 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 3.57 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 82.18 | Shares Outstanding 39113800 | Shares Floating 28964127 |
Shares Outstanding 39113800 | Shares Floating 28964127 | ||
Percent Insiders 19.39 | Percent Institutions 73.57 |
Analyst Ratings
Rating 5 | Target Price 42.25 | Buy - | Strong Buy 4 |
Buy - | Strong Buy 4 | ||
Hold - | Sell - | Strong Sell - | |
Strong Sell - |
Upturn AI SWOT
PDF Solutions Inc

Company Overview
History and Background
PDF Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1991. The company provides process control solutions for integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing. It has evolved from a pure software provider to offering a broader range of services and solutions focused on yield improvement.
Core Business Areas
- Exensio: PDF Solutions' Exensio platform is a data analytics platform that helps semiconductor manufacturers improve yield and reduce costs by analyzing data from various sources throughout the manufacturing process.
- Characterization Vehicle (CV): PDF Solutions uses Characterization Vehicles, also called test chips, to accelerate yield learning and process optimization in semiconductor manufacturing.
- maYield: A yield management system designed to improve manufacturing processes. Helps in identifying root causes of yield loss.
Leadership and Structure
Kimberley Kates is the President and CEO. The company has a typical corporate structure with executive leadership overseeing various functional departments such as engineering, sales, marketing, and finance. The board of directors provides oversight.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Exensio: Data analytics platform for semiconductor manufacturing yield improvement. Market share data is not publicly available. Competitors include KLA, Applied Materials, and Synopsis.
- Characterization Vehicle (CV): Test chips and related services for process optimization. Revenue data is not publicly available. Competitors include Mentor Graphics (Siemens EDA) and various foundries that offer similar services.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The semiconductor manufacturing industry is highly competitive and cyclical. Key trends include the increasing complexity of IC designs, the rising cost of manufacturing, and the growing demand for higher yields and reliability. Increased demand for chips globally continues to affect the sector.
Positioning
PDF Solutions is positioned as a provider of data analytics and process control solutions that help semiconductor manufacturers improve yield and reduce costs. Its competitive advantage lies in its expertise in data analytics and its ability to integrate data from various sources.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The total addressable market for semiconductor process control solutions is estimated to be in the billions of dollars. PDF Solutions is positioned to capture a portion of this market by providing solutions that address the challenges of yield improvement and cost reduction.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Strong expertise in data analytics for semiconductor manufacturing
- Established relationships with leading semiconductor manufacturers
- Comprehensive suite of process control solutions
- Proprietary Exensio platform
Weaknesses
- Relatively small company compared to its competitors
- Dependence on the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry
- Limited geographic presence
Opportunities
- Growing demand for advanced process control solutions
- Expansion into new geographic markets
- Development of new products and services
- Partnerships with other companies in the semiconductor ecosystem
Threats
- Competition from larger companies with more resources
- Economic downturns that reduce demand for semiconductors
- Technological changes that render its solutions obsolete
- Disruptive technologies such as new materials
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- KLAC
- AMAT
- SNPS
Competitive Landscape
PDF Solutions competes with larger, more established companies. Its advantage lies in its expertise and the Exensio platform. Disadvantages include smaller size and limited resources.
Major Acquisitions
Cimetrix Incorporated
- Year: 2023
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 95
- Strategic Rationale: The acquisition of Cimetrix enabled PDF Solutions to expand its offerings with connectivity solutions.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Growth has been driven by increasing demand for its process control solutions.
Future Projections: Analyst estimates depend on market conditions and company-specific factors.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives would include new product launches and strategic partnerships.
Summary
PDF Solutions is a company specializing in data analytics and process control solutions for semiconductor manufacturing. It competes in a market dominated by larger players, but has carved out a niche with its Exensio platform. Its growth trajectory is linked to the demand for improved yields in chip manufacturing. Key things to keep an eye on are competitor actions and industry cycles.
Similar Companies
- KLAC
- AMAT
- SNPS
- ASML
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Company SEC Filings
- Analyst Reports
- Industry News
- Company Website
Disclaimers:
This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Market share estimates are approximate.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About PDF Solutions Inc
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquaters Santa Clara, CA, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 2001-07-31 | Co-Founder, President, CEO & Director Dr. John K. Kibarian Ph.D. | ||
Sector Technology | Industry Software - Application | Full time employees 539 | Website https://www.pdf.com |
Full time employees 539 | Website https://www.pdf.com |
PDF Solutions, Inc. provides proprietary software, physical intellectual property for integrated circuit designs, electrical measurement hardware tools, proven methodologies, and professional services in the United States, Japan, China, Taiwan, and internationally. The company offers Exensio software products, such as Manufacturing Analytics, a proprietary database schema to store collected data to identify and analyze production yield, performance, reliability, and other issues; Process Control, which provides failure detection and classification capabilities for monitoring, alarming, and controlling manufacturing tool sets; Test Operations that offer data collection and analysis capabilities; and Assembly Operations that provide device manufacturers with the capability to link assembly and packaging data, including fabrication and characterization data over the product life cycle. It also provides Sapience Manufacturing Hub enterprise, a connectivity platform between enterprise applications; Design-For-Inspection (DFI) systems, such as Proprietary Software, DFI On-Chip Instruments, eProbe Non-Contact E-Beam Tool; and Characterization Vehicle (CV) system, which includes CV Test Chips and pdFasTest Electrical Tester, as well as Exensio characterization software. In addition, the company offers Cimetrix software products that enable equipment manufacturers to provide standard interfaces on their products for equipment communication, control, and data collection; equipment factory connectivity products, such as Cimetrix CIMConnect, Cimetrix CIM300, and Cimetrix CIMPortal Plus; and equipment factory connectivity testing and equipment control products, as well as software-as-a-service, software related services, DFI system related services, and characterization services. PDF Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
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