AXT, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2008 Financial Results

FREMONT, CA--(Marketwire - July 30, 2008) - AXT, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXTI), a leading manufacturer of compound semiconductor substrates, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2008.

Second Quarter 2008 Results

Revenue for the second quarter of 2008 was $19.9 million, compared with $19.6 million in the first quarter of 2008, and $13.6 million in the second quarter of 2007. Total gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrate revenue was $13.1 million for the second quarter of 2008, compared with $13.7 million in the first quarter of 2008, and $9.3 million in the second quarter of 2007.

The decline in GaAs substrate revenues in the second quarter of 2008 was primarily the result of three issues. First, a U.S. customer closed its operations during the second quarter resulting in an abrupt halt of shipments to them. Second, a major Asian customer shut down its operations for two weeks for routine annual maintenance; and finally, we encountered a parametric issue with 6-inch substrates for this customer due to a change in their application of our substrates during the second quarter. AXT is working closely with this customer to reach a solution and shipments of 6-inch substrates are resuming in the third quarter.

Indium phosphide (InP) substrate revenue was $500,000 for the second quarter of 2008, compared with $478,000 in the first quarter of 2008, and $660,000 in the second quarter of 2007. Germanium (Ge) substrate revenue was $1.4 million compared with $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2008 and $402,000 in the second quarter of 2007. Raw materials sales were $4.9 million for the second quarter of 2008, compared with $4.0 million in the first quarter of 2008 and $3.3 million in the second quarter of 2007. Raw materials sales increased in the second quarter of 2008 as more orders were shipped to customers to avoid transportation restrictions prior to the commencement of the Beijing Olympics.

Gross margin was 32.3 percent of revenue for the second quarter of 2008. This included a benefit from the sale of approximately $735,000 in fully reserved wafers, which positively affected the quarterly gross margin by 3.7 percentage points. By comparison, gross margin in the first quarter of 2008 was 31.7 percent. This included a benefit from the sales of approximately $620,000 in fully reserved wafers, which positively affected first quarter gross margin by 3.2 percentage points. Gross margin in the second quarter of 2007 was 36.9 percent, including a benefit from the sale of approximately $387,000 in fully reserved wafers, which positively affected the quarterly gross margins by 2.8 percentage points.

Operating expenses were $4.1 million in the first quarter of 2008, compared with $4.3 million in the first quarter of 2008, and $3.6 million in the second quarter of 2007. Operating expenses in the second quarter of 2007 included a $481,000 recovery on assets held for sale.

Income from operations for the second quarter of 2008 was $2.3 million compared with $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2008, and $1.4 million in the second quarter of 2007.

Net interest and other loss for the second quarter of 2008 was $925,000, which included foreign exchange losses of $593,000 primarily from our Yen-denominated accounts receivables and a loss on sale of investment of $133,000, compared with net interest and other income of $552,000 for the first quarter of 2008, which included a gain on sale of investment of $459,000, and net interest and other loss of $47,000 in the second quarter of 2007.

Due to the impact of the foreign exchange losses and the loss on the sale of investment, net income in the second quarter of 2008 was $0.7 million or $0.02 per diluted share, compared with net income of $2.0 million or $0.06 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2008, and net income of $1.2 million, or $0.04 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2007.

Management Qualitative Comments

"Our business continued to perform well during the second quarter with growth at many key customers across our product lines," said Phil Yin, chairman and CEO. "As a result, we were able to meet our total quarterly revenue expectations and exceed our operating income target despite the issues relating to two customers of our gallium arsenide substrates. We are also pleased that the collaborative working relationship with our Asian customer is resulting in a solution to the technical issue we experienced, allowing us to resume shipments in the third quarter. We expect to see growth this quarter in our gallium arsenide substrate business, particularly in 6-inch substrates, as demand for our products remains strong and we continue to gain market share across our product lines. Further, our germanium substrates are performing very well in qualifications and we expect to see further growth in this area as we ramp new and existing customers in the second half of the year."

Outlook for Third Quarter, Ending Sept. 30, 2008

AXT estimates revenue for the third quarter will increase to between $20.1 million and $20.5 million. The company estimates that net income per diluted share will be between $0.03 and $0.05, which takes into account our diluted weighted average share count of approximately 31.6 million shares.

Conference Call

The company will also host a conference call today to discuss these results at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The conference call can be accessed at (416) 641-6143 (conference ID 3264178). The call will also be simulcast on the Internet at www.axt.com. Replays will be available at (416) 695-5800 until August 6, 2008. Financial and statistical information to be discussed in the call will be available on the company's website immediately prior to commencement of the call. Additional investor information can be accessed at http://www.axt.com or by calling the company's Investor Relations Department at (510) 683-5900.

About AXT, Inc.

AXT designs, develops, manufactures and distributes high-performance compound and single element semiconductor substrates comprising gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium phosphide (InP) and germanium (Ge) through its manufacturing facilities in Beijing, China. In addition, AXT maintains its sales, administration and customer service functions at its headquarters in Fremont, California. The company's substrate products are used primarily in lighting display applications, wireless communications, and fiber optic communications. Its vertical gradient freeze (VGF) technique for manufacturing semiconductor substrates provides significant benefits over other methods and enabled AXT to become a leading manufacturer of such substrates, particularly in optoelectronics applications. AXT has manufacturing facilities in China and invests in five joint ventures producing raw materials. For more information, see AXT's website at http://www.axt.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

The foregoing paragraphs contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal Securities laws, including statements regarding our outlook for the third quarter of 2008, growth in our customer base and expansion of our addressable markets, increasing market share, progress in our product qualifications with customers, our ability to resolve technical issues resulting in increased shipments, growth in our GaAs and Ge substrate businesses and continuing demand from new and existing customers. These forward-looking statements are based upon specific assumptions that are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to the company's operations and business environment, which could cause actual results of the company to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements contained in the foregoing discussion. These uncertainties and factors include but are not limited to overall conditions in the markets in which the company competes; market acceptance and demand for the company's products; the impact on our ability to ship and deliver products as a result of the Beijing Olympics in August 2008; the impact of the factory closures or other delays by our customers on the timing of sales of products; the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations; and other factors as set forth in the company's annual report on Form 10-K and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each of these factors is difficult to predict and many are beyond the company's control. The company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

                                AXT, INC.
              CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
             (Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)


                                    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                                         June 30,            June 30,
                                    ------------------  ------------------
                                      2008      2007      2008      2007
                                    --------  --------  --------  --------

Revenue                             $ 19,932  $ 13,639  $ 39,566  $ 26,165
Cost of revenue                       13,488     8,607    26,901    15,728
                                    --------  --------  --------  --------
Gross profit                           6,444     5,032    12,665    10,437
                                    --------  --------  --------  --------

Operating expenses:
   Selling, general and
    administrative                     3,578     3,743     7,245     7,446
   Research and development              569       348     1,073       808
   Impairment (recovery) on assets
    held for sale                          -      (481)       83      (481)
                                    --------  --------  --------  --------
      Total operating expenses         4,147     3,610     8,401     7,773
                                    --------  --------  --------  --------
Income from operations                 2,297     1,422     4,264     2,664
Interest income, net                     241       225       365       449
Minority interests                      (648)     (493)   (1,147)     (753)
Other income (expense), net             (518)      221       409       470
                                    --------  --------  --------  --------

Income before provision for income
 taxes                                 1,372     1,375     3,891     2,830
Provision for income taxes               635       162     1,195       273
                                    --------  --------  --------  --------
Net income                          $    737  $  1,213  $  2,696  $  2,557
                                    ========  ========  ========  ========

Net income per share:
   Basic                            $   0.02  $   0.04  $   0.09  $   0.08
                                    ========  ========  ========  ========
   Diluted                          $   0.02  $   0.04  $   0.08  $   0.08
                                    ========  ========  ========  ========

Shares used in computing net income
 per share:
   Basic                              30,421    29,943    30,403    29,871
                                    ========  ========  ========  ========
   Diluted                            31,562    31,142    31,573    31,233
                                    ========  ========  ========  ========






                                AXT, INC.
                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                        (Unaudited, in thousands)


                                                    June 30,   December 31,
                                                      2008         2007
                                                  -----------  -----------
Assets:
Current assets
   Cash and cash equivalents                      $    19,292  $    18,380
   Short-term investments                              17,698       20,825
   Accounts receivable, net                            13,640       12,149
   Inventories, net                                    38,887       24,781
   Prepaid expenses and other current assets            5,970        3,569
   Assets held for sale                                     -        5,140
                                                  -----------  -----------
      Total current assets                             95,487       84,844

Property, plant and equipment, net                     19,100       15,986
Restricted deposits                                     6,400        6,700
Other assets                                            5,739        5,242

                                                  -----------  -----------
      Total assets                                $   126,726  $   112,772
                                                  ===========  ===========

Liabilities and stockholders' equity:
Current liabilities
   Accounts payable                               $    14,228  $     4,328
   Accrued liabilities                                  5,586        4,716
   Current portion of long-term debt                      450          450
                                                  -----------  -----------
      Total current liabilities                        20,264        9,494

Long-term debt, net of current portion                  5,962        6,250
Other long-term liabilities                             3,028        3,778
                                                  -----------  -----------
      Total liabilities                                29,254       19,522
                                                  -----------  -----------

Stockholders' equity:
   Preferred stock                                      3,532        3,532
   Common stock                                       186,449      185,979
   Accumulated deficit                                (95,847)     (98,543)
   Other comprehensive income                           3,338        2,282
                                                  -----------  -----------
      Total stockholders' equity                       97,472       93,250

                                                  -----------  -----------
      Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $   126,726  $   112,772
                                                  ===========  ===========

Contact Information: Contacts: Wilson W. Cheung Chief Financial Officer (510) 683-5900 Leslie Green Green Communications Consulting, LLC (650) 312-9060