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Super Micro shares fall more than 10% on weaker-than-expected outlook and annual filing uncertainty
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Super Micro shares fall more than 10% on weaker-than-expected outlook and annual filing uncertainty

Super Micro Computer ( SMCI ) stock fell more than 10% in after-hours trading on Tuesday after the company’s outlook for both earnings per share and revenue in the current quarter missed Wall Street estimates.

Additionally, Super Micro still has not filed its 10-K annual report, which it initially postponed on August 28. The company said it is “still unable at this time to predict when the Form 10-K will be filed.”

Super Micro said it expects adjusted earnings per share for the fiscal second quarter of $0.56 to $0.65, below consensus estimates of $0.80, according to Bloomberg data. Meanwhile, Super Micro’s forecast for net sales between $5.5 billion and $6.1 billion was weaker than the $6.79 billion Wall Street had expected.

“It certainly looks like earnings are not where they wanted to be, either for the quarter they just reported or going forward,” Wedbush Securities equity research analyst Matt Bryson told Yahoo Finance.

Bryson added that uncertainty over who Super Micro will hire as its next auditor or when it will be able to file its annual 10-K return remains a headwind for the stock.

“There’s a lot of unknowns here,” Bryson said.

The gain came less than a week after accounting firm Ernst & Young (EY) resigned as Super Micro’s auditor. EY said in a filing “not willing to be associated with the financial statements prepared by management.”

Super Micro responded to those allegations on Tuesday with a response from an independent special committee that had investigated the allegations.

“Following a three-month investigation led by independent counsel, the committee’s investigation to date has revealed that the audit committee acted independently and that there is no evidence of fraud or misconduct on the part of management or the board of directors. board,” the press release said. said. “The committee recommends a series of corrective actions for the company to strengthen its internal governance and oversight functions, and the committee expects to deliver the full report on the completed work this week or next.”

FILE PHOTO: Super Micro Computer logos are displayed at COMPUTEX Taipei, one of the world's largest computer and technology trade shows, in Taipei, Taiwan, May 30, 2023. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Super Micro Computer logos are displayed at COMPUTEX Taipei, one of the world’s largest computer and technology trade shows, in Taipei, Taiwan, May 30, 2023. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo/File Photo · Reuters/Reuters

EY’s dismissal came two months after a short report by Hindenburg Research alleged, among other things, ‘accounting manipulation’ at the artificial intelligence high-flyer.

After rallying earlier this year as investors cheered SMCI’s prospects in AI data centers, the shares are now down more than 60% in the past six months.

In August, Hindenburg said the three-month investigation revealed “flanking accounting red flags, evidence of undisclosed related party transactions, sanctions and export control failures, and customer issues.” The company also announced that it had taken a short position in Super Micro.