Broadcom Tops Q4 Estimates on AI Chip Surge, Projects Revenue Growth

Tech

Broadcom Tops Q4 Estimates on AI Chip Surge, Projects Revenue Growth

Broadcom reported Q4 revenue of $18.02 billion, surpassing estimates of $17.49 billion, driven by surging demand for AI chips that doubled sales to $8.2 billion in the upcoming quarter.

• Broadcoms AI chip revenue is set to double to $8.2 billion this quarter, fueled by custom designs for major hyperscalers.
• Adjusted earnings per share reached $1.95, exceeding the $1.86 forecast, with net income nearly doubling year-over-year.
• The semiconductor solutions segment grew 22% to $11.07 billion, including strong AI contributions, while infrastructure software rose 26% to $6.94 billion.

What Were Broadcoms Q4 Earnings Results？

Broadcoms Q4 earnings significantly outperformed Wall Street expectations, reporting revenue of $18.02 billion against the forecasted $17.49 billion from analysts. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.95, topping the $1.86 estimate provided by LSEG. This strong performance was primarily attributed to heightened demand for AI-related semiconductors, marking a pivotal moment for the companys growth in the artificial intelligence sector.

Net income for the quarter soared to $8.51 billion, or $1.74 per share, nearly doubling from the $4.32 billion, or 90 cents per share, recorded in the same period a year earlier. Following the announcement, Broadcom‘s stock rose 3% in after-hours trading, reflecting investor confidence in its AI-driven trajectory. The results underscore Broadcom’s strategic positioning amid the global AI infrastructure expansion.

How Is Broadcom Forecasting AI Chip Growth？

Broadcom has raised its revenue forecast for the current quarter to $19.1 billion, representing a 28% increase from the previous year and surpassing the consensus estimate of $18.3 billion. CEO Hock Tan highlighted in a prepared statement that AI chip sales are expected to reach $8.2 billion, effectively doubling from last years figures. This projection stems from robust demand for both custom AI accelerators and networking semiconductors essential for AI systems.

Earlier updates from Broadcom indicated three major customers and four prospects for its custom AI chips as of June. By September, the company disclosed a fourth client committing to a $10 billion order, though the identity remains undisclosed. Analysts, including those from StreetAccount, noted that the semiconductor solutions division—where AI revenues are categorized—achieved $11.07 billion in Q4, a 22% year-over-year rise that exceeded the $10.77 billion projection.

The infrastructure software segment also performed admirably, generating $6.94 billion, up 26% from the prior year and above expectations. This includes contributions from the VMware unit, fully integrated earlier in the year. On the hardware front, Broadcom‘s long-standing collaboration with Google on custom AI chips, such as the TPUv7 or Ironwood model, has accelerated beyond initial timelines. Reports from Susquehanna indicate Google’s recent engagement with Anthropic for up to 1 million TPUs, alongside purchases from Meta, further bolstering Broadcoms AI ecosystem.

In terms of capital allocation, Broadcom announced a dividend increase to 65 cents per share, payable later this month, up from 59 cents. Details on share buybacks or additional plans were not elaborated in the earnings release. Year-to-date, Broadcoms stock has climbed 75%, building on a full-year doubling in 2024, positioning it alongside peers like Nvidia as a key beneficiary of AI infrastructure investments.

Unlike Nvidias emphasis on graphics processing units, Broadcom differentiates itself through specialized custom silicon for hyperscale data centers. CEO Tan emphasized that the AI market expansion is in its early stages, with chip orders poised for significant scaling. Even as the market awaits confirmation on the fulfillment of orders from unnamed clients, Broadcom is already securing billions in AI-related revenue.