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PDF Solutions Inc (PDFS)

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Upturn Advisory Summary
01/09/2026: PDFS (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
1 Year Target Price $34.75
1 Year Target Price $34.75
| 4 | Strong Buy |
| 0 | Buy |
| 0 | Hold |
| 0 | Sell |
| 0 | Strong Sell |
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -21.15% | Avg. Invested days 33 | Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating |
Upturn Star Rating ![]() | Upturn Advisory Performance | Stock Returns Performance |
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 1.20B USD | Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 34.75 |
Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 34.75 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 4 | Beta 1.57 | 52 Weeks Range 15.91 - 32.34 | Updated Date 01/9/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 15.91 - 32.34 | Updated Date 01/9/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) -0.01 |
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 -0.03% | Operating Margin (TTM) 8.45% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 1.31% | Return on Equity (TTM) -0.02% |
Valuation
Trailing PE - | Forward PE 57.47 | Enterprise Value 1304294335 | Price to Sales(TTM) 5.81 |
Enterprise Value 1304294335 | Price to Sales(TTM) 5.81 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 6.31 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 153.32 | Shares Outstanding 39512959 | Shares Floating 29347460 |
Shares Outstanding 39512959 | Shares Floating 29347460 | ||
Percent Insiders 19.49 | Percent Institutions 76.83 |
Upturn AI SWOT
PDF Solutions Inc

Company Overview
History and Background
PDF Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1995 with the goal of improving the design and manufacturing of integrated circuits (ICs) through software and services. The company has evolved over the years, focusing on data-driven solutions for semiconductor manufacturing, helping companies optimize yield, reduce costs, and accelerate time-to-market. Key milestones include developing proprietary data analysis techniques and expanding its service offerings to address complex challenges in advanced semiconductor nodes.
Core Business Areas
- Software and Services: PDF Solutions provides a suite of software solutions and professional services designed to improve the performance, yield, and manufacturability of semiconductor devices. This includes data analytics, process control, and design-for-manufacturing (DFM) tools.
- Advanced Data Analytics: The company's core strength lies in its ability to collect, analyze, and interpret vast amounts of manufacturing data to identify sources of variation, predict failures, and optimize production processes.
- Process Optimization: PDF Solutions helps semiconductor manufacturers fine-tune their manufacturing processes, from wafer fabrication to packaging, to achieve higher yields and improve product quality.
Leadership and Structure
PDF Solutions operates under a traditional corporate structure with a CEO, CFO, and other executive officers responsible for various functional areas. The company's leadership team guides its strategic direction and operational execution. Specific leadership details are typically found in their investor relations section and SEC filings.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Product Name 1: Exensiou00ae Platform: This is PDF Solutions' flagship data analytics platform. It enables semiconductor manufacturers to manage, analyze, and leverage their manufacturing data for improved yield and performance. While specific market share data for individual products is proprietary, Exensiou00ae is central to their offering. Competitors include companies like Synopsys (DCS), Cadence Design Systems (for DFM tools), and various internal solutions developed by large foundries and fabless semiconductor companies.
- Product Name 2: Yield Management Services: PDF Solutions offers consulting and services that utilize their software and expertise to help clients identify and resolve yield issues. This is a critical area for semiconductor manufacturers, and competition comes from other specialized consulting firms and the internal expertise of their clients. Specific revenue figures for this service are not typically broken out publicly.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
PDF Solutions operates within the semiconductor manufacturing software and services market. This industry is characterized by its complexity, the high cost of wafer fabrication, and the constant drive for innovation and miniaturization. The semiconductor industry is cyclical, influenced by global economic conditions, consumer demand for electronic devices, and geopolitical factors. There's a significant trend towards advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration, creating new challenges and opportunities for data analytics and process optimization.
Positioning
PDF Solutions is positioned as a specialized provider of data-driven solutions for semiconductor manufacturing. Their competitive advantage lies in their deep understanding of semiconductor physics and manufacturing processes, combined with sophisticated data analytics capabilities. They focus on helping clients improve yield and reduce costs, which are critical metrics for profitability in the industry. Their expertise in handling complex, high-volume data sets is a key differentiator.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The TAM for semiconductor manufacturing software and services is substantial, running into billions of dollars globally. This includes areas like Electronic Design Automation (EDA), manufacturing execution systems (MES), and specialized data analytics platforms. PDF Solutions is positioned to capture a portion of this TAM by focusing on yield optimization, DFM, and advanced data analytics, which are critical for the production of advanced semiconductor devices. The increasing complexity of chip design and manufacturing, especially with advanced nodes and new materials, expands the TAM and the need for solutions like those offered by PDF Solutions.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Deep domain expertise in semiconductor manufacturing processes.
- Proprietary data analytics technology and algorithms.
- Strong relationships with key semiconductor manufacturers.
- Focus on critical areas like yield optimization and cost reduction.
Weaknesses
- Relatively smaller market presence compared to larger EDA companies.
- Dependence on the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry.
- Potential challenges in scaling their service-based offerings.
Opportunities
- Growth in advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration.
- Increasing demand for AI/ML-driven manufacturing solutions.
- Expansion into emerging semiconductor markets.
- Partnerships with equipment manufacturers and foundries.
Threats
- Intensifying competition from larger EDA players and specialized startups.
- Economic downturns impacting semiconductor capital expenditure.
- Rapid technological advancements requiring continuous innovation.
- Potential for in-house development of similar solutions by large clients.
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- Synopsys (SNPS)
- Cadence Design Systems (CDNS)
- Applied Materials (AMAT)
- Lam Research (LRCX)
Competitive Landscape
PDF Solutions faces competition from larger, more diversified EDA (Electronic Design Automation) companies and capital equipment manufacturers that offer integrated solutions. PDF Solutions' advantage lies in its specialized focus on data analytics and yield optimization for manufacturing, a niche where it possesses deep expertise. However, its smaller size can be a disadvantage against larger competitors with broader product portfolios and greater R&D budgets.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: PDF Solutions has demonstrated a growth trajectory driven by the increasing complexity of semiconductor manufacturing and the demand for advanced data analytics to improve yield and efficiency. Revenue growth has been influenced by software license renewals, new customer acquisitions, and the expansion of their service offerings.
Future Projections: Future projections for PDF Solutions are typically based on analyst estimates, industry trends, and the company's strategic initiatives. Growth is expected to be fueled by the ongoing demand for semiconductor solutions for emerging technologies like AI, 5G, and autonomous systems, as well as the continued need to optimize manufacturing processes for advanced nodes.
Recent Initiatives: Recent strategic initiatives may include partnerships with other technology providers, development of new software modules within the Exensiou00ae platform, and expansion of their sales and support infrastructure to address global semiconductor markets. Specific initiatives are usually announced through press releases and investor presentations.
Summary
PDF Solutions Inc. is a specialized provider of data-driven solutions for semiconductor manufacturing, focusing on yield optimization and process improvement. Their core strengths lie in their deep domain expertise and proprietary analytics platform. The company faces significant competition from larger EDA and capital equipment players. Growth is expected to be driven by the increasing complexity of chip production and the demand for advanced manufacturing intelligence, but economic cycles and rapid technological changes pose threats.
Similar Stocks
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Company Investor Relations
- SEC Filings (10-K, 10-Q)
- Financial Data Providers (e.g., Refinitiv, Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance)
- Industry Analyst Reports
Disclaimers:
This JSON output is generated for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Market share data and TAM estimations are approximate and based on industry generalities. Specific financial figures, leadership details, and strategic initiatives should be verified through official company sources and professional financial advice.
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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