Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. Welcome to Camtek's fourth quarter and full-year 2018 results conference call. All participants are at present in a listen-only mode. Following management's formal presentation, instructions will be given for the question-and-answer session. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. You should have all received by now the company's press release. If you have not received it, please contact Camtek's investor relations team at GK Investor and Public Relations at 1-646-688-3559 or view it in the news section of the company's website at www.camtek.com. I would now like to hand over the call to Mr. Kenny Green of GK Investor Relations. Mr. Green, would you like to begin, please?
Thank you. Thank you, operator, and good day to all of you. I'd like to welcome all of you to Camtek's fourth quarter and full-year 2018 results conference call. I would also like to thank Camtek's management for hosting this call. With us on the line today are Mr. Rafi Amit, Camtek's CEO, Mr. Moshe Eisenberg, Camtek's CFO, and Mr. Ramy Langer, Camtek's COO. Rafi will provide the overview of Camtek's results and discuss market trends in the fourth quarter of 2018. Moshe will summarize the financial results of the quarter. We'll open the call for the question-and-answer session. Before we begin, I'd like to remind all our listeners that certain information provided on this call are internal company estimates unless otherwise specified. This call may also contain forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and may change as time passes.
Statements on this call are made as of today. The company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements contained, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in expectations, or otherwise. Investors are reminded that actual events or results may differ materially from those projected, including as a result of changing industry and market trends, reduced demand for services and products, the timely development of new services and products, and their adoption by the market, increased competition in the industry and price reductions, as well as due to other risks identified in the company's filings with the SEC. Please note that the safe harbor statement in today's press release also covers the contents of this conference call. In addition, during this call, certain non-GAAP financial measures will be discussed.
These are used by management to make strategic decisions, forecast future results, and evaluate the company's current performance. Management believes that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors' understanding and assessment of the company's ongoing core operations and prospects for the future. A full reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP financial measures are included in today's earnings release. I would now like to hand the call over to Rafi, Camtek's CEO. Rafi, please go ahead.
Good morning, and thank you for joining our call today. Camtek delivered excellent results for the fourth quarter of 2018 and for the whole year of 2018. The company showed strong revenue in the fourth quarter of $33.2 million, up 28% over Q4 of 2017. We ended the year with record revenue of $123.2 million, a 32% increase over 2017 revenue. We achieved a significant improvement in profitability parameters, both in the quarter as well as in 2018 as a whole. As demonstrated in Q4 results, we reported over 50% gross margin and over 20% operating margin. Our outlook ahead remains positive. The guidance for Q1 2019 is $33.5 million-$34.5 million, which represents consecutive growth and year-over-year growth of 25%. In general, we do not give guidance beyond 1 quarter ahead, as our lead time is 8-10 weeks.
We would like to share with you our current general observation of what we see in our end market. At this stage, we see normal level of activity in our market segments. With people now returning from the Chinese New Year holiday, we will be in a better position to evaluate our Q2 expectations in few weeks. We are aware of the temporary weakness of the semiconductor industry, but the specific segment we are focusing on, such as CIS, RF, MEMS, and advanced packaging, seem relatively stable at this point. The growth engines of our relevant market are, first of all, the continued transition to advanced packaging solutions to improve the performance of electronic modules.
Specifically, in the memory space, while the DRAM prices are undergoing some pressure, the transition into advanced packaging is nonetheless expected to continue, driven by the technical requirements for higher bandwidth and lower power consumption. In addition, the RF segment is expected to benefit from the introduction of 5G. The momentum in the CIS space is continuing at the similar pace as in the past year, due to the increased number of cameras in many mobile phone and other applications. Other market segment and trend that will present growth driver for us are the extensive and growing use of IoT devices, AI-related devices, as well as the transition to an automotive industry to improve use of electronic modules. The market trend I just discussed along with Camtek market position is the reason for our expectation to remain our ongoing performance.
As testified by our strong 30%+ growth in 2018, it is clear that we are not only maintaining our leadership position in 3D metrology, but we are also gaining market share in the 2D inspection sector and expanding to new applications such as front-end, macro inspection, and compound semiconductor. Our Eagle3 system continues to gain market share. In 2018, we won a number of important add-on evaluations against our major competitor in 2D inspection and 3D metrology, demonstrating a superior performance, and were selected as the supplier of the choice. Needless to say that our talented R&D team continues to develop capabilities that will ensure that we remain competitive. Two days ago, we announced a definitive agreement with Chroma, a leading Taiwanese company. Chroma is a leading provider of test and automation solution with annual revenue of over $500 million.
Based on this agreement, Chroma will acquire 20% of Camtek and enter into a technological licensing and cooperation agreement with us. Approximately 50% will be acquired from Priortech, a 5% new share issued by Camtek in a total cash deal of $74 million. The transaction is based on a share price of $9.5, which represents a 29% premium over the closing price before the announcement. As part of our strategy, we have been looking for a strategic partner in Asia to support the continued growth. Over 80% of our sales and install base are in Asia. With this important partnership, we can strengthen our position in the region, specifically Taiwan and China. Moreover, strong relationship with customer will enable us to better understand our customers' roadmap and develop new technological and solutions to meet their technological challenges. The technological cooperation is expected to be in several areas.
One, Camtek will grant Chroma a royalty-bearing license to use its resin configuration technology for non-semiconductor applications. This represents a new potential revenue stream for Camtek. Two, Camtek will, in the future, build inspection machines based on Camtek's technology to address the market niches in which we do not participate actively. Finally, Chroma and Camtek will explore other areas of cooperation in the development of technological solutions for the semiconductor industry. We are confident that this strategic investment in Camtek, together with the cooperation agreement between the companies, will significantly strengthen Camtek position with major customers in Asia. In addition, Chroma and Camtek's cooperation in the development of new product and solutions for semiconductor industry can expand the portfolio of product line that Camtek currently sells and through that accelerate Camtek's growth rate.
Our cash position at the end of 2018 was close to $55 million, which is a result of over $16 million positive operating cash flow in the year. The new investment will further strengthen our balance sheet, which will enable us to potentially increase our growth through acquisitions of companies in the market in which we operate. I would like to hand over to Moshe for a more detailed financial discussion of the financial result. Moshe?
Thank you, Rafi. Camtek showed very strong execution in the fourth quarter, with results exceeding the top end of our guidance range. This performance filtered down our financial metrics to the bottom line. Our gross operating and net margins were all strong and at levels we were very happy with, showing the operating leverage inherent in our business model. In my financial summary ahead, I will provide the results on a non-GAAP basis. The reconciliation between the GAAP results and the non-GAAP results appear in the table at the end of the press release issued earlier today. As you may recall, we sold our PCB inspection business in the third quarter of 2017, and this is considered discontinued operations. In my summary, the results of last year will include continued operations only. Fourth quarter revenues came at $33.2 million, up 28% year-over-year.
Full-year revenues were a record $123.2 million, up 32% year-over-year. The results were driven by strong demand across all our segments and applications. The geography revenue split for the quarter was as follows: Asia 52%, U.S. 10%, and Europe with 10%. Gross margin for the quarter was 50.6% versus 47.8% in the fourth quarter of last year. Gross profit for the year was $61.2 million, representing a gross margin of 49.7%. This is compared with a gross margin of 48.7% last year. The improvement in gross margin was mainly a function of the product and sales mix we delivered, as well as the leverage we have in our financial model. We see the margin remaining around the 50% level in future quarters. In longer term, as we grow our revenues, we expect our margins will continue to show steady improvement. Operating expenses in the quarter were $9.9 million.
This is compared with $8.5 million in the fourth quarter of last year and similar to the $10.1 million reported in the previous quarter. Operating profit in the quarter was $6.9 million, an increase of 179% over the $3.8 million recorded in the fourth quarter of last year. Operating margin was 20.7%, a strong improvement versus 14.8% in the fourth quarter last year. Operating profit for the year was $22.2 million, or 18% of revenues. We have more than doubled our operating profit of $10.4 million in 2017. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $6.4 million or $0.17 per diluted share. This is compared to a net income of $3.5 million or $0.10 per share in the fourth quarter of last year. Net income for the year was $20.9 million, or $0.57 per diluted share.
This is compared to a net income of $9.6 million or $0.27 per share in 2017. Turning to some high-level balance sheet and cash flow metrics, we generated $7.2 million in cash from operations. Net cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2018, increased to $54.9 million, compared with $48.3 million at the end of the third quarter of 2018. During the last couple of quarters, we invested approximately $700,000 in our cleanroom, increasing its capacity to support the growing level of business moving forward. As Rafi mentioned earlier, revenue guidance for the first quarter of 2019 is between $33.5 million-$34.5 million. With that, Rafi, Ramy, and myself will be open to take your questions.
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, we'll begin the question-and-answer session. If you have a question, please press star one. If you wish to cancel your request, please press star two. If you're using speaker equipment, kindly lift the handset before pressing the numbers. Your questions will be pulled in the order they are received. Please stand by while we pull for your questions. First question is from Craig Ellis of B. Riley. You can go ahead.
Thank you for taking the question, and, Dean, congratulations on the very strong financial performance as well as the key from a strategic agreement. My first question, Rafi, is just on some of the end market color you provided. It sounds like the different end markets that you serve are relatively stable. I'm wondering if you could comment on two things. One, as you look at some of the risks that are out there, whether it be geographic or even in the end markets or applications, where do you have greater concerns? Practically, an issue with longer term, perhaps how 2019, and admittedly not asking for guidance here, but can you comment on your confidence that we could see another year of growth in 2019 following what was a stellar year from last year? Thank you.
First of all, in general, I would say that we see what you mentioned about the same level of activity. We see it all over, in all territories, not only in Asia. We see it in U.S., in Europe. We believe that maybe it's more belong to the segment we are focusing and not specifically because of the geographical. This is relating to what you asked the first question. Regarding the long term, w e cannot predict long term because there are a lot of events that can influence on that. We are very close to customer.
We are visiting them all the time, we get all the time information, we can't see any negative signal from customers. On top of that, we're all aware about the fact that too many technology are on the way, I can't believe that anyone has any intention to stop it. We believe that the 5G generation definitely will start accelerating, automotive electronic module continue, CIS, all our types of applications continue. People continue to support technology. We believe that as long as our main driving is technology and not definitely quantities, we feel comfortable right now.
That's helpful. Then a follow-up question for you before I run it through Moshe. The follow-up, you mentioned with the Chroma deal, there are a number of ways you can monetarily, whether it be royalty model with some technology or SAM expansion with new end market served and potentially new products. When could we expect to see the benefit of some of those initiatives in your financial statements? Would it be the second half of 2019 or 2020 or 2021?
2021.
Hi Craig, this is Moshe speaking. Since we have just signed the agreement a couple of days ago, and the closing process is expected to take a few months, practically speaking, the technology transfer and all the work that we will have to do with Chroma will start in the second half of the year. We are expecting initial revenue stream at early 2020.
Thanks for that, Moshe. Then the last one for you. Excellent margin execution in the quarter, 50.2% gross margin, 20% operating margin. Are those sustainable margin levels as the business goes forward or offering decent new products or mix? Would we expect to see gross margins dip back into the 40s and operating margins into the teens? Thank you.
No, I think that gross margin is expected to stay at around the 50% mark, at least as I see it in the next couple of quarters. It's mainly dependent on sales mix or product mix, it could vary 1% here and there. Generally speaking, we see the gross margin trend going up as we increase the volume above the 50%. With respect to the operating margin, it's because we don't have any major plans to increase significantly the operating expenses level. As a result, we believe that we will be able to maintain the 20% operating margin, and hopefully as the year progressing, that things will continue as they are, we will be able to improve the operating margin slightly.
That's helpful. Thank you very much.
Thank you.
If there are any additional questions, please press star one. If you wish to cancel your request, please press star two. We stand by while we call for more questions. The next question is from Gus Richard of Northland Securities. Please go ahead.
Yes, thanks for taking the question, and congratulations on the great results. On Chroma, is that going to have any impact on the P&L as you enter into that agreement and start to work with them?
No. Hi, Gus. We are not expecting any impact on the P&L. I believe that you are referring to the expense level. The answer is no. We are not expecting any major change or no change in the expense level. The other way, we are expecting to see some revenue stream, as I said before, starting from 2020 from royalties, which are basically 100% we carry 100% gross margin.
Got it
So this should be a positive impact on the bottom line.
Got it. Okay. Then, in terms of the advanced packaging, any color on what areas are strong right now? Is it fan-out chiplets, High Bandwidth Memory? Any color there?
Hi, Gus, this is Ramy. No doubt the DRAM transition to advanced packaging is a major part, it's going to continue, we believe, in the next few years. The DRAM is going to transition from wire bond into advanced packaging. I think definitely a major segment what we see. Fan-out is continuing to grow. We have a number of activities in the fan-out area. I believe that these two areas are the major areas, although in general.
In all of the new developments that we are seeing, in all of the new boards we are seeing, 40% and more of components out of the BOM are manufactured in advanced packaging. There is a big increase in the volume of advanced packaging as a whole. That said, specifically, the DRAM transition into advanced packaging and fan-out are, I would say, the major flavors of advanced packaging that we see now in the market.
Just out of curiosity, advanced packaging in the DRAM area, what inning are we in that transition? And what do you expect the replacement of wire bonding to be over the next five years?
If I'm not mistaken, the numbers, it's about 30% of the DRAMs have already moved to advanced packaging. There is another, I don't know if the whole 70%, but most of the remaining 70% over the next three to five years will move gradually to advanced packaging. This is the trend. The rate, it's very hard to say what is the exact rate, definitely, that's the trend, and it's there.
Got it. Very helpful. Then finally from me on the RF front, you also mentioned III-V, can you talk a little bit about what kind of inspections you're doing, metrology you're doing for the, for 5G and for III-V in general?
Right. I would say primarily for these applications, it's primarily inspection. There is some metrology, obviously, but it's 2D metrology, mostly 2D metrology. I think there is very, very little 3D metrology in these. There are some applications, but that's not the major applications in this area. As you are aware, the number of filters for cell phones moving to 5G will be significantly higher. Obviously, very similar trend to what you see in the CMOS image sensors, where suddenly instead of one camera or two cameras, you get five or six cameras on a cell phone, which is a very similar trend. Definitely this is going to be a segment that is going to show a very significant growth, starting, I would say late 2019 onwards.
Got it. Thank you so much. Congratulations.
Thank you. Thank you, guys.
If there are any additional questions, please press star one. If you wish to cancel your request, please press star two. Please stand by while we poll for more questions. There are no further questions at this time. Before I ask Mr. Amit to go ahead with his closing statements, I'd like to remind participants that a replay of this call will be available on Camtek's website at www.camtek.com beginning tomorrow. Mr. Amit, would you like to make a concluding statement?
I would like to thank you all for your continued interest in our business. Again, I would like to thank all our employees and the management team for their tremendous performance in 2018 so far, and we look forward to continuing it. To our investors, I thank you long-term support. I look forward to talking with you again next quarter. Thank you, and goodbye.
Thank you. This concludes the Camtek fourth quarter 2018 results conference call. Thank you for your participation. You may go ahead and disconnect.