The News: Broadcom announced Q1 2024 earnings earlier this month. Read the full press release on the Broadcom website.

By the numbers:

Consolidated net revenue: $11.9 billion, marking a 34% increase year-over-year (YoY), bolstered by VMware’s 10.5 weeks contribution
Semiconductor solutions revenue: Grew 4% YoY to $7.4 billion
Infrastructure software revenue: Skyrocketed by 153% YoY to $4.6 billion, primarily driven by VMware’s integration
AI revenue: Quadrupled YoY to $2.3 billion, counterbalancing the cyclical downturns in the enterprise and telecom sectors
Guidance for fiscal year 2024: Reiterated consolidated revenue forecast of $50 billion, implying 40% YoY growth, with adjusted EBITDA expected to maintain at 60%

Broadcom’s Fiscal Q1 2024 Earnings Analysis

Analyst Take: Broadcom’s Q1 fiscal 2024 financial results mark the inaugural quarter where VMware’s contributions are fully integrated into the company’s overall performance, showcasing a significant 34% YoY increase in consolidated net revenue to nearly $12 billion. The acquisition has propelled Broadcom’s infrastructure software revenue to an impressive 153% YoY growth, underscoring VMware’s pivotal role in Broadcom’s strategic expansion into cloud and AI domains. This quarter serves as a cornerstone for Broadcom, evidencing the synergistic potential of VMware’s inclusion in driving forward its revenue and innovation trajectory.

Broadcom’s Q1 fiscal 2024 results underscore a formidable performance, especially in its infrastructure software and AI revenue streams. The acquisition and subsequent integration of VMware have played a pivotal role, not just in revenue growth but in strategically positioning Broadcom within the burgeoning cloud and AI markets. The significant uptick in infrastructure software revenue, driven largely by VMware, highlights Broadcom’s successful pivot and synergy realization post-acquisition.

On the semiconductor front, Broadcom continues to exhibit resilience amid a challenging landscape, with a modest growth underscored by its AI revenue explosion. This surge in AI revenue, which now anticipates constituting 35% of the semiconductor segment’s total revenue, showcases Broadcom’s effective capitalization of the AI wave. However, it is not without its challenges, as evidenced by the mixed performance across other semiconductor segments, with notable declines in server storage connectivity and broadband revenue.

Looking Ahead

Broadcom’s strategic maneuvering through the VMware acquisition and its focus on AI and cloud infrastructure present a compelling narrative in the face of stiff competition from other semiconductor giants. The company’s adeptness at navigating the tsunami of AI demand sets it apart, especially its partnership with NVIDIA through the VMware Private AI Foundation, highlighting a forward-thinking approach to on-premises AI deployments.

The semiconductor landscape remains fiercely competitive, with peers aggressively pursuing AI and cloud infrastructure solutions. Broadcom’s sustained investment in AI and networking, particularly its custom AI accelerators, positions it well to maintain, if not enhance, its market standing. The mainframe software team’s continued delivery, amid shifting demands, further underscores Broadcom’s capability to balance growth across its diverse portfolio.

In addition, counter to the market narrative of Broadcom failing to invest in its software acquisition, the Mainframe Software Division (formerly CA) announced this week the launch of its WatchTower portfolio. This innovative approach to leveraging open source code such as Open Telemetry is being provided to clients with an active subscription at zero charge, demonstrating not only that Broadcom is doing software development on an acquired-in portfolio but further that is offering enhanced value to its existing clients.

Moreover, the broader market context, especially with the current cyclical challenges in enterprise spending and telecom investments, demands careful navigation. Broadcom’s strategic pivots and operational efficiencies, coupled with its aggressive pursuit of AI and cloud markets, present a robust framework for sustainable growth. However, the company must remain vigilant of the evolving competitive dynamics, regulatory landscapes, and technological advancements to ensure its continued market leadership.

Daniel Newman and his co-host of The Six Five Webcast, Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights and Strategy discusses Broadcom’s earnings in their latest episode. Check it out here and be sure to subscribe to The Six Five Webcast so you never miss an episode.

Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.

Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole.