Non-GAAP net income including the discontinued operation for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $2.4 million, as compared to non-GAAP net income including the discontinued operation of $5.6 million for the same quarter last year. Non-GAAP diluted income per share including the discontinued operation for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $0.10, as compared to Non-GAAP diluted income per share including the discontinued operation of $0.23 for the same period in 2022.
Full Year 2023 Review
Total revenue for 2023 was $97.4 million, a decrease of 19%, when compared to $120.6 million reported for 2022. Licensing and related revenue for 2023 was $57.6 million, a decrease of 23%, when compared to $75.2 million reported for 2022. Royalty revenue for 2023 was $39.9 million, representing a decrease of 12%, as compared to $45.4 million reported for 2022.
Yaniv Arieli, Chief Financial Officer of Ceva, added: "We are pleased to finish 2023 with our highest royalty revenue quarter of the year and non-GAAP earnings per share that exceeded our expectations. 2023 overall was a transformational year for Ceva, as we realigned our resources to focus on the key growth markets of automotive, consumer, industrial, and infrastructure. As we enter 2024, we are laser-focused on profitable growth and remaining agile to deal with any challenges. In addition, following the divestment of the non-core Intrinsix design services business, our balance sheet has been significantly bolstered, which ensures we are well positioned to pursue non-organic investments that can accelerate the company's growth in the coming years."
In 2023, 53 licensing deals were concluded, including 10 with OEMs and 13 for Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 IP. More than 1.6 billion Ceva-powered smart edge devices were shipped, including record cellular IoT device shipments of 130 million units, more than 950 million Bluetooth devices, of which more than 100 million were Wi-Fi + Bluetooth combo devices.
GAAP operating loss for 2023 was $13.5 million, as compared to a GAAP operating income of $3.9 million reported for 2022. GAAP net loss and diluted loss per share for 2023 were $18.4 million and $0.79, respectively, compared to GAAP net loss and diluted loss per share of $13.9 million and $0.60, respectively, reported for 2022.
GAAP net loss including the discontinued operation for 2023 was $11.9 million as compared to GAAP net loss including the discontinued operation of $23.2 million reported for 2022. GAAP diluted loss per share including the discontinued operation for 2023 was $0.51, compared to GAAP diluted loss per share including the discontinued operation of $1.00 reported for 2022.
Non-GAAP operating income for 2023 was $3.6 million, compared with $27.0 million reported for 2022. Non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share for 2023 were $4.4 million and $0.18, respectively, compared to $23.6 million and $0.98 reported for 2022.
Ceva Conference Call
On February 14, 2024, Ceva management will conduct a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the operating performance for the quarter and review the full year.
The conference call will be available via the following dial in numbers:
- U.S. Participants: Dial 1-844-435-0316 (Access Code: CEVA)
- International Participants: Dial +1-412-317-6365 (Access Code: CEVA)
The conference call will also be available live via webcast at the following link: https://app.webinar.net/6MBXkYD5bVD. Please go to the web site at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register.
For those who cannot access the live broadcast, a replay will be available by dialing +1-877-344-7529 or +1-412-317-0088 (access code: 1753733) from one hour after the end of the call until 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on February 21, 2024. The replay will also be available at Ceva's web site www.ceva-ip.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that if they materialize or prove incorrect, could cause the results of Ceva to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding interest in and licensing opportunities for Ceva's diversified technology portfolio, expectations regarding enhancing Ceva's range of products and AI-related offerings, Ceva's positioning for driving shareholder value, Ceva's focus on profitable growth and agility to deal with challenges, and positioning to pursue non-organic investments that can accelerate the company's growth in the coming years. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause differing Ceva results include: the effect of intense industry competition; the ability of Ceva's technologies and products incorporating Ceva's technologies to achieve market acceptance; Ceva's ability to meet changing needs of end-users and evolving market demands; the cyclical nature of and general economic conditions in the semiconductor industry; Ceva's ability to diversify its royalty streams and license revenues; Ceva's ability to continue to generate significant revenues from the handset baseband market and to penetrate new markets; instability and disruptions related to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict; and general market conditions and other risks relating to Ceva's business, including, but not limited to, those that are described from time to time in our SEC filings. Ceva assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information, which speak as of their respective dates.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Non-GAAP gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2023 excluded: (a) equity-based compensation expenses of $0.2 million and (b) amortization of acquired intangibles of $0.1 million. Non-GAAP gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2022 excluded: (a) equity-based compensation expenses of $0.2 million and (b) amortization of acquired intangibles of $0.07 million.
Non-GAAP operating income for the fourth quarter of 2023 excluded: (a) equity-based compensation expenses of $4.1 million, (b) the impact of the amortization of acquired intangibles of $0.3 million and (c) $0.4 million of costs associated with business acquisitions. Non-GAAP operating income for the fourth quarter of 2022 excluded: (a) equity-based compensation expenses of $3.8 million, (b) the impact of the amortization of acquired intangibles of $0.4 million, (c) impairment cost of $0.3 million associated with the closing of an office and (d) $1.3 million associated with retirement expenses of executives.
Non-GAAP net income and diluted income per share for the fourth quarter of 2023 excluded: (a) equity-based compensation expenses of $4.1 million, (b) the impact of the amortization of acquired intangibles of $0.3 million, (c) $0.4 million of costs associated with business acquisitions, (d) $0.1 million income associated with the remeasurement of marketable equity securities, (e) $1.3 million tax charges, an impact as a result of the completion of a tax audit for prior years and (f) $4.5 million tax charges, including one-time write off of a deferred tax asset related to Section 174 (US tax regulations). Non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2022 excluded: (a) equity-based compensation expenses of $3.8 million, (b) the impact of the amortization of acquired intangibles of $0.4 million, (c) $0.2 million loss associated with the remeasurement of marketable equity securities, (d) $0.3 million relating to impairment of closed office, (e) impairment expenses of $1.3 million relating to retirement of executives and (e) $3.5 million income associated with Section 174 (US tax regulations).
Non-GAAP gross margin 2023 excluded: (a) equity-based compensation expenses of $0.8 million and (b) amortization of acquired intangibles of $0.4 million . Non-GAAP gross margin for 2022 excluded: (a) equity-based compensation expenses of $0.7 million and (b) amortization and impairment of acquired intangibles of $2.6 million .