PXLW 10-K & 10-Q changes, risk factors and insider trading

Risks Related to the Global Economy

The continued uncertain global economic environment and volatility in global credit, banking and financial markets could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

The state of the global economy continues to be uncertain. Additionally, recent high-profile global business failures, such as the court-ordered liquidation of Chinese property developer Evergrande Group, have caused general uncertainty and concern regarding the health of the economy of China, which is a major market for our products. As a result, we or our manufacturers, vendors and customers might experience deterioration of our or their businesses, cash flow shortages and difficulty obtaining financing, which could result in interruptions or delays in the performance of any contracts, reductions and delays in customer purchases, delays in or the inability of the Company or our customers to obtain financing or of our customers to purchase our products, and bankruptcy of customers. Furthermore, the constraints in the capital and credit markets, may limit our ability to access the capital we need when we need it, on favorable terms or otherwise, or limit the ability of our customers to meet their liquidity needs, which could result in an impairment of their ability to make timely payments to us and reduce their demand for our products, adversely impacting our results of operations and cash flows. This environment has also made it difficult for us to accurately forecast and plan future business activities.

Achieving design wins involves lengthy competitive selection processes that require us to incur significant expenditures prior to generating any revenue or without any guarantee of any revenue related to this business. If we fail to generate revenue after incurring substantial expenses to develop our products, our business and operating results would suffer.

We must achieve "design wins" that enable us to sell our semiconductor solutions for use in our customers’ products. These competitive selection processes typically are lengthy and can require us to incur significant research and development expenditures and dedicate scarce engineering resources in pursuit of a single customer opportunity. We may not achieve a design win and may never generate any revenue despite incurring significant research and development expenditures. This could cause us to lose revenue and require us to write off obsolete inventory and could weaken our position in future competitive selection processes. Even if our product strategy is properly targeted, we cannot assure you that the products we are developing will lead to an increase in revenue from new design wins. To achieve design wins, we must design and deliver cost-effective, innovative and integrated semiconductors that overcome the significant costs associated with qualifying a new supplier and which make developers reluctant to change component sources. Additionally, potential developers may be unwilling to select our products due to concerns over our financial strength. Further, design wins do not necessarily result in developers ordering large volumes of our products. Developers can choose at any time to discontinue using our products in their designs or product development efforts. A design win is not a binding commitment by a developer to purchase our products, but rather a decision by a developer to use our products in its design process. Even if our products are chosen to be incorporated into a developer’s products, we may still not realize significant revenue from the developer if its products are not commercially successful or it chooses to qualify, or incorporate the products, of a second source. Additionally, even if our product strategy is successful at achieving design wins and increasing our revenue, we may continue to incur operating losses due to the significant research and development costs that are required to develop competitive products for the projection market and mobile market.

Security breaches, computer malware and cyber-attacks have become more prevalent and sophisticated in recent years. These attacks have occurred on our systems in the past and are expected to occur in the future. Experienced computer programmers, hackers and employees may be able to penetrate our security controls and misappropriate or compromise our confidential information, or that of our employees or third parties. These attacks may create system disruptions or cause shutdowns. For portions of our IT infrastructure, including business management and communication software products, we rely on products and services provided by third parties. These providers may also experience breaches and attacks to their products which may impact our systems. Data security breaches may also result from non-technical means, such as actions by an employee with access to our systems.

Actual or perceived breaches of our security measures or the accidental loss, inadvertent disclosure or unapproved dissemination of proprietary information or sensitive or confidential data about us, our partners, our customers or third parties could expose the parties affected to a risk of loss, or misuse of this information, resulting in litigation and potential liability, damage to our brand and reputation or other harm to our business. Our efforts to prevent and overcome these challenges could increase our expenses and may not be successful. We may experience interruptions, delays, cessation of service and loss of existing or potential customers. Such disruptions could adversely impact our ability to fulfill orders and interrupt other critical functions. Delayed sales, lower margins or lost customers as a result of these disruptions could adversely affect our financial results, stock price and reputation.

We may not fully realize the estimated savings from our restructurings in a timely manner or at all, and our restructuring programs may result in business disruptions and decrease productivity. Any of the foregoing would negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations.

From time to time, we may have the need to execute restructuring plans to make the operation of the Company more efficient, such as the February 2025 restructuring. We may not be able to implement our restructuring programs as planned, and we may need to take additional measures to fulfill the objectives of our restructuring. The anticipated expenses associated with our restructuring programs may differ from or exceed our expectations, and we might not be able to realize the full amount of estimated savings from the restructuring programs in a timely manner or at all. Additionally, our restructuring plans may result in business disruptions or decreases in productivity. As a result, our restructuring plans could have an adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

A significant amount of our revenue comes from a limited number of customers and distributors and from time to time we may enter into exclusive deals with customers, exposing us to increased credit risk and subjecting our cash flow to the risk that any of our customers or distributors could decrease or cancel their orders.

The display manufacturing market is highly concentrated and we are, and will continue to be, dependent on a limited number of customers and distributors for a substantial portion of our revenue. Sales to our top distributor represented 30% and 48% of revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. If any of our distributors ceases to do business with us, it may be difficult for us to find adequate replacements, and even if we do, it may take some time. The loss of any of our top distributors could negatively affect our results of operations. Additionally, revenue attributable to our top five end customers represented 88% and 87% of revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, we had three accounts that each represented 10% or more of accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2023, we had two accounts that each represented 10% or more of accounts receivable. All of the orders included in our backlog are cancellable. A reduction, delay or cancellation of orders from one or more of our significant customers, or a decision by one or more of our significant customers to select products manufactured by a competitor or to use its own internally-developed semiconductors, would significantly and negatively impact our revenue. Further, the concentration of our accounts receivable with a limited number of customers increases our credit risk. The failure of these customers to pay their balances, or any customer to pay future outstanding balances, would result in an operating expense and reduce our cash flows.

We generally do not have long-term purchase commitments from our customers and if our customers cancel or change their purchase commitments, our revenue and operating results could suffer.

Substantially all of our sales to date have been made on a purchase order basis. We generally do not have long-term commitments with our customers. As a result, our customers may cancel, change or delay product purchase commitments, which could cause our revenue to decline and materially and adversely affect our results of operations.

In addition, any proceeds received by PWSH, one of our Chinese subsidiaries, from the private placement of shares or in connection with the future potential listing of PWSH shares on the STAR Market in Shanghai, are subject to certain PRC laws and regulations that may make it difficult, if not impossible, to use such proceeds to fund those operations of Pixelworks that are not part of PWSH. As a result, it is unlikely that funds raised or generated by PWSH will be readily distributable to Pixelworks.

We face a number of risks as a result of the concentration of our operations and customers in Asia.

Many of our customers are located in Japan, China, or Taiwan. Sales outside the U.S. accounted for approximately 98.3% and 99.7% of revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We anticipate that sales outside the U.S. will continue to account for a substantial portion of our revenue in future periods. In addition, customers who incorporate our products into their products sell a substantial portion of their products outside of the U.S. All of our products are also manufactured outside of the U.S. and most of our current manufacturers are located in Taiwan. Furthermore, most of our employees are located in China, Japan and Taiwan. Our Asian operations require significant management attention and resources, and we are subject to many risks associated with operations in Asia, including, but not limited to:

•the continued effect of health epidemics in China or other parts of Asia, such as the COVID-19 pandemic;

•difficulties in managing international distributors and manufacturers due to varying time zones, languages and business customs;

•compliance with U.S. laws affecting operations outside of the U.S., such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act;

•reduced or limited protection of our IP, particularly in software, which is more prone to design piracy;

•difficulties in collecting outstanding accounts receivable balances;

•changes in tax rates, tax laws and the interpretation of those laws;

•difficulties regarding timing and availability of export and import licenses;

•ensuring that we obtain complete and accurate information from our Asian operations to make proper disclosures in the United States;

•political and economic instability and tensions, including tensions between China and each of the U.S., Taiwan and Japan;

•difficulties in maintaining sales representatives outside of the U.S. that are knowledgeable about our industry and products;

•changes in the regulatory environment in China, Japan and Taiwan that may significantly impact purchases of our products by our customers or our customers’ sales of their own products;

•imposition of new tariffs, quotas, trade barriers and similar trade restrictions on our sales;

•varying employment and labor laws; and

•greater vulnerability to infrastructure and labor disruptions than in established markets.

Any of these factors could require a disproportionate share of management’s attention, result in increased costs or decreased revenues, and could materially affect our product sales, financial condition and results of operations.

Our operations in Asia expose us to heightened risks due to natural disasters.

The risk of natural disasters in the Pacific Rim region is significant. Natural disasters in countries where our manufacturers or customers are located could result in disruption of our manufacturers’ and customers’ operations, resulting in significant delays in shipment of, or significant reductions in orders for, our products. There can be no assurance that we can locate additional manufacturing capacity or markets on favorable terms, or find new customers, in a timely manner, if at all. Natural disasters in this region could also result in:

•reduced end user demand due to the economic impact of any natural disaster;

•a disruption to the global supply chain for products manufactured in areas affected by natural disasters that are included in products purchased either by us or by our customers;

•an increase in the cost of products that we purchase due to reduced supply; and

•other unforeseen impacts as a result of the uncertainty resulting from a natural disaster.

Our international operations expose us to risks resulting from the fluctuations of foreign currencies.

We are exposed to risks resulting from the fluctuations of foreign currencies, primarily those of Japan, Taiwan, China and Canada. We sell our products to OEMs that incorporate our products into other products that they sell outside of the U.S. While sales of our products to OEMs are denominated in U.S. dollars, the products sold by OEMs are denominated in foreign currencies. Accordingly, any strengthening of the U.S. dollar against these foreign currencies will increase the foreign currency price equivalent of our products, which could lead to a change in the competitive nature of these products in the marketplace. This, in turn, could lead to a reduction in revenue.

In addition, a portion of our operating expenses, such as employee salaries and foreign income taxes, are denominated in foreign currencies. Accordingly, our operating results are affected by changes in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and those currencies. Any future strengthening of those currencies against the U.S. dollar will negatively impact our operating results by increasing our operating expenses as measured in U.S. dollars.

Our cash reserves (including those of PWSH) may be held in part in foreign currencies in amounts that could materially impact the value of those reserves if the U.S. dollar strengthens or weakens against such currencies. In such an event, the corresponding income or expense that is dictated by U.S. GAAP accounting may impact our financial results.

Pixelworks is a leading provider of high-performance and power-efficient visual processing semiconductor and software solutions that enable consistently high-quality and authentic viewing experiences in a wide variety of applications. We define our primary target markets as Mobile (smartphone and tablet), Home & Enterprise (projectors, personal video recorders ("PVR"), and over-the-air ("OTA") streaming devices), and Cinema (creation, remastering, and delivery of digital video content). Previously we classified our primary target markets as Mobile, Projector, Video Delivery and Cinema, but have since aggregated the Projector and Video Delivery categories into one called "Home & Enterprise".

Pixelworks has been a pioneer in visual processing technology for over 20 years. We were one of the first companies to commercially launch a video System on Chip ("SoC") capable of deinterlacing 1080i HDTV signals and one of the first companies with a commercial dual-channel 1080i deinterlacer integrated circuit. We launched one of the industry’s first single-chip SoCs for digital projection. We were the first company to integrate motion estimation / motion compensation technology ("MEMC") as a mobile-optimized solution for smartphones. In 2019, we introduced our Hollywood award-winning TrueCut MotionTM video platform, the industry’s first motion grading technology that allows fine tuning of motion appearance in cinematic content.

Our core visual processing technology intelligently processes digital images and video from a variety of sources and optimizes the content for a superior viewing experience. Rapid growth in video and gaming consumption, combined with the move towards bright, high resolution, high frame rate and high refresh rate displays, especially in mobile, is increasing the demand for our solutions. Our technologies can be applied across a wide range of applications: cinema theaters, low-power mobile tablets, smartphones, streaming devices, and digital projectors for the home, school, or the workplace. Our products are designed and optimized for power, cost, bandwidth, viewer experience, and overall system performance, according to the requirements of the specific application. On occasion, we have also licensed our technology.

During 2021, we engaged in a strategic plan to re-align our Mobile and Home & Enterprise businesses to improve their focus on their Asia-centered customers and employee stakeholders (the “Strategic Plan”). One of our Chinese subsidiaries, Pixelworks Semiconductor Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (or "PWSH"), now operates these businesses as a full profit-and-loss center underneath Pixelworks. In connection with this Strategic Plan, the Company and PWSH closed three separate financing transactions in 2021 and 2022, which are further described in "Note 15: Redeemable Non-Controlling Interest and Equity Interest of PWSH Sold to Employees" and "Note 16: Non-Controlling Interest". PWSH has a branch office located in Shenzhen, China (Pixelworks Semiconductor Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. Shenzhen Branch Office No. 1), which is primarily for sales and customer support for PWSH, and a subsidiary located in Hong Kong (Pixelworks Hong Kong Limited), which has no employees and is used for distribution of PWSH products. Pixelworks has an additional subsidiary in China (Frame Shadow Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (formerly called Mucheng Huai Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd)) which is a research and development center for our TrueCut business. This subsidiary does not operate under PWSH, but rather is owned by Pixelworks through our Oregon limited liability company, Pixelworks Semiconductor Technology Company, LLC.

We continue to believe that an initial public offering of PWSH shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s Science Technology Innovation Board, known as the STAR Market (the “Listing”) will have many benefits, including improved access to new capital markets and the funding of PWSH’s growth worldwide. The process of going public on the STAR Market is lengthy and includes several periods of review by various government agencies of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), such as the Shanghai Stock Exchange (“SSE”) and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”). The CSRC and the SSE have recently tightened the standards for the STAR Market and are currently advising companies that are not yet profitable under China GAAP standards against filing an IPO application in the present environment. The Company believes this is in large part due to the current economic conditions in China and the recent performance of companies already listed on the STAR Market that were not profitable at the time of their initial public offering. PWSH is not currently profitable under China GAAP standards. There is no guarantee that PWSH will be approved for a Listing at any point in the future. The listing of PWSH on the STAR Market will not change the status of PXLW as a U.S. public company. More than a majority of our operations are in China, but our executive officers and all of our directors but one are located in the United States (he resides in Singapore). We are neither a PRC operating company nor do we conduct our operations in China through the use of variable interest entities.

Pixelworks continues to work with Morgan Stanley as financial advisor to assist with reviewing potential alternative strategic options specific to inbound interest in the Pixelworks Shanghai subsidiary.

As of December 31, 2024, we had an intellectual property portfolio of 261 patents related to the visual display of digital image data. We focus our research and development efforts on developing video algorithms that improve quality and architectures that reduce system power, cost, bandwidth and increase overall system performance and device functionality. We seek to expand our technology portfolio through internal development and co-development with business partners, and we continually evaluate acquisition opportunities and other ways to leverage our technology into other high-value markets.

Historically, significant portions of our revenue have been generated by sales to a relatively small number of end customers and distributors. We sell our products worldwide through a direct sales force, distributors and manufacturers’ representatives. We sell to distributors in China, Japan and Taiwan. Our distributors often provide engineering support to our end customers and often have valuable and established relationships with our end customers. In certain countries in which we operate, it is customary to sell to distributors. While distributor payment to us is not dependent upon the distributor’s ability to resell the product or to collect from the end customer, the distributors may provide longer payment terms to end customers than those we would offer.

Significant portions of our products are sold overseas. Sales outside the U.S. accounted for approximately 98.3% and 99.7% of revenue in 2024 and 2023, respectively. Our integrators, branded manufacturers and branded suppliers incorporate our products into systems that are sold worldwide. The majority of our revenue to date has been denominated in U.S. dollars.

Seasonality

Our business is subject to seasonality related to the markets we serve and the location of our customers. We have typically experienced higher revenue from the digital projector component of the Home & Enterprise market in the third quarter, and lower revenue in the first quarter, as our Japanese customers reduce inventories in anticipation of their March 31 fiscal year end. We have typically experienced higher revenue from the mobile market in the fourth quarter, and lower revenue in the first quarter, as mobile phone OEMs ramp production in advance of Chinese New Year.

Net revenue decreased $16.5 million, or 28%, from 2023 to 2024.

Revenue recorded in 2024 consisted of $42.3 million in revenue from the sale of integrated circuits ("IC") products and $0.9 million in revenue related to engineering services, license revenue and other. Revenue recorded in 2023 consisted of $58.6 million in revenue from the sale of IC products and $1.1 million in revenue related to engineering services, license revenue and other.

The decrease in IC revenue from 2023 compared to 2024 is due to the following factors:

•Sales into the Mobile market decreased $15.7 million or 54%, primarily due to decreased units sold associated with a delayed transition to our latest generation mobile products.

•Sales into the Home & Enterprise market decreased $0.6 million or 2%.

Revenue related to the Cinema market was not material in 2024 or 2023 and was therefore included in the engineering services, license revenue and other category within the Mobile market.

1Includes purchased materials, assembly, test, labor, employee benefits and royalties.

2Includes charges to reduce inventory to lower of cost or net realizable value and a benefit for sales of previously written down inventory.

Gross profit margin increased to 52% in 2024 compared to 43% in 2023, primarily due to decreased unit sales into the Mobile market which generally have lower margins than products sold into the Home & Enterprise market, increased average selling prices ("ASP") on IC products sold into the Home & Enterprise market and decreased costs on Mobile products. These factors which positively impacted margin were partially offset by reduced absorption due to reduced revenue and increased inventory charges.

Pixelworks’ gross profit margin is subject to variability based on changes in revenue levels, product mix, average selling prices, startup costs and the timing and execution of manufacturing ramps as well as other factors.

Co-Development Agreement

During 2021, we entered into a best-efforts co-development agreement with a customer to defray a portion of the research and development expenses we expect to incur in connection with our development of an integrated circuit product. We expect our development costs to exceed the amounts received from the customer, and although we expect to sell units of the product to the customer, there is no commitment or agreement from the customer for such sales at this time. Additionally, we retain ownership of any modifications or improvements to our pre-existing intellectual property and may use such improvements in products sold to other customers.

Under the co-development agreement, $5.8 million was payable by the customer within 60 days of the date of the agreement and three additional payments of $2.5 million, $1.9 million and $1.3 million are each payable upon completion of certain development milestones. As amounts became due and payable, they were offset against research and development expense on a pro rata basis. We did not recognize any offsets to research and development expense during the year ended December 31, 2024. We recognized an offset to research and development expense of approximately $3.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2023. All milestones under the co-development agreement were completed as of December 31, 2023.

•A $3.2 million benefit related to the co-development agreement was recognized in 2023 compared to no benefit recognized in 2024.

•Non-recurring engineering expense decreased $1.1 million due to the timing of development activities.

•Compensation expense decreased $1.1 million primarily due to decreased headcount associated with our June 2024 restructuring plan and a decreased management bonus accrual.

•Accounting and other professional fees decreased $1.7 million primarily due to a decrease in fees incurred related to our strategic plan with our subsidiary, PWSH.

During 2024, we recorded $1.6 million, in restructuring expense related to the Plan. During 2023, we did not record any restructuring expense. The Plan was complete in 2024 and we do not expect to incur any further expenses related to the Plan after 2024.

The increase in interest income and other, net in 2024 compared to 2023 is due to an increase in government subsidies received, partially offset by a decrease in interest earned on our cash and cash equivalents balance due to the decrease in our cash and cash equivalents balance in 2024 compared to 2023. Additional information on the government subsides received is provided in "Note 17: Government Grants", which is incorporated by reference into this section.

Revenue of $0.4 million recorded in the first quarter of 2026 was related to the category of services. We did not record revenue in the first quarter of 2025 related to our continuing operations.

Cost of revenue of $0.2 million recorded in the first quarter of 2026 was primarily related to remastering services performed in connection with the associated service revenue. Cost of revenue recorded in the first quarter of 2025 was immaterial.

Research and development

Research and development expense recorded in the first quarter of 2026 was consistent with research and development expenses recorded in the first quarter of 2025. There were no individually significant offsetting expense categories contributing to amounts recorded in each quarter presented.

Selling, general and administrative expense increased $0.1 million, or 4%, in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025. There were no individually significant offsetting expense categories contributing to amounts recorded in each quarter presented.