Market Research
Manufacturing reports improved expectations in Q4. Revenues, shipments and fab utilisation levels are all set to be higher than previous guidance (October 25, 2002) suggested. Revenues are due to be 18% rather than 20% down on the
previous quarter and up 39% rather than 37% on the previous year.
Utilisation percentages will be in the high rather than mid 30s. The net loss - including the recent restructuring costs - is expected to be unchanged at $114-117mn. Average selling prices will be down 10% rather than the October 25, 2002, estimate of 6-8%.
Intel has upped its outlook for Q4 (ends December 28). The company expects revenue of between $6.8bn and $7.0bn, as compared with its previous forecast of $6.5bn to $6.9bn. The Intel Architecture business is performing above expectations, with higher sales in Asia. Communications businesses are in line with the previous expectations. All other expectations are unchanged.
AMD also raised its financial guidance for Q4 2002 based on stronger than expected PC processor demand and continued strength in high-density Flash memory. Q4 sales are expected to approach $700mn, an increase of approximately 35% over Q3 2002 sales of $508mn. AMD had previously forecast a sales increase of 20% over Q3 2002. Texas Instruments is another chip company offering hope for the future. Revenue is now expected to be 7% rather than 10% down on the previous quarter.
Texas Instruments topped rankings for wireless communication IC supply with forecast 2002 sales of $1.85bn, according to IC Insights. This represents a 37% increase on 2001.
Qualcomm and Motorola took second and third place,
respectively. Europe's leading three companies made places four, six and seven with STMicroelectronics' sales at $1.50bn, Philips at $1.21bn and Infineon Technologies at $0.88bn. No.5 was Intel. The Japanese companies NEC and Toshiba took places eight and nine. Agere Systems was No.10.
SEMI has released its latest consensus forecast for 2002 equipment sales. The decline in sales on 2001 is expected to be 32% to $18.9bn. Next year 15% growth to $21.8bn is hoped for. The companies contributing to the survey also gave predictions of $26.4bn in 2004 and $27.5bn in 2005.
