Perry,
Two things: obviously research is critical for all equipment companies. Secondly, Semitool will use the relationship with IMEC in order to reach a larger European customer base. This also incidently makes Semitool a more attractive acquisition target for equipment companies who seek both SMTL's type of technology (assuming Mr. Thompson had an "urge to merge"), and also better access to Philips,etc., in Europe. Not an issue here in the US for SMTL, as I believe their customer base is already increasing.
It is similar to say Nanometrics alliances with SELETE in Japan and Sematech here in the US....
Sincerely,
Doug F.
P.S. Also FWIW, SMTL"s earnings are scheduled to be released April 24th I believe. Every day that we get closer to that date with continued SMTL silence makes me think that SMTL will be at or above its consensus earnings estimate for the quarter.... Assuming that we don't get blasted by a wild employment number tomorrow, then I feel comfortable saying that we are at the bottom on the NASDAQ. Remember though, usually coming off of a correction the market will climb, then go back and test the low one more time, and then if that test holds, head higher than the original point (1360) from which the original correction began. Here with a puny 1/4 point rate increase by the Fed,and maybe another 1/4 point in May or July, I believe this to be a typical correction, and not the end of the decade-long bull market that we are in.... |
