Very bullish outlook, indeed..
Applied hikes fab gear forecast to 56% growth in 2000
By J. Robert Lineback
Semiconductor Business News
(05/10/00, 04:49:30 PM EDT)
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--With sales and profits running at record levels in its last fiscal quarter, Applied Materials Inc. today upped its industry forecast for worldwide semiconductor capital spending to 53% growth in 2000 over 1999. During a conference call with financial analysts, Applied officials also said the company has increased its growth forecast for wafer fab equipment to 56% from an estimate of 46% just three months ago.
The bullish outlook came after Applied Materials today reported its own net sales increased 27% to $2.19 billion in the company's second fiscal quarter, ended April 30, compared to $1.72 billion in the same period last year. Applied's net income--including special charges and gains--was a record $468.9 million compared to $143.3 million in the quarter last year.
The world's largest supplier of semiconductor production equipment also posted record new orders of $2.93 billion in fiscal quarter, a sequential increase of 19% from $2.45 billion in the previous three-month period and 101% higher than $1.46 billion in the quarter last year. Official predicted that new orders in the current third fiscal quarter would exceed $3 billion and its revenues would grow to $2.6 billion to $2.7 billion.
The upbeat outlook comes as major chip makers begin to increase their capital spending plans and the prospects of chip shortages loom on the horizon.
"As a result of the additional capital spending increases announced this quarter, we have revised our forecast for calendar year 2000 and now expect industry capital spending to increase 53% over 1999," said Joseph R. Bronson, chief financial officer and chief administrative officer for Applied, during the conference call. "This is the second revision upwards in six months," he added.
"We do not believe the spending is at level that will exceed demand at this time," Bronson told analysts.
Applied expects 13 new "greenfield" wafer fabs to be started in 2000, and 16 will be announced in 2001, Bronson said. Seven of the new fabs in the next couple of years will be 300-mm wafer processing facilities, he said.
And Applied believes strong growth conditions will continue into 2001. "Incremental wafer-start capacity in 8-inch equivalents will increase an additional 40% in 2001 over 2000," Bronson said.
In releasing its fiscal quarter results, Applied said 25% of its new orders from Taiwan, 25% from North America, 15% from Japan, 14% from Europe, 11% from Southeast Asia and China, and 10% from South Korea. Applied ended its second fiscal quarter with a record $3.18 billion, compared to $2.46 billion at the end of the previous three-month period. |
