Cymer ups Q1 sales estimate due to laser demand for advanced lithography
Semiconductor Business News
(03/13/02 10:30 a.m. EST)
siliconstrategies.com
SAN DIEGO -- Lithography- illumination systems supplier Cymer Inc. today increased its forecast for first quarter, saying that it now expects revenues to exceed Q4 sales by 8-to-11%. Previously, the San Diego company had predicted revenues would grow 4-to-7% from $54.8 million in the fourth quarter last year.
Stronger growth in revenues is being driven by shipments of advanced excimer laser and illumination systems for next-generation process technologies, according to Cymer. The average selling prices for systems is expected to reach $725,000 from a prior guidance of $715,000, and Q1 gross margins are likely to be in a range of 39-to-42%, up from a previous estimate of 36-to-39%, said the company today.
"Our better than previously anticipated revenue is primarily attributable to technology buys of our new, most advanced products--the twin 4-kHz argon fluoride (ArF) and krypton fluoride (KrF) light sources--ongoing orders for which should maintain our book-to-bill ratio at above 1.0 for the quarter," said Bob Akins, chairman and chief executive officer of Cymer. "At this date, sales of spares and consumables -- the growth of which might indicate increasing volume chip manufacturing activity -- are approximately flat with levels in the prior quarter.
"Our visibility remains limited, but has improved relative to last quarter," he added.
Cymer is scheduled to release its Q1 results on April 23. |
