Semitool's CEO believes upturn could be starting in chip equipment
Semiconductor Business News
(04/25/02 19:18 p.m. EST)
KALISPELL, Mont.--Semitool Inc. today posted a net loss of $4.1 million on net sales of $31.3 million in the company's fiscal second quarter, ended March 31. The chip equipment company's sales were 17.1% sequentially higher than $26.8 million in the prior quarter, but 63.9% below $86.7 million in the same period last year.
"We are enjoying a period of advancing business and quote activity, although there is still a way to go before we could call this an upturn," said Ray Thompson, president and chief executive officer of Semitool. "Nevertheless, there is some indication that an upturn is beginning."
The Montana-based company said its new bookings for the second quarter were $24 million, down from $27 million in this fiscal year's first quarter. Deferred revenue was $35.7 million on March 31, and the company's shipping backlog was $33.4 million.
"We expect third quarter revenue to be sequentially higher and to be in the range of $32-to-$36 million, thereby resulting in a net loss per share in the range of $0.11-to-$0.08," Thompson said. Semitool's net loss in the just-ended quarter was $0.14 per share.
"Third quarter shipments are expected to be in the range of $28-to-$31 million," he added. "We are gradually benefiting from the more positive outlook that many of our customers are expressing, and as a result, we believe that third quarter new order bookings could rise significantly above the second quarter's booking level." |
