There was a rumor a couple of months ago that ORBK will show only 10% growth.  Their earnings report today shows otherwise:
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  Monday May 3, 6:01 am Eastern Time
  Company Press Release
  Orbotech Announces First Quarter 1999 Results
  Net Income up 20% on 18% Increase in Revenues
  YAVNE, ISRAEL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 1999--ORBOTECH LTD. (NASDAQ/NM SYMBOL: ORBK - news) today announced its consolidated financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 1999. 
  Revenues for the first quarter of 1999 totaled $64.2 million, an increase of 18% from the $54.2 million recorded in the first quarter a year ago. Net income for the first quarter of 1999 was $11.6 million, or $0.82 per share (diluted), an increase of 20% compared with net income of $9.6 million, or $0.69 per share (diluted), in the first quarter of 1998. 
  Sales of equipment to the printed circuit board (''PCB'') industry increased by 14% as compared with the first quarter of 1998 while sales of flat panel display (''FPD'') inspection equipment were especially strong. On a geographical basis, the Company recorded good revenue growth in the United States and particularly strong growth in the Far East. 
  Commenting on the results, Yochai Richter, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, ''I am pleased to report strong financial results and important progress in our strategic development. 
  ''We continue to experience strong demand for our core automated optical inspection systems for PCBs, and in particular for our recently introduced InSpire-9000 system, which demonstrates exceptional performance and features unattended operation. During the quarter, we also announced the launch of our new DP-100, an enabling direct imaging system which acquires digital image data directly from a CAM workstation and images it on to a photoresist-coated substrate, thereby eliminating many steps in PCB manufacturing. 
  ''Sales of FPD inspection equipment were very strong in the quarter reflecting, among other trends, their increasing use in personal computers. 
  ''During the first quarter we completed our acquisition of KLA Acrotec Co. Ltd., now re-named Orbotech Display Pacific Ltd., a Japanese company engaged in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of automated optical inspection systems for FPDs. This acquisition significantly strengthens our presence in the strategically important FPD industry, particularly in Japan.'' 
  Mr. Richter concluded, ''A productive first quarter is a good indicator for the year ahead.'' 
  Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which could cause the actual results to differ materially from those projected, including the timely development and acceptance of new products, delays in factory testing and acceptance, industry trends, technology or pricing competition and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release. 
  ORBOTECH LTD. (NASDAQ: ORBK - news) is the world leader in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of automated optical inspection (''AOI'') systems for use in the manufacture of PCBs and FPDs and is a leader in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of imaging solutions for PCB production and of AOI systems for use in the electronics assembly industry. In addition, the Company markets computer aided manufacturing (''CAM'') solutions for PCB production and is continuing to develop its proprietary AOI technologies for use in other applications both within and outside the electronics industry. 
                               ORBOTECH LTD.                        (An Israeli Corporation)                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET                            AT MARCH 31, 1999
                                                 March 31    December 31                                                 1 9 9 9      1 9 9 8                                              ------------  -----------                                               (Unaudited)   (Audited)                                              ------------  -----------                                             U. S. dollars In thousands                                             --------------------------                     A s s e t s
  CURRENT ASSETS:     Cash and cash equivalents                      76,675       94,450     Short-term investments                          9,091        4,827     Accounts receivable:       Trade                                        56,390       51,301       Israeli Government        departments and agencies                     3,889        5,959       Other                                         8,073        6,329     Inventories                                    51,149       42,144     Deferred income taxes                             258          593                                              ............  ...........               T o t a l  current assets           205,525      205,603                                              ............  ...........
  INVESTMENT AND NON-CURRENT RECEIVABLES:     Long-term investments                           7,045        6,866     Deferred income taxes                           1,046          727     Non-current trade receivables                     156          258                                              ............  ...........                                                     8,247        7,851                                              ............  ...........
  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT,       net of accumulated depreciation and       amortization                                 18,223       16,104                                              ............  ...........
  GOODWILL, net of accumulated amortization          15,534       10,778                                              ............  ...........
                                               ------------  -----------                                                   247,529      240,336                                              ============  ===========
    Liabilities and shareholders' equity
  CURRENT LIABILITIES:     Short-term bank credit and      current maturities of      long-term debt                                 1,164        1,270     Accounts payable and accruals:       Trade                                        19,067       12,382       Other                                        35,588       49,057                                              ------------  -----------               T o t a l  current               liabilities                          55,819       62,709
  LONG-TERM BANK LOAN, net of current maturities                               1,923        2,088
  ACCRUED SEVERANCE PAY, net of amounts funded                               5,480        4,840                                              ............  ...........               T o t a l  liabilities               63,222       69,637                                              ............  ...........
  MINORITY INTEREST IN CONSOLIDATED PARTNERSHIPS                           1,189        1,294 -------------------------                    ............  ...........
  SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:     Share capital                                     973          967     Capital surplus                                70,707       68,565     Retained earnings                             114,215      102,650                                              ------------  -----------                                                   185,895      172,182     Less treasury stock, at cost                   (2,777)      (2,777)                                              ............  ...........                T o t a l  shareholders'                equity                             183,118      169,405                                              ............  ...........                                              ------------  -----------                                                   247,529      240,336                                              ============  ===========
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                               ORBOTECH LTD.                        (An Israeli Corporation)               CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME             FOR THE THREE MONTH PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1999
                                     3 Months Ended            12 Months                                   March        31              Ended                                ----------------------       December 31                                  1 9 9 9    1 9 9 8           1 9 9 8                                ----------- ----------       ----------                                     (Unaudited)             (Audited)                                ----------------------       ----------                           U.S. dollars in thousands (except per share data)                           -------------------------------------------------
  REVENUES                            64,214     54,248          231,827 -------- COST OF REVENUES                    31,671     26,811          114,823 ----------------                                ........... ..........       .......... GROSS PROFIT                        32,543     27,437          117,004 ------------                   ........... ..........       ..........
  RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS - net                          7,145      6,189           25,926 ------------------------       ........... ..........       ..........
  SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES             12,288     10,062           43,200                                ........... ..........       ..........
  AMORTIZATION OF GOODWILL               804        686            2,794 ------------------------       ........... ..........       ..........
                                 ----------- ----------       ---------- OPERATING INCOME                    12,306     10,500           45,084 -----------------
  FINANCIAL INCOME - net                 842        909            4,207 ---------------------- OTHER INCOME - net                      15                     (11,992) ------------------             ----------- ----------       ---------- INCOME BEFORE TAXES ON INCOME                     13,163     11,409           37,299 ---------------
  TAXES ON INCOME                      1,624      1,663            4,898 ---------------
  INCOME FROM OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY, ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND PARTNERSHIPS                        11,539      9,746           32,401 -----------------------------
  MINORITY SHARE IN CONSOLIDATED PARTNERSHIPS               26       (144)            (263) -------------------------      =========== ==========       ==========
  NET INCOME FOR THE PERIOD           11,565      9,602           32,138 -------------------------      =========== ==========       ==========
  EARNINGS PER SHARE:                BASIC                 $0.85      $0.72            $2.39                                =========== ==========       ==========                DILUTED               $0.82      $0.69            $2.30                                =========== ==========       ==========
  WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES (IN THOUSANDS) USED IN COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE:                BASIC                13,565     13,415           13,423                                =========== ==========       ==========                DILUTED              14,126     13,974           13,961                                =========== ==========       ==========
  Contact: 
       Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates      Jody Burfening, ext. 304      John Heilshorn, ext. 104      212/838-3777      jody@lhai.com      john@lhai.com      or      Orbotech Ltd.      Dani Falk, Executive Vice President      Adrian Auman, Director of Finance      +972-8-942-3522      Amichai Steinberg, Executive Vice President      Orbotech, Inc.      978/901-5050      www.orbotech.com |