Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Kulicke and Soffa -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: scott_jiminez who wrote (3897)	7/20/2000 11:28:44 PM
From: Red Dragon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5482

The BTB ratio of 1.26 refers to the industry BTB ratio, which came out late after the close today. TDK posted the link to the news a couple of posts ago. I could not find any mention of KLIC's BTB ratio. Incidentally, the BTB ratio for the industry has now dropped for 4 straight months. A BTB of 1.26 is still very strong, as are the absolute number of shipments and bookings. Still, one wonders if investors are focusing on the falling ratio, and that's why semis continue to be weak, even on great earnings news and optimistic remarks from Greenspan. Gottfried? Any insights as to the falling BTB ratio? Anything to be concerned about? Are absolute numbers of shipments more important?

To: scott_jiminez who wrote (3897)	7/21/2000 1:00:38 AM
From: Ian@SI	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5482

Scott, If you would have listened to the rest of the Q&A, you'd have learned the BTB was a little under 1.05. If I remember correctly, $281 booked and $268 billed. Lead times are about 3 months which implies at least 1 quarter's backlog - probably somewhat larger. Essentially when lead times in this sector are 3 months or more, it would be unhealthy to have a BTB much larger than 1. Rather than building a backlog, it would only force business to the competition. Back end just isn't going to let wafers pile up while awaiting more packaging tools. Great conference call. Comments by Scott about the analyst community while talking to the analyst community were priceless. I especially liked it when the Merrill Lynch guy denigrated his own company's Quant! Worth the price of admission in itself. Ian.