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Technology Stocks : Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates -- VSEA -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: etchmeister who wrote (1708)4/28/2005 4:42:42 PM
From: Proud_Infidel  Respond to of 1929
 
Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates Reports Fiscal 2005 Second Quarter Results
Thursday April 28, 4:25 pm ET

GLOUCESTER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 28, 2005--Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc. ("Varian Semiconductor") (Nasdaq: VSEA - News) today announced results for its fiscal 2005 second quarter ended April 1, 2005.

Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2005 totaled $139.1 million, compared to revenue of $127.3 million for the same period a year ago. Varian Semiconductor recorded net income of $11.1 million, or $0.30 per diluted share during the second quarter of fiscal 2005, compared to net income of $14.0 million, or $0.38 per diluted share for the same period a year ago. Gross margin for the second quarter of fiscal 2005 was 42 percent, compared to 45 percent for the same period a year ago.

Gary E. Dickerson, Varian Semiconductor's chief executive officer, commented, "Our growth in revenue is evidence of the market acceptance of our VIISta HC and VIISta 810 XE systems. Both systems have been accepted at multiple sites, as our customers continue to realize the yield and productivity advantages of our single wafer architecture. In our second quarter, we shipped more single wafer high current tools than any quarter in our history."

Robert J. Halliday, chief financial officer, provided forward guidance, "We currently expect revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2005 to be between $158 and $168 million and gross margin as a percentage of revenue to be in the low 40's. Earnings per share is anticipated to range from $0.45 to $0.53 per diluted share."

Halliday further added, "Our projected revenue growth in the third quarter is being driven by rapid market acceptance of our single wafer high current tool, the VIISta HC. Our positive company outlook for 2005 is somewhat tempered by uncertain overall market conditions."

Varian Semiconductor will hold a conference call, broadcast over the Internet, at 5:30 p.m. eastern time today to discuss Varian Semiconductor's operating results and outlook. Access to the call is available through the investor relations page on Varian Semiconductor's website at www.vsea.com. Replays will be available via the website for two weeks after the call.

About Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.

Varian Semiconductor is a leading producer of ion implantation equipment used in the manufacture of semiconductors. Varian Semiconductor is headquartered in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and operates worldwide. Varian Semiconductor maintains a website at www.vsea.com. The information contained in Varian Semiconductor's website is not incorporated by reference into this release, and the website address is included in this release as an inactive textual reference only.

Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For this purpose, statements concerning the industry outlook, Varian Semiconductor's guidance for third quarter fiscal 2005 revenue, gross margin and earnings per share, market share, competitive position, expected third quarter fiscal 2005 product shipments, and any statements using the terms "believes," "anticipates," "will," "expects," "plans" or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are: volatility in the semiconductor equipment industry; intense competition in the semiconductor equipment industry; Varian Semiconductor's dependence on a small number of customers; fluctuations in Varian Semiconductor's quarterly operating results; Varian Semiconductor's transition to new products; Varian Semiconductor's exposure to risks of operating internationally; uncertain protection of Varian Semiconductor's patent and other proprietary rights; Varian Semiconductor's reliance on a limited group of suppliers; potential environmental liabilities; Varian Semiconductor's ability to manage potential growth, decline and strategic transactions; Varian Semiconductor's reliance on one primary manufacturing facility; Varian Semiconductor's dependence on certain key personnel; and the risk of substantial indemnification obligations under the agreements governing the spin-off of Varian Semiconductor from Varian Associates, Inc. on April 2, 1999. These and other important risk factors that may affect actual results are discussed in detail under the caption "Risk Factors" in Varian Semiconductor's Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other reports filed by Varian Semiconductor with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Varian Semiconductor cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievement. Varian Semiconductor undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this release.

VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Fiscal Three Fiscal Six
Months Ended Months Ended
April 1, April 2, April 1, April 2,
2005 2004 2005 2004
-------- -------- --------- ---------
Revenue
Product $116,044 $109,368 $ 223,132 $ 195,807
Service 21,287 16,260 40,682 29,570
Royalty 1,766 1,698 23,708 3,792
-------- -------- --------- ---------
Total revenue 139,097 127,326 287,522 229,169
Cost of revenue 80,831 69,631 153,115 129,092
-------- -------- --------- ---------
Gross profit 58,266 57,695 134,407 100,077
-------- -------- --------- ---------
Operating expenses
Research and development 19,077 16,958 37,730 33,223
Marketing, general and
administrative 24,330 21,011 51,710 40,819
Restructuring 914 - 914 -
-------- -------- --------- ---------
Total operating expenses 44,321 37,969 90,354 74,042
-------- -------- --------- ---------
Operating income 13,945 19,726 44,053 26,035

Interest income, net 2,404 904 10,009 1,760
Other income (expense), net (82) (115) 2,737 (112)
-------- -------- --------- ---------
Income before income taxes 16,267 20,515 56,799 27,683
Provision for income taxes 5,156 6,493 17,721 8,858
-------- -------- --------- ---------
Net income $ 11,111 $ 14,022 $ 39,078 $ 18,825
======== ======== ========= =========
Weighted average shares
outstanding - basic 36,601 36,135 36,529 35,819
Weighted average shares
outstanding - diluted 37,347 37,103 37,269 36,907
Net income per share -
basic $ 0.30 $ 0.39 $ 1.07 $ 0.53
Net income per share -
diluted $ 0.30 $ 0.38 $ 1.05 $ 0.51

VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)

April 1, October 1,
2005 2004
------------- --------------
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 186,767 $ 218,578
Short-term investments 249,983 173,891
Accounts receivable, net 107,964 123,749
Inventories 141,391 104,900
Deferred income taxes 27,740 27,691
Other current assets 19,964 32,938
------------- --------------
Total current assets 733,809 681,747
Property, plant and equipment, net 59,290 52,344
Other assets 15,455 15,405
------------- --------------
Total assets $ 808,554 $ 749,496
============= ==============

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Notes payable and current portion of
long-term debt $ 715 $ 4,170
Accounts payable 48,500 33,980
Accrued expenses 45,243 53,234
Product warranty 8,239 7,841
Deferred revenue 62,814 54,509
------------- --------------
Total current liabilities 165,511 153,734
Long-term accrued expenses 10,608 10,905
Deferred income taxes 4,615 4,615
Long-term debt 3,954 4,162
------------- --------------
Total liabilities 184,688 173,416
------------- --------------

Stockholders' equity
Common stock 368 364
Capital in excess of par value 345,312 331,701
Retained earnings 283,398 244,320
Deferred compensation (3,285) (149)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (1,927) (156)
------------- --------------
Total stockholders' equity 623,866 576,080
------------- --------------
Total liabilities and stockholders'
equity $ 808,554 $ 749,496
============= ==============

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.



To: etchmeister who wrote (1708)5/5/2005 10:01:51 PM
From: Proud_Infidel  Respond to of 1929
 
To: Sam Citron who wrote (23170) 5/5/2005 6:11:17 PM
From: sixty2nds Read Replies (1) of 23175

17:07 VSEA Varian Semi highlighted with a $53 tgt - BusinessWeek (37.62 +0.03)

BWeek highlights Varian Semiconductor (VSEA) which shares jumped 8% when the market opened on Apr. 29—after a report of surprisingly strong earnings and improved prospects. Watch for more such happy days, says Patrick Ho of broker Legg Mason. Ho believes Varian shares will climb from their recent $38 to $53 in 12 months. The company is in a prime position to pro?t from a rebound in demand by semiconductor companies. VSEA makes specialty machines that implant ions in wafers so the chips can be more powerful. The machines, the analyst argues, will attract more orders from top-tier chipmakers such as Intel and Samsung, which have been working off inventories and looking to make next-generation chips. He sees Varian earnings climbing in the ?scal year ending Sept. 30, 2006, to $2.55, up from $1.65 this year. That would support the stock at $53, or 21x earnings. (Briefing.com note: VSEA's mkt cap is $1.38 bln)



To: etchmeister who wrote (1708)5/27/2005 9:54:05 AM
From: Proud_Infidel  Respond to of 1929
 
Message 21364772



To: etchmeister who wrote (1708)6/2/2005 8:09:26 AM
From: Proud_Infidel  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 1929
 
Thanks anyway Lehman, but I'll stick with VSEA:

RESEARCH ALERT-Lehman says swap from Varian into Axcelis
Thu Jun 2, 2005 07:34 AM ET

NEW YORK, June 2 (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers on Thursday raised its rating on Axcelis Technologies Inc. (ACLS.O: Quote, Profile, Research) to "over weight" from "equal weight" and at the same time cut its rating on rival Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates Inc. (VSEA.O: Quote, Profile, Research) to "equal weight" from "over weight."

The broker suggested now is a good time to swap out of Varian and into Axcelis given a "compelling valuation differential" between the two semiconductor equipment companies, plus expectations for continued spending from Japan that favors Axcelis, and other factors.

Varian shares closed Wednesday at $41.25, while Axcelis closed at $6.82, both on Nasdaq.



To: etchmeister who wrote (1708)8/3/2005 8:49:42 AM
From: Proud_Infidel  Respond to of 1929
 
Varian Semiconductor's Single Wafer High Current Ion Implanters Selected by Elpida
Wednesday August 3, 8:45 am ET
VSEA Will Ship Over Ten VIISta HC Systems to Elpida in 2005

GLOUCESTER, MA--(MARKET WIRE)--Aug 3, 2005 -- Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc. (NasdaqNM:VSEA - News) announced today that it has received a significant number of orders for its VIISta(TM) HC single wafer high current ion implanter from Elpida Memory, Inc. Multiple tools have already shipped to Elpida's fabs in Hiroshima, Japan, and the balance of the tools will ship in the next several months.

Elpida placed orders for Varian Semiconductor's VIISta HC single wafer high current ion implanters for the first time, further expanding the Company's considerable lead in the single wafer high current market. "We have a significant lead in single wafer high current and with Japan starting to make the transition from batch to single wafer, we expect to further accelerate our market share gains in implant this year," said Gary Dickerson, chief executive officer of Varian Semiconductor. "With over 100 single wafer high current systems in Asia alone, Elpida felt confident we could provide them with a production-proven technically superior tool, with the expertise needed to help them make the transition away from older batch systems. The architecture advantages of the VIISta HC provide higher productivity, much better particle counts and outstanding device performance. The combination of these advantages is creating significant demand for our VIISta HC high current ion implanters."

The global shift to single wafer ion implanters is driven by both the sensitivity of advanced devices to contamination and the requirement for highly precise, zero degree implant angle accuracy. The VIISta HC single wafer ion implanter is the only system featuring a dual magnet ribbon beam architecture which provides the lowest contamination levels in the industry. In addition, the VIISta HC's unique closed-loop Varian Positioning System (VPS(TM)) offers interlockable angle control for true zero degree applications. These features, combined with tight beam steering control, assure precise implant placements required in sub-90nm ultra-shallow junction devices. The VIISta HC is a member of the VIISta suite of ion implanters -- the only proven single wafer platform solution for all production applications with over 300 systems installed worldwide.

About Varian Semiconductor

Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc. is the leading producer of ion implantation equipment used in the manufacture of semiconductors. The Company is headquartered in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and operates worldwide. Varian Semiconductor maintains a web site at www.vsea.com. The information contained in the Company's web site is not incorporated by reference into this release, and the web site address is included in this release as an inactive textual reference only.

Note: This release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For this purpose, the statements concerning the Company's performance, market share and technology leadership, technological capabilities and benefits are forward-looking statements and any statements using the terms "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," or similar expressions are forward-looking statements. There are a number of important risks and factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those suggested or indicated by such forward-looking statements. These include, among others, volatility in the semiconductor equipment industry; economic conditions in general and as they affect the Company's customers; significant fluctuations in the Company's quarterly operating results; the impact of rapid technological change; the Company's dependence on the development and introduction of new products; the Company's concentration on ion implantation systems and related products; concentration in the Company's customer base and lengthy sales cycles; the highly competitive market in which the Company competes; risks of international sales; foreign currency risks; and general economic conditions; and other factors identified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievement. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Varian Semiconductor



To: etchmeister who wrote (1708)8/16/2005 8:10:41 AM
From: Proud_Infidel  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 1929
 
To: Brian who wrote (24793) 8/16/2005 7:51:30 AM
From: sixty2nds of 24802

07:12 VSEA Varian Semi upgraded to Positive at Susquehanna (43.98 )

Susquehanna upgrades VSEA to Positive from Neutral based on the co's dominating market share performance and technology lead in single wafer high current ion implant. While they say product cycle catalysts are rare in the equipment sector, they believe that VSEA's significant lead in single wafer high current implant, combined with stable performance in other implant segments and a superior operating model, will lead to substantial outperformance relative to competitors in 2006. Firm raises their CY06 ests.