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Technology Stocks : ASML Holding NV -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: niek who wrote (1053)	1/18/2006 8:08:48 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42735

ASML reports strong orders in steady Q4 Peter Clarke EE Times (01/18/2006 6:25 AM EST) LONDON — Lithography equipment vendor ASML Holding NV enjoyed a solid fourth quarter, capping a 2005 of modest growth and profits in difficult market conditions, according to its latest financial results. The company said it expected an increase in orders, reported in Q4, would continue in Q1 2006 due to a general market upswing and due to specific demand for its own immersion lithography equipment. ASML (Veldhoven, The Netherlands) made 2005 net sales of 2,529 million euro (about $3.07 billion) compared with 2,465 million euro (about $2.99 billion) in 2004, a rise of 2.6 percent. The company’s Q4 2005 net sales of 548 million euro (about $664 million) compared with 533 million euro (about $646 million) Q3 2005, was up 2.8 percent. The 2005 net profit of 311 million euro (about $377 million) or 12.3 percent of sales is increased over 2004’s net profit of 235 million euro (about $285 million) or 9.6 percent of sales. The Q4 2005 net profit of 52 million euro (about $63 million) or 9.4 percent of sales, was improved on Q3 2005 when ASML made a net profit of 48 million euro (about $58 million) or 9.0 percent of sales In Q4 2005 ASML took net bookings for 55 systems, comprising, 43 new systems and 12 refurbished systems. This compared with Q3 2005 where ASML took 46 net bookings. As a result the company has an order backlog of 95 lithography systems valued at 1,434 million euro (about $1.74 billion) as of December 31, 2005. This has increased from September 25, 2005, when ASML had an order backlog of 87 lithography systems valued at 1,245 million euro (about $1.51 billion). “2005 was a year where our continued focus on execution paid off,” said Eric Meurice, president and CEO of ASML, in a statement. “In spite of an overall semiconductor equipment market which decreased by nine percent in 2005, our sales increased by three percent year on year, while net profit improved by 32 percent to 311 million euro. Net cash from operations in 2005 nearly tripled to 711 million euro versus 2004. We reinforced our market position, as we gained 12 new customers in 2005, including our sixth customer in Japan. With 13 immersion systems delivered to date, 13 immersion orders already in our backlog, and 8 pending orders, we are increasing our technology lead in the race to meet customer needs for new generation semiconductor products.” “The significant 55 tool bookings in Q4 2005 confirm an overall semiconductor cycle upswing,” said Meurice, in the same statement. “We expect the trend to be sustained in Q1 2006, with bookings at least at the same level as that of Q4 2005 and Q1 2006 sales showing important growth versus the previous quarter. Q1 2006 will also serve as a springboard to our immersion development. Volume production ramp of our newest tool, the Twinscan XT:1700i, the industry’s only 1.2 numerical aperture (NA) immersion tool capable for the 45 nanometer node, will start in Q2 2006.”