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 : GSCN - General Scanning -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Thomas C. Donald who wrote (139)	6/24/1998 8:51:00 AM
From: Thomas C. Donald	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 167

Earnings advisory: $0.15 for 2Q98, $0.90 for FY98. ---------------------------------------------------- General Scanning Announces Outlook For Second Quarter and Year Below Estimates WATERTOWN, Mass., June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- General Scanning Inc. (NASDAQ:GSCN) today announced that it expects operating results will fall short of analysts' estimates for the current second quarter ending July 4, 1998 and for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998. Second quarter sales are expected to approximate $50 million, approximately 17% higher than in the second quarter of 1997, about the same as the first quarter of the current fiscal year, but below the Company's expectations. Earnings per share are currently projected to be in the range of $0.14 to $0.17 due to somewhat lower margins and increased operating expenses. For the current fiscal year, the Company currently projects earnings per share may be in the range of $0.85 to $0.95, on sales of approximately $200 million. The Company cited both the continuing Asian financial crisis and the down cycle in semiconductor equipment purchases for the lowering of its expectations. During 1997, sales to Asia accounted for 27% of total sales by region, and sales for semiconductor applications accounted for approximately 30% of total sales by market segment. Sales within the United States remain steady and sales in Europe are growing over the prior year. Product lines most affected are lead inspection, DRAM repair systems, component parts handling and laser markers. The Company does not anticipate marked improvement in sales either to Asia or to the semiconductor market until later next year. Through continued implementation of its strategy to expand the number of markets and applications for its laser systems, General Scanning seeks to reduce its exposure to unpredictable developing regions and to cyclical markets. Laser imaging sales for medical applications, combined with the start up of sales of recently introduced laser duplicator for diagnostic film and the LD2000 Series Digitizer for teleradiology and PACs applications, should grow within the medical market primarily in the United States. Expanded sales of the microarray biochip scanner may be anticipated in the domestic research market and, by year end, in certain international markets as well. The Company hopes to expand the installation of its photo finishing point-of-sale systems into the many available retail locations nationwide. Sales of the recently introduced Model 8200 solder paste inspection system, with a price point potentially attractive for in-line use in PCB assembly, may benefit from electronic manufacturers' continued search for improved quality and yields. New product/applications initiatives by the Company's metrology systems group should be reflected by improved sales.