Toert schreef op 16 oktober 2019 11:03:
Kopietje van een Reuters bericht op Bolero :
* Shares trade just off all time highs
* ASML sees big increase in bookings, especially for EUV
product
* Sales were 3.0 bln euros in Q3, forecasts 3.8 bln eur in
Q4
(Updates with share move, analysts comment, background)
By Toby Sterling
AMSTERDAM, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Semiconductor equipment maker
ASML ASML.AS beat quarterly profit and bookings forecasts on
Wednesday, continuing a strong run of results on demand for its
latest chipmaking equipment.
The Dutch firm's shares have surged 75% this year, shrugging
off weak end-markets for semiconductor producers as ASML's
cutting-edge equipment remains in demand from computer chip
heavyweights like Samsung Electronics and Taiwan Semiconductor.
Third-quarter net profit came in at 627 million euros ($692
million), beating analysts' average forecast of 609 million
according to a Reuters poll, though the outcome was down on the
680 million made in the same period last year.
ASML shares dipped 1.0 percent to 240 euros in early
trading, after closing on Tuesday at an all-time high of 243.2
euros. The stock's rapid rise has seen the company's equity
market value top 100 billion euros.
Third-quarter sales of 3 billion euros met analysts'
estimates, driven by demand for 5G telecom network and
artificial intelligence applications, and the company forecast
fourth-quarter sales of 3.8 billion euros.
ASML said it had received bookings for 23 of its most
advanced lithography systems, which cost around 100 million
euros each. Lithography is at the heart of the chipmaking
process, using beams of light to map out the circuitry of chips.
ASML is a near-monopolist in the category and said its
newest technology using Extreme Ultraviolet, or EUV, beams, was
going mainstream.
"This strong order inflow confirms the adoption of EUV in
high volume manufacturing for Logic and Memory" chips, said
Chief Executive Officer Peter Wennink in a statement.
"We continue to see 2019 as a growth year."
For all products, net bookings amounted to 5.1 billion euros
in the quarter, compared to just 2.8 billion in the March
31-June 30 2019 period.
"All in all a reasonable quarter but the extra strength in
this update is in the very strong bookings number" said ING
analysts in a note, maintaining a "buy" rating on the stock.
"Looking beyond 2019, ASML sees a very healthy market for
logic. Memory market recovery is still uncertain."
Forecaster IHS Markit predicts the global semiconductor
market will rebound 5% in 2020 to $449 billion after a 13%
decline this year.