PCB and flexible PCB (FPCB) suppliers are expected to post mixed results for the second quarter of 2015 as orders from the iPhone 6 supply chain are expected to begin to subside and demand from the notebook sector will remain flag, according to industry sources.
FPCB makers Zhen Ding Technology Holding and Flexium Interconnect both saw their EPS for the first quarter of 2015 improve significantly from a year earlier, reaching NT$1.85 (US$0.06) and NT$3.28, respectively.
However, Zhen Ding expects its sales performance in the second quarter will be better than that in the first quarter, while Flexium expects its sales to remain flat or decline slightly.
FPCB supplier Career Technology is unlikely to see its sales improve significantly in the second quarter as demand from the tablet sector is expected to continue to fall in the quarter, said the sources.
Career posted a negative EPS of NT$0.26 in the first quarter despite gaining FPCB orders for Apple Watch.
Meanwhile, notebook PCB supplier Global Brands Manufacture (GBM) posted a negative EPS in the first quarter after gaining an EPS of NT$0.25 for all of 2014. Fellow company HannStar Board had a negative EPS of NT$0.07 in the March quarter. Sales of GBM and HannStar Board will remain low in the second quarter due to slow sales of notebooks, commented the sources.
Gold Circuit Electronics managed to swing to profitability in 2014 and continued to make profits in the first quarter of 2015 with EPS reaching NT$0.45. The company's sales still look promising in the second quarter as shipments of PCBs for server and base station applications accounted for over 60% of its total sales, said the sources.
