Taiwanese PCB Makers Reported Mixed Operation Results for The Third Quarter

Taiwanese PCB (printed circuit board) makers reported mixed operation results for the third quarter, with Compeq Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Witnessing after-tax net income surging the most sequentially and Unitech Electronics Co., Ltd. Suffering escalating loss. Compeq had after-tax net income of NT$251 million (US$8.6 million at US$1: NT$29) in the third quarter, spiking 106.48% from the second quarter and more than the figure recorded in first half of this year. Unimicron Corp. Enjoyed a 14.23% increase in profit making last quarter, making it second-best profit maker in the Taiwan industry after only Compeq. WUS Printed Circuit Co., Ltd. ’s earnings for last quarter increased only at a single digit rate. In spite of the mixed results for last quarter, the Taiwanese manufacturers all shared the idea that their sales from high density interconnect (HDI) boards would continue picking up in November after ramping up in October although the effect of Christmas shopping season has gone. Compeq estimated its earnings for the fourth quarter would be higher than NT$0.42 per share it made throughout the first three quarters this year. Unitech estimated its sales from HDI boards would pick up gradually this quarter. Compeq and WUS projected their revenue for this quarter to grow further from the third-quarter’s new highs. Compeq executives pointed out that strong demands for smartphones, tablet PCs and some laptops have driven gross margin of HDI boards to grow faster than that of rigid flex boards. Industry executives pointed out that Apple’s releases of iPhone 5 and iPad mini would help drive up Compeq’s and Unimcron’s revenue this quarter as they are already included in the Apple supply chain. Unimicron executives said that HDI retail prices have rallied from plunges of last quarter mostly thanks to relatively strong sales of smartphones. Unitech executives noted that although the second half is normally a high season for the PCB industry, the company’s HDI board shipments for the third quarter missed expectations. However, they estimated the company’s shipments of the boards to peak sometime in the fourth quarter. Tripod’s consolidated revenue for the fourth quarter dropped below NT$10 billion (US$344 million), lower than expected, due to lukewarm PC market. But the company estimated increased demands for HDI boards would push up its consolidated revenue to stand above NT$10 billion landmark this quarter. Source: CENS