Camera lens supplier Largan Precision Co (大立光) yesterday posted record sales for last month, ahead of the launch of major client Apple Inc’s latest iPhone iteration next month.
Largan’s consolidated revenue rose 2.93 percent to NT$3.51 billion (US$117 million) from June’s NT$3.41 billion and increased 67.14 percent from NT$2.1 billion a year earlier.
The results largely matched Largan chief executive officer Adam Lin’s (林恩平) expectations.
Lin told investors last month that rising orders from clients would allow the firm’s revenue to continue growing last month and this month.
Deutsche Bank analyst Birdy Lu (呂家霖) said in a client note that he expects Largan’s revenue for this quarter to grow by 15 percent to NT$11.47 billion from last quarter, on the back of new orders for the iPhone 6.
Separately, Apple casing supplier Catcher Technology Co (可成) yesterday posted its strongest revenue in eight months at NT$4.64 billion for last month, benefiting from growth in shipments of smartphone casings.
That represented 0.22 percent monthly growth from NT$4.63 billion in June and 36.8 percent annual expansion from NT$3.4 billion a year earlier.
In a filing to the Taiwan Stock Exchange, Catcher said it plans to invest 237.5 million yuan (US$38.49 million) to build a new production line in Jiangsu Province, China.
Construction is expected to be completed by May next year, the company said.
Fubon Securities Co (富邦證券), which expects Apple to launch two iPhone models next month, said Catcher has obtained the verification from Apple to make metal casings for iPhone 6.
The brokerage said the company is expanding capacities to cope with the launch of the iPhone 6, with Catcher likely supplying 20 percent of the total metal casings, while Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海) and Foxconn Technology Co (鴻準) supply another 70 percent.
Apple is forecast to ship a total of 75.5 million iPhone 6 smartphones, including both 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models, Fubon said.
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