Powerchip reports net profit
Powerchip Technology Corp (力晶科技) yesterday released its financial report for last year, which showed that the company posted a net profit for the second straight year.
Net income was NT$12.03 billion (US$391.2 million) last year, or earnings per share of NT$5.43, the company said in the report.
In 2013, Powerchip reported a profit of NT$11.54 billion, or NT$5.21 per share.
The two profitable years helped boost the company’s net value to NT$5.78 per share at the end of last year, the report said.
Powerchip said that net value could climb to NT$10 per share by the end of this year, which is the threshold for delisted firms to resume trading on the local stock market.
Advantech sees earnings drop
Industrial computer maker Advantech Co (研華) on Thursday reported earnings per share of NT$1.9 for the first quarter of this year, down 2 percent from the previous quarter, but up 5 percent from a year earlier.
Last quarter’s earnings per share met the high end of market estimates of between NT$1.7 and NT$1.9.
The firm reported that sales dropped by 4 percent quarter-on-quarter, but rose by 8 percent year-on-year to NT$8.8 billion.
Gross margin improved slightly to 40.9 percent last quarter, while operating margin expanded 1.3 percentage points due to a more disciplined operating expense control.
For this quarter, sales might grow by 10 percent to 15 percent from last quarter and gross margin is expected to stay in the 40 percent to 40.5 percent range, Yuanta Securities Investment Consulting Co (元大投顧) said in a note.
Chroma earnings, sales fall
Chroma ATE Inc (致茂), which provides precision testing and measuring instrumentation, automated test systems and automation solutions, on Thursday said earnings per share were NT$0.33 in the first quarter of this year, down 61 percent from the previous quarter and 31 percent from a year earlier.
The company said sales for last quarter declined by 26 percent from the previous quarter to NT$1.924 billion, gross margin was up 2 percentage points to 41.1 percent due to a more favorable product mix and operating margin dropped 2.5 percentage points as a result of a lower sales scale.
Taiwan Mobile to pay dividend
Taiwan Mobile Co (台灣大哥大), the nation’s second-largest telecom company, has proposed to distribute a cash dividend of NT$5.6 to shareholders, which translates into a dividend payout ratio of 102 percent, as the company earned NT$15.01 billion last year, or NT$5.58 per share.
In comparison, Chunghwa Telecom Co (中華電信) proposed to distribute a cash dividend of NT$4.86 per share to its shareholders and Far EasTone Telecommunications Co (遠傳電信) plans to pay out NT$3.75 per share, while Asia Pacific Telecom Co (亞太電信) is not expected to pay a cash dividend this year after reporting a net loss of NT$2.35 per share last year.
Luren plans to increase capital
Luren Precision Co (陸聯精密), which manufactures gear-cutting tools, spin pumps and machinery, on Thursday said its board had approved a plan to increase its capital by NT$150 million, as the company plans to expand capacity this year to meet rising demand.
The company sold 41.93 percent of its shares to Hiwin Technology Co (上銀科技) in March.
After the capital increase, Hiwin, which produces linear guideways and ballscrews, is expected to hold a stake of between 50 percent and 55 percent.
Luren plans to build a new factory in Hsinchu this year in a bid to boost its revenue.
The company reported NT$580 million in revenue last year.
MediaTek to pay out dividend
Handset chip designer MediaTek Inc (聯發科) yesterday said its board approved a plan to pay a cash dividend of NT$22 per share, which would represent a dividend yield of 5.56 percent based on its closing share price of NT$395 on Thursday.
The company reported earnings per share of NT$30.04 last year, compared with NT$20.51 in 2013.
In the first quarter of this year, earnings per share reached NT$4.62, the lowest in seven quarters, the company said on Thursday, while providing a conservative outlook for this quarter.
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