COMMUNICATIONS
Sercomm’s Q1 profits rise
Broadband and telecommunications equipment maker Sercomm Corp (中磊) yesterday said that it recorded a strong rise in first-quarter profit, boosted by revenue growth in the Internet of Things and smart-home-related businesses. Operating profit for the January-to-March quarter surged 87 percent to NT$349 million (US$10.78 million), from NT$187 million a year earlier, while net profit rose 68 percent to NT$282 million, or earnings per share of NT$1.17. First-quarter revenue increased by 39 percent to NT$8.82 billion, aided by higher sales in its major products such as integrated access devices, small cell base stations, smart home surveillance and optical fiber products, the company said.
SEMICONDUCTORS
Tester eyes strong growth
Chunghwa Precision Test Technology Co (CHPT, 中華精測), which focuses on providing testing services for 14 nanometer and 16 nanometer wafers, yesterday saw shares rise by a daily maximum of 10 percent to NT$682, as its consolidated revenue surged 65.79 percent annually to NT$202 million last month. Accumulated revenue from January to last month increased 55.67 percent to NT$703 million, according to the company, which is 46 percent held by Chunghwa Telecom Co (中華電信). With a better outlook ahead, the company’s revenue for this quarter is forecast to grow by between 15 and 20 percent from NT$500 million in the first quarter, with earnings per share likely reaching NT$4.6 from NT$3.91, analysts said.
LIGHTING
Tons reports revenue spike
Tons Lightology Inc (湯石照明), a provider of commercial lighting services, yesterday reported consolidated revenue of NT$114 million for last month, slightly better than the previous month, but down 3.12 percent from a year earlier. The company, whose customers include the National Palace Museum Southern Branch and Chung Tai Chan Monastery, said accumulated revenue for the first four months of the year totaled NT$401 million, up 1.73 percent year-on-year. In the first quarter, net profit was NT$37.88 million, or earnings per share of NT$0.99, with gross margin of 37.2 percent, Tons said.
MANUFACTURING
Winson to reduce capital
Winson Machinery Casting Co (大詠城機械) yesterday announced that the company is planning to reduce its capital as part of efforts to boost its efficiency. Winson has become the latest in a slew of local manufacturers tapping capital reduction to boost return on equity. The company, which manufactures gray cast iron and ductile iron, mainly for auto parts, said its board agreed to reduce paid-in capital by NT$90 million to NT$420 million, or 17.64 percent. Shareholders are to receive NT$1.76 per share after they approve the plan on June 16, the company said.
TECHNOLOGY
HTC to unveil smartwatch
Smartphone vendor HTC Corp (宏達電) is to unveil a smartwatch next month, hoping to diversify its product portfolio as global demand for smartphones weakens, according to tech Web site PhoneArena. The tech Web site cited 3C tipster Evan Blass as on Monday saying that HTC is expected to launch its long-awaited smartwatch in the week of June 6. “FYI, this has been pushed to the week of June 6th. #htcwatch,” the blogger tweeted. It is not the first time there has been speculation that HTC is to introduce a smart timepiece, with the market previously anticipating that HTC would unveil a smartwatch at the end of last month.
Intel Corp chief executive officer Lip-Bu Tan (陳立武) is expected to meet with Taiwanese suppliers next month in conjunction with the opening of the Computex Taipei trade show, supply chain sources said on Monday. The visit, the first for Tan to Taiwan since assuming his new post last month, would be aimed at enhancing Intel’s ties with suppliers in Taiwan as he attempts to help turn around the struggling US chipmaker, the sources said. Tan is to hold a banquet to celebrate Intel’s 40-year presence in Taiwan before Computex opens on May 20 and invite dozens of Taiwanese suppliers to exchange views
Application-specific integrated circuit designer Faraday Technology Corp (智原) yesterday said that although revenue this quarter would decline 30 percent from last quarter, it retained its full-year forecast of revenue growth of 100 percent. The company attributed the quarterly drop to a slowdown in customers’ production of chips using Faraday’s advanced packaging technology. The company is still confident about its revenue growth this year, given its strong “design-win” — or the projects it won to help customers design their chips, Faraday president Steve Wang (王國雍) told an online earnings conference. “The design-win this year is better than we expected. We believe we will win
Quanta Computer Inc (廣達) chairman Barry Lam (林百里) is expected to share his views about the artificial intelligence (AI) industry’s prospects during his speech at the company’s 37th anniversary ceremony, as AI servers have become a new growth engine for the equipment manufacturing service provider. Lam’s speech is much anticipated, as Quanta has risen as one of the world’s major AI server suppliers. The company reported a 30 percent year-on-year growth in consolidated revenue to NT$1.41 trillion (US$43.35 billion) last year, thanks to fast-growing demand for servers, especially those with AI capabilities. The company told investors in November last year that
Power supply and electronic components maker Delta Electronics Inc (台達電) yesterday said it plans to ship its new 1 megawatt charging systems for electric trucks and buses in the first half of next year at the earliest. The new charging piles, which deliver up to 1 megawatt of charging power, are designed for heavy-duty electric vehicles, and support a maximum current of 1,500 amperes and output of 1,250 volts, Delta said in a news release. “If everything goes smoothly, we could begin shipping those new charging systems as early as in the first half of next year,” a company official said. The new
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