Contract computer maker Wistron Corp (緯創) yesterday reported a net profit of NT$11.16 billion (US$368.13 million) for last year — its highest in 11 years — thanks to strong fourth-quarter results.
Last year’s profit grew 6.6 percent from NT$10.47 billion in 2021, with earnings per share rising to NT$4.01 from NT$3.76, the company said in a statement.
Revenue grew 14.2 percent to NT$984.61 billion from NT$862.08 billion a year earlier, it said.
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Gross margin improved to 7.08 percent from 5.93 percent, benefiting from a better product portfolio in the fourth quarter, which pushed the quarterly ratio to an all-time high of 8.59 percent, Wistron said.
However, shipments of notebook computers fell 17.19 percent annually to 21.2 million units last year, and desktop computer shipments edged down 0.22 percent to 9 million units, it said.
The company was affected by overall weakness in the PC sector last year, Wistron said, adding that global PC shipments contracted 16 percent to 285 million units last year, based on tallies by Canalys.
Wistron predicted that notebook computer shipments would be flat this year, despite the downtrend in the overall PC industry.
The company said it expects revenue for non-PC products to expand by a double-digit percentage this year and contribute to 40 percent of the company’s total revenue, unchanged from last year.
Wistron said it continues to allocate production outside of China by launching more manufacturing lines in Taiwan, the Czech Republic, Malaysia, Mexico and Vietnam to cope with customer demand.
China accounts for less than 50 percent of its total manufacturing capacity, it said, adding that Vietnam would replace China as the company’s new notebook computer manufacturing hub.
Wistron’s growth last year was also supported by the robust financial performance of its server-manufacturing arm, Wiwynn Corp (緯穎), which reported a record net profit of NT$14.17 billion, surging 63.82 percent from NT$8.65 billion in 2021. Earnings per share soared to NT$81.09 from NT$49.46 a year earlier.
Separately, Inventec Corp (英業達), which makes computers and servers for global brands on a contract basis, yesterday said its board of directors has approved a plan to invest US$17 million to set up a new Vietnamese subsidiary after the company last month acquired a plot of land in Hanoi’s industrial area for US$23.12 billion.
Revenue grew 4.24 percent to a record NT$541.75 billion last year, from NT$519.73 billion in 2021.
Computers and servers constituted about 90 percent of its revenue, while smart devices made up the remaining 10 percent, Inventec said.
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