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SAN JOSE, Calif., Jun 09, 2005 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Amid signs that the overall semiconductor industry is performing better than expected, Wall Street awaited Intel Corp.'s update of its sales forecast for the second quarter - a traditionally weak period for the world's largest chip maker.
Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel has previously estimated second-quarter sales to be between $8.6 billion and $9.2 billion and is expected to at least narrow that range during an update the company has scheduled for late Thursday.
Analysts, on average, are expecting sales of about $8.99 billion, according to a survey by Thomson Financial. Though Intel does not provide earnings guidance, Wall Street is expecting a profit of 28 cents per share for the period that ends July 2.
Intel reported earnings of 27 cents a share in the second quarter of 2004.
In recent weeks, shares of Intel have been trading at the upper end of their 52-week range of between $27.05 and $27.40. On Thursday afternoon, they were up 32 cents, to $27.42, on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Given the performance, any incremental improvement in the second-quarter forecast is probably already built into the price, said Apjit Walia, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets.
The strength appears to be built on stronger sales of notebooks and government spending by developing countries, he said in a research note. Without a major driver like back-to-school or holiday purchases, the second quarter is usually among the weakest of the year.
"Robust spending seems to be offsetting softness in corporate and consumer spending," Walia said.
If the maker of Pentium 4 microprocessors guides its forecast upward, it won't be the only chip maker to do so.
On Tuesday, Texas Instruments Inc. raised its second-quarter earnings guidance and narrowed its revenue outlook, citing higher demand for semiconductors and educational calculators.
A day later, the Semiconductor Industry Association boosted its forecast from flat to 6 percent growth in 2005, pointing to stronger demand for personal computers, cellular phones, digital televisions and digital cameras
"Our cautious forecast issued in November of 2004 was based on concerns that high energy prices and lingering excess inventories in a few segments of the industry would dampen sales in 2005," said SIA President George Scalise. "Those fears have not materialized."
Chip makers, including Intel, did briefly suffer from excess inventory in 2004, but the industry quickly recovered. The amount never exceeded $1.5 billion, Scalise said.
That compares with 2000, when semiconductor companies reported $15 billion in excess inventory that took until 2003 to work down, he added.
"Everyone has talked about the industry making a comeback, but I never really thought it was down to begin with," said Stephen Leeb of Leeb Capital Management. "There were certainly inventory issues. But, you had an absolutely blockbuster 2003 and in 2004 you saw reasonable growth - if that's bad, then we'll take it."
In recent weeks, Intel has launched a number of new chips that it hopes will further drive growth and announced that it would supply microprocessors for Apple Computer Inc.'s Macintosh computers starting in the middle of next year.
The announcements had little or no impact on the current quarter, but they do suggest the company has maneuvered past the uncertainties of 2004, when it suffered a series of product delays, misfires and cancellations.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs pointed specifically to Intel's future plans as the reason for the switch from Mac chips built by Freescale Semiconductor Inc. and International Business Machines Corp.
Intel also has undergone an executive shuffle as Paul Otellini became chief executive, replacing Craig Barrett who took over as chairman. The changes, which also saw former CEO Andy Grove move to an advisory position, took effect May 18.
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On the Net:
Intel investor relations: http://www.intc.com
Bullish market News......Bush looking good!!!
This is Pryor Thread, not a market or Intel thread.