Freescale sees better-than-expected revenue as orders improve
Freescale Semiconductor Ltd, which makes chips for cars and machinery, forecast current-quarter revenue above analysts' estimates as demand returns in its wireless and enterprise businesses.
Order trends strengthened through the fourth quarter and into the current quarter, Chief Financial Officer Alan Campbell said on a conference call with analysts.
Slower telecom spending stemming from a weak global economy and stiff competition in the increasingly crowded mobile phone sector weighed on the results of equipment providers and handset manufacturers last year.
"Looking ahead, we are cautiously optimistic about the wireless and enterprise capex trends in China and the US, and expect our sales to benefit from these trends going forward," Campbell said.
Chips used in cars and trucks account for 40 percent of Freescale's revenue. Its chips are also used in industrial equipment, cellphones and consumer products.
The company expects first-quarter revenue of between $945 million and $985 million. Analysts on average were expecting revenue of $933.1 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
"It's too early to say that things have bottomed but at the same time it's kind of nice to see them both comment and guide above expectations, particularly in this environment," Sanford C. Bernstein & Co analyst Stacy Rasgon said.
Bigger rival Texas Instruments Inc last week also reported higher-than-expected revenue, but cautioned on uncertain demand. It said macroeconomic worries had caused customers to defer orders.
Freescale, which went public in May 2011, was taken private in 2006 for $17.6 billion by a group of private equity firms including Blackstone Group LP, Carlyle Group and TPG
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