[title]First Tier Motherboard Manufacturers Expect 2005 Growth[/title]
Taiwan first-tier motherboard makers Asustek Computer, Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS), Gigabyte Technology and Micro-Star International (MSI) have released revenue and shipment projections for 2005. Of the four makers, Asustek may achieve the highest on-year growth. The company estimates it will achieve revenue growth of 55%, this year, according to company sources. The motherboard maker is also expecting to enjoy on-year shipment growth in motherboards, graphics cards and notebooks, indicated the sources.
Although ECS experienced a drop of 35% with its 2004 revenues, notebooks will likely drive the maker¡¯s performance this year. By reaching record quarterly shipments of 166,000 units in the fourth quarter of last year, the notebook segment contributed more than 50% of ECS¡¯ revenues in 2004, the company noted. In addition, the company¡¯s net loss of NT$621 million in the third quarter should turn to a profit in the fourth quarter, the company said.
ECS shipped a total of 513,000 notebooks in 2004, of which 100,000 units were shipped to the US retail giant Wal-Mart, sources at the maker stated.
Gigabyte expects on-year growth of 12-15% in revenues and about 10% growth in motherboard shipments this year, according to company executive vice president Richard Ma. Foreign-exchange transactions will be key to maintaining the company¡¯s profits in 2005, said Ma.
A loss of NT$300-350 million in foreign-exchange transactions drove down profits for Gigabyte in the fourth quarter of last year, local stock-market analysts stated. Analysts recently lowered an estimate of Gigabyte¡¯s pre-tax profits for 2004 from NT$2.24 billion to NT$1.86 billion.
MSI expects its revenues to top NT$70 billion in 2005, up 6% on-year. The company is also targeting earnings per share (EPS) of NT$3, rising from about NT$1-1.5 last year.
| Revenues in 2004 and 2005 forecast (NT$bn) |
| | 2004 | Y/Y | 2005f | Y/Y |
| Asustek | 256.938 | 28% | 400 | 55% |
| ECS | 33.2 | (35%) | N/A | N/A |
| Gigabyte | 38.608 | 13.3% | 44 | 12-15% |
| MSI | 66.011 | 3.2% | 70 | 6% |
Source: companies, compiled by , January 2005.
| Motherboard shipments in 2004 and 2005 forecast (million units) |
| | 2004 | 2005f | Y/Y |
| Asustek | 42.62 | 50 | 17% |
| ECS | 16.70 | 20 | 20% |
| Gigabyte | 14.90 | 16.40 | 10% |
| MSI | 14.13 | 16 | 13% |
Source: companies, compiled by , January 2005.
| Graphics-card shipments in 2004 and 2005 forecast (million units) |
| | 2004 | 2005f | Y/Y |
| Asustek | 7.74 | 10.00 | 29% |
| ECS | - | - | - |
| Gigabyte | 2.84 | 3.50 | 23% |
| MSI | 7.80-8.80 | 8.00 | - |
Source: companies, compiled by , January 2005.
| Notebook shipments in 2004 and 2005 forecast (thousand units) |
| | 2004 | 2005f | Y/Y |
| Asustek | 2,880 | 4,000 | 39% |
| ECS | 513 | 1,000 | 95% |
| Gigabyte* | 2,000 units per month | 5,000 units per month | - |
| MSI | 100 | 300 | 200% |
*Source estimate
Source: companies, compiled by , January 2005.
Biostar I915P-A7 Motherboard (2005-01-06)