[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)