Semiconductor Capital Equipment Stocks Discussion: Good stuff from Sue Billat at Robertson Stephens

» Kirk - Good stuff from Sue Billat at Robertson Stephens

Good stuff from Sue Billat at Robertson Stephens
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Robertson Stephens Raises Forecasts for Semiconductor Equipment Industry

SAN FRANCISCO, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Robertson Stephens Managing Director and Senior Semiconductor Equipment Analyst Sue Billat raised her capital spending forecasts for the semiconductor equipment industry.

``We are raising our semiconductor capital equipment spending forecasts for 2000 and 2001 based on the continued imbalance that we see in chip supply and demand,'' said Billat. ``In particular, we believe that a shortage of DRAMs is imminent and that this will drive a near term step up in capital equipment spending.''

``We are raising our forecast for front end equipment industry growth projection for 2000 and 2001 to 51 percent and 45 percent, from 43.5 percent and 35.8 percent, respectively,'' said Billat. ``By our estimates, this corresponds to front end equipment industry revenues of $15.2 billion in 2000 and $21.6 billion in 2001.''

``For the back end, we are maintaining our 45 percent growth estimate in 2000 and raising our growth projection for 2001 to 42 percent, from a range of 30 to 35 percent,'' said Billat. ``By our estimates, this corresponds to back end equipment industry revenues of $15.2 billion in 2000 and $21.6 billion in 2001.''

``We believe that continued shrinks and the adoption of new materials such as copper and low k dielectrics, and the transition to 300mm diameter wafers, will continue to drive equipment industry growth through 2001 and that steady increases in bookings will continue to support the stocks going forward,'' said Billat.

-- posted by Kirk