ASM Lithography Meet Street Expectations

ASM Lithography reported third-quarter results that were within the range of our expectations. We are maintaining our fair value estimate and moat rating. For the quarter, revenue was EUR 1.32 billion, up 11% sequentially, and an increase from sales of EUR 1.23 billion in the year-ago quarter. Sales benefited from improved business conditions and a full quarter of contribution from ASML’s recent acquisition of lithography … Continue reading ASM Lithography Meet Street Expectations

Linear Provides Disappointing Guidance Despite Solid Results

Linear Technology reported decent fiscal first-quarter earnings but gave investors a disappointing forecast for the December quarter, as a seasonal dip in chip demand and the mere threat of a looming U.S. debt ceiling crisis may weigh on upcoming chip orders. We will maintain our fair value estimate and wide moat rating for the firm. Linear’s analog chip sales were $340 million for the September … Continue reading Linear Provides Disappointing Guidance Despite Solid Results

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Crown Holdings Reports Concerning Quarterly Results

Crown Holdings reported third-quarter results that were broadly in line with our expectations, but we have increasing concerns about the profit potential of Crown’s operations in Asia-Pacific. For example, through the first nine months of the year, Asia-Pacific segment profit declined $2 million while sales increased $157 million compared with the first nine months of 2012. In recent years, the company has invested significant sums … Continue reading Crown Holdings Reports Concerning Quarterly Results

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Buckeye Announces Acquisition of Hess’ Terminal Assets

Last week, Buckeye announced it has agreed to acquire Hess’ terminal assets spanning the East Coast and Caribbean for $850 million. The addition of 39 million barrels of storage increases Buckeye’s storage capacity by more than 50% to 112 million barrels and complements the partnership’s existing wide-moat footprint very well, in our view. In particular, Buckeye will gain 15 million barrels of capacity in the … Continue reading Buckeye Announces Acquisition of Hess’ Terminal Assets

Nokia Earnings Show Some Bright Spots

Nokia’s second-quarter earnings report had a couple of bright spots but was mostly concerning as the firm’s mobile phone business continues to languish.  The favorable view of Nokia’s pending acquisition of the remainder of its Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) joint venture is mostly offset by a rapidly deteriorating basic phone market and only modest Windows Lumia phone adoption to date. Nokia sold 7.4 million Lumia … Continue reading Nokia Earnings Show Some Bright Spots

MAT Adapting to Consumers

Mattel MAT continues to adapt to children’s demands, innovating new products tailored to changing tastes. With a number of new franchises coming on line in 2013 (including Ever After High and Max Steel), the company will maintain the wide brand recognition it has captured over numerous decades, keeping its narrow rating intact. While second-quarter results fell short of expectations,  the rest of the year will … Continue reading MAT Adapting to Consumers