In brief: quarterly updates from Aixtron and Kopin
Aixtron lowers guidance
Germany-based Aixtron said that low capital equipment spending among LED manufacturers was to blame as it lowered its revenue guidance for the fiscal year.
Having originally expected to post full-year sales of €160 million-€170 million, the MOCVD equipment vendor has dropped the forecast by €10 million.
"Aixtron believes that that the business climate may remain difficult for the remainder of 2005, with a possible pick-up in activity in the second half of the year," said the Aachen outfit in its second quarter results.
Aixtron posted a revenue of €44.4 million ($54.8 million) in the quarter that ended June 30 - up 33% on last year's figure - but the latest results included sales from recently-acquired atomic layer deposition specialist Genus.
Equipment orders in the last three months totalled €28.4 million, well down on the same period last year when the figure was €36.9 million.
Kopin's HBT business remains steady
Taunton, MA, HBT supplier Kopin posted a net profit of $1.8 million in the quarter ended June 25 despite a slight dip in sales of HBT wafers.
Revenue from the company's III-V business was $9 million, down from $10.4 million one year ago and $9.4 million sequentially.
Thanks to the spin-out of its LED manufacturing operation to China and Taiwan, Kopin has reduced its costs massively compared with the same period last year.
This, coupled with strong sales of its microdisplay products, has seen the company turn the loss it posted in the same quarter last year into a profit "“ despite a slight drop in overall sales to $20.5 million.
