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Geneva, October 24th, 2006 - STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM)
reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended
September 30, 2006.
Revenues, Gross Profit, and Margin Review
Net revenues for the third quarter were $2,513 million, 11.8% above
the $2,247 million reported in last year’s third quarter. This
year-over-year growth was driven by double-digit increases in the telecom,
industrial and consumer market segments. Sequentially, net revenues
grew 0.7% from the $2,495 million reported in the prior quarter, with
the growth coming from industrial, consumer and application-specific
wireless products.
Gross profit was $904 million for the 2006 third quarter, an increase
of $138 million from $766 million in last year’s third quarter.
Gross margin was 36.0% in the third quarter, an increase of 190 basis
points from 34.1% in last year’s third quarter. On a sequential
basis, gross profit and gross margin increased from the second quarter
levels of $882 million and 35.4%, respectively.
Operating Expenses
Combined selling, general & administrative and research & development
expenses represented 27.2% of net revenues in the third quarter, compared
to 28.9% in the year-ago quarter and 27.0% in the second quarter of
2006. R&D expenses of $421 million in the third quarter were 3%
higher than the $408 million in the prior quarter, reflecting increased
effort in process technology and dedicated products. SG&A expenses
were 1% lower sequentially at $264 million for the 2006 third quarter
compared to $266 million in the second quarter.
Operating Income, Operating Margin, and Earnings per Share
ST delivered significant year-over-year improvements in profitability
measures with operating income up 90%, operating margin expanding 320
basis points, and earnings per share more than doubling. Specifically,
for the 2006 third quarter, the Company reported operating income of
$194 million, an operating margin of 7.7% (8.5% excluding restructuring
and impairment charges), and net income of $207 million, or $0.22 per
diluted share. In the year-ago quarter, the Company reported operating
income of $102 million, equal to an operating margin of 4.5% (5.1% excluding
restructuring and impairment charges), and net income of $89 million
or $0.10 per share. In the prior quarter, the Company reported operating
income of $169 million, operating margin of 6.8% (8.1% excluding restructuring
and impairment charges), and net income of $168 million or $0.18 per
diluted share.
The Company posted $20 million of impairment, restructuring charges,
and other related closure costs during the 2006 third quarter related
to restructuring plans and intangible asset impairment, representing
an after-tax impact of approximately $0.02 per share. In the prior quarter,
restructuring-related expenses were $34 million and $12 million in the
year-ago quarter.
In addition, 2006 third quarter income tax expenses were reduced by
approximately $23 million arising from certain tax credits.
In the third quarter of 2006, the effective average exchange rate for
the Company was approximately $1.255 to €1, compared to $1.23 to
€1 in the second quarter of 2006 and $1.30 to €1 in the year-ago
quarter. The Company’s effective exchange rate reflects actual
exchange rate levels combined with the impact of hedging programs.
Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Highlights
Net cash from operating activities in the third quarter was $555 million
and $1,932 for the first nine months of 2006. Capital expenditures were
$451 million in the 2006 third quarter and $1,147 million for the first
nine months, compared to $284 million and $1,211million in the 2005
similar periods, respectively. Net operating cash flow* was $81 million
for the third quarter, compared to $173 million in the year-ago quarter,
and $241 million in the prior quarter. In the first nine months of 2006,
ST had $509 million in net operating cash flow compared to -$20 million
in the 2005 first nine months.
At September 30, 2006, ST’s cash and cash equivalents, marketable
securities, and short-term deposits equaled $2.6 billion, after the
payment of approximately $1.4 billion for the early redemption of the
2013 convertible bonds. Total debt was $1.9 billion. ST’s net
financial position** improved by approximately $82 million sequentially
to $621 million. Shareholders’ equity was $9.3 billion at September
30, 2006.
(*) Net operating cash flow is a non-US GAAP metric, which the Company’s
management utilizes as a measure of cash generation capability. It is
defined as net cash from operating activities ($555 million in the third
quarter of 2006) minus net cash used in investing activities excluding
payments for purchase of and proceeds from the sale of marketable securities
and proceeds from matured short-term deposits ($474 million in the third
quarter of 2006).
(**) Net financial position is a non-US GAAP metric used by the Company’s
management to help assess financial flexibility. It is defined as cash
and cash equivalents, marketable securities, and short-term deposits
($2,559 million) minus total debt (bank overdrafts $0 million + current
portion of long-term debt $139 million + long-term debt $1,799 million).
President and CEO Remarks
Carlo Bozotti, President
and CEO, commented, “ST is making important progress across
our three major initiatives – product portfolio, market share,
and returns on invested capital.
“We are strengthening our Application Specific Product Groups
(ASG), which represent over half of ST’s revenues, through a more
focused R&D effort. This is translating into improved revenue and
operating margin performance, as year-to-date ASG’s revenues are
up 10% with their operating income up 50%, and the operating margin
moving toward double-digits.
“Moreover, we are further enhancing the performance of our Micro,
Power and Analog group (MPA), with revenue higher by almost 19%, operating
income up 27%, and an operating margin of 15.7% for the first nine months
of 2006.
“ST’s year-to-date sales growth of 13.5%, compared to estimates
of industry growth of about 8.5%, confirms the inflection point we achieved
last year when we began to regain market share. This revenue expansion
demonstrates the Company’s reestablished market leadership, and
confirms the benefits to date of our sales and marketing initiatives
in combination with our more robust, and still improving, product portfolio.
“Finally, we are keenly focused on careful management of capital
investments. This is visible through our steady RONA improvement in
each quarter of 2006 and capital intensity trends over the last two
years. In the third quarter, RONA increased again from second quarter
levels, largely driven by gross margin expansion, and at about 10%,
is similar to our weighted average cost of capital. In addition, we
anticipate that our 2006 capital spending will be $1.6 billion - $200
million lower than we had originally planned. This will improve the
2006 capex-to-sales ratio for ST to about 16%, as we have been able
to meet our investment needs through more efficient use of our resources
worldwide.”
Additional Third Quarter 2006 Financial and Operating Data
The following table and commentary provide a breakdown of revenues and
operating income by product segment.
Net Revenues and Operating Income by Product Group Segment:
| In Million
US$ |
Q3
2006 |
| Segment |
Net Revenues |
% of Net Revenues |
Operating
income (loss) |
| Application Specific Product Groups* |
$1,370 |
54.5% |
$125 |
| MPA (Micro, Power & Analog)** |
595 |
23.7% |
107 |
| MPG (Memory Products Group) |
529 |
21.1% |
10 |
| Others (1)(2) |
19 |
0.7% |
(48) |
| |
|
|
|
| TOTAL |
$2,513 |
100.0% |
$194 |
* Automotive; Computer Peripheral; and Home, Personal, and Communication
products
** Effective January 1, 2006 the Microcontroller, Linear and Discrete
(MLD) Group was renamed as the Micro, Power and Analog (MPA) product
segment to better reflect product portfolio focus and increased capabilities
in advanced Analog. No change occurred in the Group’s perimeter
or organization.
(1) Net revenues of “Others” include revenues from sales
of Subsystems and other products not allocated to product segments.
(2) Operating loss of “Others” includes items such as impairment,
restructuring charges, and other related closure costs, start-up costs,
and other unallocated expenses such as strategic or special research
and development programs, certain corporate-level operating expenses,
certain patent claims and litigations, and other costs that are not
allocated to the product segments, as well as operating earnings or
losses of the Subsystems and Other Products segment. Certain costs,
mainly R&D, formerly in the “Others” category, have
been allocated to the segments.
Sequentially, Application Specific Product Groups’ revenues increased
0.2%, MPA sales increased 6.3%, and MPG sales declined 2.8%. Operating
profit increased to $125 million for Application Specific Product Groups
and $107 million for MPA. Operating profit was $10 million in MPG. In
Flash memory sales declined 7% from the prior quarter to $375 million.
Q3 2006 Net Revenues by Market Segment
The following table estimates, within a variance of 5% to 10% in the
absolute dollar amount, the relative weighting of each of the Company’s
target market segments in the third quarter of 2006.
| |
% of Net Revenue |
Automotive
|
14% |
Consumer
|
17% |
| Computer |
16% |
| Telecom |
38% |
| Industrial & Other |
15% |
Consumer was the fastest growing segment sequentially, increasing by almost
7%. Industrial and Others were up nearly 4% over the prior quarter. Telecom
was essentially flat on a sequential basis, as memory weakness offset
dedicated product growth. Automotive and Computer decreased 4% and 1%
respectively from second quarter 2006 levels.
First Nine Months 2006 Results
Net revenues for the first nine months were $7,371 million, an increase
of 13.5% over the 2005 first nine months revenues of $6,493 million. Gross
profit increased to $2,623 million, or 35.6% of net revenues, from $2,165
million or 33.3% of net revenues for the 2005 first nine months. Operating
income was $504 million, compared to $47 million in last year’s
first nine months. Net income was $506 million, or $0.54 per diluted share,
compared to $83 million, or $0.09 per share in last year’s first
nine months. Net income included pre-tax impairment, restructuring charges
and other related closure costs of $67 million and $113 million for the
2006 and 2005 first nine months results, respectively.
Research and development expenses were $1,238 million, compared to
$1,228 million in the 2005 first nine months. Selling, general &
administrative expenses were $786 million compared to $766 million in
the 2005 nine-month period.
In the 2006 first nine months, the effective average exchange rate
for the Company was approximately $1.23 to €1, compared to $1.30
to €1 for the 2005 first nine months.
First Nine Months 2006 Net Revenues and Operating Income by
Product Group Segment:
| In Million
US$ |
First
Nine Months 2006 |
| Segment |
Net Revenues |
% of Net
Revenues |
Operating
income (loss) |
| Application Specific Product Groups* |
$4,054 |
55.0% |
$328 |
| MPA (Micro, Power & Analog)** |
1,646 |
22.3% |
259 |
| MPG (Memory Products Group) |
1,612 |
21.9% |
34 |
| Others (1)(2) |
59 |
0.8% |
(117) |
| |
|
|
|
| TOTAL |
$7,371 |
100.0% |
$504 |
*, **, (1) and (2) defined in earlier table.
Outlook
Mr. Bozotti stated, “As we enter the fourth quarter, we
see some correction in the current semiconductor cycle. The result is
that we expect sequential revenue growth below our historical levels
reflecting wireless and automotive sales below normal seasonal trends.
For the fourth quarter ST expects sequential sales growth in the range
between -1% and 5%.
Nonetheless, ST will have double-digit revenue growth for 2006, a clear
and unambiguous sign of our market-share resurgence. And we believe
ST is poised to continue gaining share beyond the current year, as well.
“Despite this quarterly sales outlook, we expect the continuation
of our margin progression with the fourth quarter gross margin to be
about 37%, plus or minus one percentage point.”
These objectives are based on an assumed currency exchange rate for
the Company of approximately $1.265 = €1 for the 2006 fourth quarter,
which reflects current exchange rate levels combined with the impact
of existing hedging contracts.
Recent Corporate Developments
On August 7 2006, ST redeemed $1,397 million in aggregate principal
of its 2013 Zero Coupon convertible bonds, representing substantially
all of the outstanding 2013 convertible bonds.
Products, Technology and Design Wins
Application-Specific Product Highlights
- In digital consumer, ST and Dahua Technology Ltd, China’s
largest cable and IPTV dual-mode set-top box (STB) provider, announced
that they have successfully designed and manufactured a highly-integrated
digital-cable and IP STB, making ST the first silicon supplier to
provide single-chip dual-mode digital STB solutions for the China
market. Also in China, Konka, one of the world’s leading TV
manufacturers, is to go into mass production of its LCD integrated
digital TV (iDTV) sets based on ST’s DTV100 platform. This solution
supports all worldwide standards and is built around ST’s STD2000
integrated decoder and video processor.
- A majority of the STBs being used in six-month terrestrial and
cable TV trials of HDTV services in Singapore are based on ST’s
STi710x family of highly-integrated H.264/AVC decoder chips. The chips
power boxes deployed by StarHub, for its digital cable HDTV trial,
and by MediaCorp, for its digital terrestrial HDTV trial.
- ST achieved a design win from a major US manufacturer for its STV8258
sound processor IC for use in new LCD and plasma display panel (PDP)
TVs, with production expected by mid-year 2007. ST also announced
the development of a reference design for a wireless home entertainment
system, based on ST’s STi710x HDTV technology platform, Universal
Electronics Inc.’s (UEI) digital media control software, and
Airgo Networks’ wireless networking technology.
- In mobile communications, ST’s award-winning Nomadik™
multimedia application processor enjoyed continued volume ramp-up
in Q3. Several important new projects were initiated by tier one customers
for high-end feature 2G and 3G handsets capable of advanced multimedia
functionality, including mobile TV.
- ST has chosen to make Mentor Graphics’® Nucleus®
mobile operating system available on ST’s Nomadik STn880x and
STn881x series. The combination is primarily aimed at mid-range mobile
phones, meeting the increasing demand to provide high-end features,
such as multimedia, Internet, and PDA functionality.
- ST further strengthened its leadership position in the CMOS camera
module market with a significant design win in North America for a
2-megapixel camera in a new mobile communications terminal, with production
ramp-up expected in Q1 2007.
- In computer peripherals, ST rounded out its portfolio of Intellectual
Property (IP) for the small form-factor hard-disk-drive (HDD) IC solutions
for laptops and portable consumer products, announcing availability
of a full kit of System-on-Chip, power combo, and pre-amplifier IP.
Included are the T90LP Read-Channel macro, for implementation in an
HDD SoC, and two new ICs: the L6440/20 preamplifier ICs, which offer
high data-rate capability and extremely low power requirements; and
the highly-integrated L7207/8 HDD motor controllers, which save space
and minimize the drive’s power consumption.
- ST is expanding its presence in MEMS accelerometers for HDD protection
in laptops, and is playing a significant role in pioneering the market
for HDDs in mobile phones. ST is now ramping up the first 200mm-wafer
MEMS line, which is leading edge for the technology, at its facility
in Agrate, Italy.
- In automotive, ST strengthened its position as a market leader
in powertrain with the winning of a Euro4 (EU emissions standards)
platform for European and South American markets. Additionally, ST
won a major European socket for a diesel glow-plug driver IC, and
major powertrain awards in China for low-end four-cylinder cars and
motorcycle engine management. And in safety applications, ST gained
sockets with a major US OEM for ABS and electric parking brake applications.
- ST won major designs in car body applications for an immobilizer
and an intelligent seat with an Asian manufacturer, and a high-volume
socket for its VIPower technology with a major European OEM.
- In car communication and multimedia, ST announced it is sampling
a new digital AM/FM radio receiver chipset, jointly developed with
Blaupunkt. The devices integrate audio signal processing and Radio
Data System (RDS) decoding. ST also gained design wins including:
a multifunction voltage regulator with a major European OEM; power
audio ICs with two Japanese OEMs; an organic LED (OLED) driver IC
for another Japanese customer; and CD servo and audio decoder sockets
with a US tier one OEM.
- ST, with Kenwood and the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits,
developed a fully working prototype of a Digital Radio Mondiale™
(DRM™) receiver that could pave the way to the development of
a low-power ASIC for DRM applications, such as fixed and portable
radios, car receivers, software receivers, and PDAs.
Multi-Segment Product Highlights
- In memories, ST announced advanced memory solutions using Package-on-Package
(PoP) technology, which produces significant board-space savings for
the high-density memory and complex processor combinations employed
in high-end mobile handsets. Also, ST announced a family of Address-Data
Multiplexed I/O devices – a complete range of NOR Flash solutions
for cost-efficient, value-sensitive mobile platforms.
- ST introduced its M58BW32F 32-Mbit Flash memory chip for the automotive
market, offering high-speed memory access over a wide temperature
range, perfectly suited to meet memory needs in powertrain and transmission-control
modules.
- ST, the first company to successfully release a TCG (Trusted Computing
Group) 1.2 device, revealed updated offerings to its family of Trusted
Platform Modules (TPM 1.2) for enhanced PC security with support for
the new security features in Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows
Vista™ operating system.
- ST announced a dual-interface secure microcontroller designed to
give improved performance in e-Passport, ID Card, and other related
applications. The ST19NR66 allows operation in both contact and contactless
applications.
- In microcontrollers, ST extended its STR7 range of 32-bit microcontrollers
based on the ARM7TDMI-S™ core with the super-integrated STR750F
family. The devices are the first general-purpose ARM7 Flash microcontrollers
to support full-spec operation at both 3.3V and 5V. ST also released
four new advanced 16-bit microcontrollers suited to industrial applications,
within its industry-standard ST10 family (ST10F27x).
- Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. chose several members of ST’s
STR910F Flash MCU series as a common platform for some of its building
automation products, which span a lifetime of more than 10 years.
ST is a preferred vendor for Siemens AG, and its technology is specified
globally by a number of Siemens operating companies.
- ST launched its first ZigBee™ wireless-networking solution.
ZigBee is a technology addressing the needs of remote monitoring,
sensing, and control-network applications. ST’s single-chip
SN250 integrates a 2.4GHz IEEE802.15.4-compliant radio transceiver
and a 16-bit microprocessor with the EmberZNet™ software stack.
- In power applications, ST introduced the ST1S06 advanced high-frequency
step-down dc-dc converter particularly suited for use in data-storage
applications. ST also introduced a new generation of AC Switches to
control AC loads in various white goods appliances. In power conversion,
ST devices were qualified for production in several projects with
one of the world’s top motherboard makers; and ST gained multiple
design wins for TV models from a leading Japanese manufacturer with
the L6562 Power Factor Correction IC.
- In power MOSFETs, ST gained design wins in two PC server platforms
with major US manufacturers, plus design wins for both voltage regulation
and in the power supply for a major games console. Additionally, ST
achieved several wins for its MDmesh™ II devices across multiple
applications, including the fast growing LCD TV market. ST also gained
numerous design wins worldwide for its power bipolar, ESBT®, and
IGBT devices in industrial, consumer, and computer applications.
- In advanced analog and logic, ST gained several design wins, including
standard and dedicated temperature sensors with major companies for
various applications, such as 3G mobile phones, LCD TVs, metering,
PC memory, and STBs in the US and Korea, and supervisor ICs with white
goods, industrial, and consumer OEMs. ST also supplied samples of
‘Power-over-Ethernet’ devices to a major US telecom customer.
All of STMicroelectronics’ press releases (including all
Q3 releases) are available at www.st.com/stonline/press/news/latest.htm
Some of the statements contained in this release that are not historical
facts are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking
statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933 or Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each
as amended) based on management’s current views and assumptions
and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from those
in such statements due to, among other factors:
- future developments of the world semiconductor market, in particular
the future demand for semiconductor products in the key application
markets and from key customers served by our products;
- pricing pressures, losses, or curtailments of purchases from
key customers;
- the financial impact of obsolete or excess inventories if actual
demand differs from our anticipations;
- changes in the exchange rates between the U.S. Dollar and the
Euro, compared to the effective exchange rate of $1.265 = €1,
and between the U.S. Dollar and the currencies of the other major
countries in which we have our operating infrastructure;
- our ability to manage our fixed costs structure, including
our ability to adequately utilize and operate our manufacturing facilities
at sufficient levels to cover fixed operating costs in an intensively
competitive and cyclical industry;
- our ability in an intensive competitive environment, to secure
customer acceptance and to achieve our pricing expectations for high
volume supplies of new products in whose development we have been
or are currently investing;
- the anticipated benefits of research & development alliances
and cooperative activities, as well as the continued pursuit as currently
structured of our various alliances, in the field of development of
new advanced technologies or products;
- the ability of our suppliers to meet our demands for supplies
and materials and to offer competitive pricing;
- changes in the economic, social, or political environment,
as well as natural events such as severe weather, health risks, epidemics
or earthquakes in the countries in which we and our key customers
operate;
- changes in our overall tax position as a result of changes
in tax laws or the outcome of tax audits;
- our ability to obtain required licenses on third-party intellectual
property, the outcome of litigations and the results of actions by
our competitors.
Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and
uncertainties, which may cause actual results and performance of our
business to differ materially and adversely from the forward-looking
statements. Certain such forward-looking statements can be identified
by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,”
“may,” “will,” “should,” “would
be,” “anticipates,” or similar expressions, or the
negative thereof, or other variations thereof, or comparable terminology,
or by discussions of strategy, plans, or intentions. Some of these risk
factors are set forth and are discussed in more detail in “Item
3. Key Information—Risk Factors” included in our Annual
Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005, as filed with
the SEC on March 3, 2006. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties
materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual
results may vary materially from those described in this release as
anticipated, believed, or expected. We do not intend, and do not assume
any obligation, to update any industry information or forward-looking
statements set forth in this release to reflect subsequent events or
circumstances.
Unfavorable changes in the above or other factors listed under “Risk
Factors” from time to time in our SEC filings, including in our
Form 20-F, could have a material adverse effect on our business or financial
condition.
Conference Call Information
The management of STMicroelectronics will conduct a conference
call on October 25, 2006, at 9:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time / 3:00 p.m.
CET, to discuss performance for the third quarter of 2006.
The conference call will be available via the Internet by accessing
the following Web address: http://investors.st.com.
Those viewing the webcast should go to the Web site at least 15 minutes
prior to the call, in order to register, download, and install any necessary
audio software. The webcast will be available until November 3, 2006.
About STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor
solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled
combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength,
Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions
the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and
its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets.
The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange,
on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2005, the Company’s
net revenues were $8.88 billion and net earnings were $266 million.
Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.
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