Semiconductor materials distributor Wah Lee Industrial saw its net profits surge 20.4% sequentially to NT$313 million (US$10.64 million) in the third quarter of 2013. The earnings translated into an EPS of NT$1.36 for the quarter.
Consolidated revenues at Wah Lee increased 4.5% on quarter to NT$9.13 billion in the third quarter, while gross margin grew 0.4pp to 9.26% during the same period.
Wah Lee CFO Luhui Huang indicated the company expects to enjoy a particularly strong fourth quarter, thanks to continued growth in orders excluding those coming from the PCB and green energy sectors. Sales of Wah Lee's all product lines registered sequential growth in the third quarter.
Shipments of Wah Lee's distributed photoresist and CMP slurry ramped up during the third quarter as the products reportedly have attracted orders from TSMC for the foundry's 20nm process manufacturing. Wah Lee's distributed touchscreen panel ICs have also entered the supply chain of China-based smartphone brands.
Market watchers expect Wah Lee to post a slight sequential drop in fourth-quarter revenues, but 5-10% on-year growth in revenues for all of 2013. Net EPS for the year is set to reach NT$4.50, outperforming the 2012 level.
Wah Lee's cumulative 2013 revenues through September amounted to NT$25.49 billion, rising 7% from a year earlier, with net profits climbing 14% on year to NT$860 million. EPS for the nine-month period came to NT$3.72.
Wah Lee distributes production materials for semiconductors, PCBs and flat-panel displays (FPDs), as well as LEDs, solar modules and other renewable energy applications.
Article translated by Jessie Shen
