Microelectronic Revenues Continue Strong Growth

Recent financial reports from companies in the microelectronics portion of the compound semiconductor industry indicate continued sharp revenue growth. The Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies Service (GaAs) viewpoint, "Compound Semiconductor Industry Review April 2011: Microelectronics," reports the latest revenue results for leading companies in the microelectronics segment of the compound semiconductor industry, such as RFMD, Skyworks Solutions, Fairchild, Fujitsu, Hittite Microwave, TriQuint Semiconductor, Soitech and WIN Semiconductors.

"The strong revenue reports which Strategy Analytics saw in April show continued compound semiconductor market expansion," noted Eric Higham, Director of the Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies Service. "Growth in this industry is broadly-based as both gallium arsenide (GaAs) and silicon manufacturers are showing strong year-on-year revenue gains."

Asif Anwar, Director, Strategy Analytics Strategic Technologies Practice, added, "Increasing data consumption is driving development in consumer electronics and networks."

Hingham, author of "Compound Semiconductor Industry Review April 2011: Microelectronics," told Microwave Journal that a few trends are notable in the report.

"Most of the year-on-year revenue comparisons were positive and substantial, with GaAs manufacturers Hittite and TriQuint reporting 24 percent growth, Skyworks reporting 37 percent growth and Silicon manufacturer Microsemi leading them all with 73 percent quarterly revenue growth. This is important because it shows the growth is broadly based, with both Silicon and GaAs suppliers demonstrating strong results," Hingham said. "It is important to note that 2010 was a banner year for the compound semiconductor industry. Strategy Analytics believes revenue in the industry grew by 35 percent in 2010, so strong quarterly revenue gains in 2011 indicate continued strength in the compound semiconductor industry."

Another trend provides a cautionary note, however, Hingham said. "Two of the leading GaAs suppliers in the industry, RFMD and ANADIGICS both saw year-on-year declines in quarterly revenue. Both companies attribute this to challenges at major handset customers," he said. "Previous reports from Strategy Analytics have captured how diligently compound semiconductor companies have been working to develop products for a variety of other market applications. This is certainly the case at RFMD and ANADIGICS, but it underscores how important the handset market segment is to the overall compound semiconductor industry."

This viewpoint summarizes April 2011 financial, product, contract and employment developments from major GaAs and silicon suppliers, addressing a variety of commercial and military applications that require gallium arsenide (GaAs), gallium nitride (GaN), silicon carbide (SiC) and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technologies.