Chipmaker Analog Devices Forecasts Strong Q4 Results as Demand Recovers

Analog Devices' logo is pictured on a smartphone in this illustration taken, December 4, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Analog Devices' logo is pictured on a smartphone in this illustration taken, December 4, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
TT

Chipmaker Analog Devices Forecasts Strong Q4 Results as Demand Recovers

Analog Devices' logo is pictured on a smartphone in this illustration taken, December 4, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Analog Devices' logo is pictured on a smartphone in this illustration taken, December 4, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Analog Devices forecast fourth-quarter revenue and profit above Wall Street expectations on Wednesday, as it benefits from returning demand for its chips used in consumer electronics.

A decline in surplus chip inventory across sectors, including communication, consumer and industrial, has helped chipmakers see a recovery in orders after a years-long slump.

Analog Devices' consumer segment revenue rose 3% to $316.6 million in the third quarter, compared with analysts' average estimate of $289.3 million, according to LSEG data, Reuters reported.

Shares of Wilmington, Massachusetts-based Analog Devices rose 1.3% in premarket trading after the company's third-quarter profit of $1.58 per share also beat LSEG estimates of $1.51.

The company now expects fourth-quarter revenue of $2.40 billion, plus or minus $100 million, above LSEG estimates of $2.37 billion. It also sees adjusted earnings per share of $1.63, plus or minus 10 cents, compared with estimates of $1.62.

The upbeat forecast follows strong results from rival chipmaker Texas Instruments.

However, economic and geopolitical uncertainty continues to limit the pace of recovery, Analog Devices CFO Richard Puccio said.

Revenue for the company's industrial segment, the largest in terms of revenue, came in at $1.06 billion, slightly lower than analysts' expectations of $1.07 million.

Analog Devices provides semiconductors to businesses in a variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, communications, digital healthcare, and industrial automation among others.



UK Watchdog Shuts Down Probes into Apple and Google App Stores 

3D printed logos of Apple and Google are pictured on a keyboard in front of binary code in this illustration taken September 24, 2021. (Reuters)
3D printed logos of Apple and Google are pictured on a keyboard in front of binary code in this illustration taken September 24, 2021. (Reuters)
TT

UK Watchdog Shuts Down Probes into Apple and Google App Stores 

3D printed logos of Apple and Google are pictured on a keyboard in front of binary code in this illustration taken September 24, 2021. (Reuters)
3D printed logos of Apple and Google are pictured on a keyboard in front of binary code in this illustration taken September 24, 2021. (Reuters)

Britain's competition watchdog has closed its existing investigations into Apple and Google's respective app stores, awaiting new laws governing digital markets.

The tech giants have faced scrutiny around the world over the dominance of their respective App Store and Google Play store platforms, which critics say impose unfair charges on app developers and limit competition.

In 2022, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published a market study of mobile ecosystems in Britain, which found Apple and Google held an effective monopoly over the distribution of apps in Britain.

The body subsequently launched parallel investigations into both companies for alleged anticompetitive behavior.

But in a statement published on Wednesday, the CMA said it had dropped both probes, pending the roll-out of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA), which is expected to come into force later this year.

"Once the new pro-competition digital markets regime comes into force, we’ll be able to consider applying those new powers to concerns we have already identified through our existing work," said Will Hayter, Executive Director for Digital Markets at the CMA.

A Google spokesperson said its Android operating system had always allowed flexibility and choice not found on other platforms, including multiple app stores.

"We have engaged with the CMA over the course of many months during their investigation. As part of this, we made a number of significant commitments to further broaden the billing options available to developers through Google Play," they said.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.