Semiconductor Sucker’s Rally
We have been droning on and on about the oversupply of semiconductors that is looming. For a while, the stock market seemed to be playing out our theory. However, recently there has been a rally we believe is a sucker’s rally.
National Semiconductor lowers Q1 revenue outlook - Yahoo! News
National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:NSM - news) on Tuesday lowered its revenue outlook for the first quarter of fiscal 2007, which ends August 27.
The company now anticipates that first quarter revenue will be down about 6 percent from the $572.6 million in revenue that it posted in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006.The company had forecast June 8 that first quarter revenue would be down 2 to 3 percent sequentially.
National Semiconductor is a symptom of the overcapacity that should be bringing the semiconductors still lower. According to the equipment manufacturer’s industry association (SEMI), semiconductor companies ordered nearly 75% more equipment in July than they did last year. This is far ahead of the single-digit year/year growth in semiconductors and marks the sixth consecutive month that supply has shown faster growth than demand. The supply/demand chart is our own compilation of data from SEMI and the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA.)
The trend is unsustainable, and semiconductors are unlikely to put up a sustained rally until significant orders get cancelled.
Disclosure: William Trent has a long position in SMH.
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