附原文：Vishay, Intersil cut Q3 sales targets
SAN FRANCISCO—Vishay Intertechnology Inc. and Intersil Corp. Monday (Sept. 12) became the latest chip makers to reduce third quarter sales targets, citing weak demand.
In recent weeks, several chip makers, including Texas Instruments Inc. and Altera Corp., have reduced their sales targets for the third quarter, citing softening demand. Some market research firms have reduced their estimates for 2011 chip sales, also citing demand weakness.
Vishay (Malvern, Penn.), a supplier of discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components, said it now expects its third quarter sales to be between $625 million and $655 million, down from an earlier target range of between $675 million and $715 million.
"The anticipated seasonal pick up during the current quarter did not materialize," said Gerald Paul, Vishay's president and CEO, in a statement. "The expected inventory reduction of our products in the distribution channel is occurring while the slowdown in the consumer and computing end markets did not reverse.
Paul said despite the softening demand, Vishay remains committed to a growth strategy it outlined in a recent investor presentation and to intensifying internal growth, supplemented by small acquisitions. Vishay doesn't intend to reduce its investment in technical talent or R&D, Paul said.
Analog and mixed-signal chip vendor Intersil (Milpitas, Calif.) said it now expects third quarter sales to be between $184 million and $188 million, down from a previously guided range of between $205 million and $213 million.
"Demand during the third quarter has been weaker than expected in all of our end markets," said Dave Bell, Intersil's president and CEO, in a statement. "We believe this is the result of broad-based economic weakness, along with some excess inventory consumption. However, we now see signs that inventory is stabilizing, with bookings likely recovering to consumption rates during the remainder of the third quarter."
Also Monday, chip maker Diodes Inc. said it is maintaining its previously stated sales target for the third quarter of between $160 million and $170 million. The company reduced its gross margin forecast for the quarter to roughly 29 percent from roughly 32 percent, citing weak market conditions resulting in unfavorable pricing and the need to shift the product mix to maintain full loadings at the company's fabs.