AUO, CMO scored record revenues, shipment volumes in 2004

Taipei, Jan. 19, 2005 (CENS)--All Taiwan's top-five makers of thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels scored shinning profit performances, with the top two setting new profit records, according to institutional investors.

The top-five local makers of large-sized TFT-LCD panels in Taiwan are (in sequence) AU Optronics Corp. (AUO), and Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp. (CMO), Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd. (CPT), Quanta Display Inc. and HannStar Display Corp.

Institutional investors estimated AUO's pretax earnings at NT$28.7 billion (US$896.88 million at US$1: NT$32) and net earnings per share (EPS) at NT$5.8 (US$0.18) for 2004, although the firm suffered operating losses of NT$1.5 billion to NT$2 billion (US$46.88 million to US$62.5 million) in the fourth quarter last year.

AUO raked in consolidated revenue of NT$168.11 billion (US$5.25 billion) in 2004, up 60.3% from a year earlier. It shipped 18.85 million large-sized panels, up 59.8%, and 33.29 million small- and medium-sized panels, up 54.9%. Both the company's revenues and shipment volume for 2004 grew 60% from 2003 and hit record highs.

CMO scored aggregate revenues of NT$119.2 billion (US$3.73 billion) last year, up 43% from 2003. The firm delivered 14.16 million large-sized panels, up 39%. According to DisplaySearch, the world's leader in flat panel display (FPD) market research and consulting, CMO ranked as the world's No.2 supplier of LCD TV panels in the fourth quarter of 2004 and is expected to enjoy even better sales performance due to the increasing global LCD TV demand.

CPT estimated its net profits at NT$11.77 billion (US$367.66 million) and EPS of NT$1.71 (US$0.05) for 2004, although suffered a loss of about NT$3 billion (US$93.75 million) in the fourth quarter last year.

CPT reported consolidated revenue of NT$117 billion (US$3.66 billion) in 2004, up 31.5% from a year earlier and soaring past the NT$100 billion (US$3.13 billion) threshold for the first time. The company shipped 10.57 million large-sized panels last year, up 44.3% from 2003.

CPT aims for the world's No. 4 supplier of large-sized panels in 2005 by outstripping local counterpart CMO and recording annual shipments of 16.5 million large-size panels, up 50% from 2004.

Institutional investors estimated HannStar's net profits at only NT$1.8 billion (US$56.25 million) and EPS at NT$0.35 (US$0.01) for 2004, as the firm recorded a red ink of NT$2.5 billion (US$78.13 million) in the fourth quarter last year.

HannStar reported total revenue of NT$38.76 billion (US$1.21 billion) for 2004, up 17.6% from 2003. The company expected its shipment volume and revenues to grow significantly in 2005 due to its new fifth-generation panel facility reaching a scale of economy.

Quanta Display reported profits of NT$8.53 billion (US$266.56 million) in the first three quarters of 2004, and institutional investors estimated that the company suffered a loss of about NT$2 billion (US$62.5 million) in the fourth quarter of last year. The investors predicted the firm's net profits and EPS at NT$6.5 billion (US$203.13 million) and NT$1.67 (US$0.05), respectively, for 2004.