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Semiconductor industry stocks are not timely in 1998, and a double-digit decline is expected for the year by many analysts due to weak sales and trends in the global economy. However, there are indications that there will be a industry recovery in 1999, but this may not be complete. Investors need to focus on those stocks with good ratings and potential for capital gains in the future.

The semiconductor industry enjoyed a remarkable market expansion during the early- and mid-1990s due to demand from the personal computer industry and other factors. However, the industry is volatile and growth is expected to be more limited in modest with the Asian economic crisis and overexpansion of capacity. Increased competition and the Asian situation have changed the industry, but semiconductor demand is expected to grow.

Growth prospects for the semiconductor industry will be impacted by the Asian currency crisis, as this has been a preferred manufacturing location, but sales growth in 1998 is forecast to be 2% lower. The industry is still dominated by Intel Corp, although Intel is responding to outside pressures, and production capacity for dynamic random access memory devices is meeting demand. Many of these stocks are timely for investors in 1998.

Investors have become nervous about semiconductor and other technology stocks with their high price/earnings ratios, market volatility, and earnings evaluations. The semiconductor industry also includes products that are unprofitable, such as dynamic random access memory devices, and that are profitable, such as microprocessors. Investors need to be cautious, however, as industry earnings and valuation expectations can be overly optimistic.

The semiconductor industry is expected to have record sales and profits for 1997, and the companies comprising the industry are expected to prosper in the future with the expanding economy. Integrated circuits have become needed components for networking systems and cellular phones, as well as for microprocessors, and demand is expanding. These stocks are timely for 1997 and the earnings outlook for the years 2000-2002 is excellent, also.

A number of semiconductor industry companies have been reporting that their trend towards profitability has been moving upward which, while generally a positive indicator, means that some of these companies are reporting lesser losses than previously. However, there are a sufficient number of innovative semiconductor industry companies who should interest short-term investors. The volatility of the industry might be a deterrent to long-term investors unless they examine individual companies carefully.

The semiconductor industry's economic rebound that began in 1996 and the long-term growth predicted for the industry indicate good prospects for long-term investors. However, overcapacity, along with supply and demand, remains a problem. Many of these stocks are timely for 1997 and also are good investments for the nest three to five years.

Investors can expect that most semiconductor industry securities will become highly sought prizes and they will again experience phenomenal growth as new technologies develop and cyclical corrections are made. Many semiconductor industry stock values have rebounded to almost the levels they had reached before the unexpected drop in 1995 send stocks crashing to half their former value. While technology securities are generally volatile, semiconductor securities have a remarkable growth history.

Semiconductor manufacturers expanded capacity in 1996 after higher share prices and record profits in 1995. However, the expansion has not been controlled and alignment of supply with demand has been difficult. Some chip makers, such as Intel Corp, have good market share, but there is some oversupply. Semiconductor stocks are only average or below for timeliness in 1996, but investors may find individual companies for selection.

Semiconductors are at the heart of every personal computer (PC) and a recent slowdown in PC sales is part of the reason for a slowing semiconductor industry. If the PC is the basis for the problem, analysts predict a rebound as surplus inventory is sold. Intel still controls the semiconductor market through superior technology and cost controls.

Supply and demand for semiconductor computer chips is more balanced in 1995 and 1996 than in previous years and stock prices for this industry are now receding. The industry is still basically healthy, with orders increasing by 41%, along with a shipment increase of 38%. Predicting a price correction for the semiconductor industry is difficult, however. Investors should find many individual timely stocks, though, for commitment.

WAIT A MINUTE. THERE'S MORE TO THIS CIRCUS. WIN 95 IS NOW ON THE LOOSE. AND THE CHANNEL IS ON THE MOVE. After all, Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 95 finally made […]

Semiconductor demand and shipments have expanded 44% and 40% respectively in the 3rd qtr of 1995, and monthly deliveries exceed new business by $400 million. Microchip stocks is the only sector where there is any sign of economic turbulence, and current high profits are an attraction for capital. These stocks have not yet peaked in price, and several can be expected to outperform the market for the next six to 12 months.

They are coming back. And they are coming back with gusto. Channel companies have that strong look and feel leading into the very important third quarter. While all eyes were […]

Semiconductor stock prices lost ground after outperforming the market for three years. An issue is whether earnings can be sustained beyond 1996, due to the volatile and cyclical nature of the industry. Orders increased 50% in 1995 over 1994, and are 17% greater than shipments. However, current prospects may lead to overexpansion. These stocks are timely due to high earnings, but are expected to peak.

The semiconductor industry reports good sales and earnings in the 1st qtr of 1995, due to increased uses for chips and high orders. Texas Instruments reports earnings of 35% to 40% and Advanced Micro Devices reports 12%. These stocks have an excellent opportunity to outperform the market for 1995 and 1996 because of product demand. However, many are speculative and not suited for investment over a three to five year period.

Silicon Valley- Intel Corp. continued to surpass its own records for quarterly revenue, although analysts last week differed widely on the company's 1998 outlook. Although Intel's fabs continued to roll […]

Intel offered the public a look at its powerful new microprocessor, Merced In Oct 1997. Intel developed the product with Hewlett-Packard. Unfortunately, Intel's third-quarter results, which were dismal, were announced at the same time. Other tech stocks are also discussed.

San Jose, Calif.: With the promise of 64-bit Merced-based systems in 1999, Intel Corp. already is working on the second generation of the chip, set to ship in 2001. "We […]

Intel Corp. is leading a surge of high-tech growth in the east Valley, embarking on a construction boom highlighted by a $100 million Fab 12 expansion that will provide the [...]

Excess supply and soft demand continued to limit the earnings strength of many semiconductor companies in the second quarter of 1997, as well as seed the market for significant price […]

New York -- Intel Corp. stock increased more than elevenfold between 1991 and 1996. And nobody appears to have profited more from that jump that Intel's helmsman, Chief Executive Andrew […]

Clinton remains in the White House and the GOP controls the House, so campaign money could have been used for other things. It is obvious that Clinton won because of the economy. A brief review is given of the PC manufacturing and retail sectors and the rising Intel rival, RadiSys.

RIO RANCHO, N.M. - Intel Corp. is hoping Sandoval County, N.M., will approve what would probably be the largest industrial development revenue bond package ever - $8 billion to help [...]

With few exceptions, the financial results of high-tech developers sprang forward during 1995's spring quarter. > Microsoft Corp. said fiscal 1995 revenues ballooned 28 percent, to $5.94 billion from $4.65 […]