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CHANDLER, Ariz. - Microchip Technology (NASDAQ:MCHP), a semiconductor company with a market capitalization of $21.7 billion and currently trading near InvestingPro’s Fair Value estimate, has announced the release of its new PIC16F17576 microcontroller (MCU) family, aimed at efficiently capturing and measuring volatile analog signals in power-sensitive applications. The new MCUs feature integrated low-power peripherals and are designed to operate with minimal energy consumption, making them suitable for battery-operated devices. This product launch comes as Microchip maintains strong financial health with a current ratio of 2.25, indicating robust liquidity to support its operations. According to InvestingPro, which offers comprehensive analysis through its Pro Research Reports covering 1,400+ US stocks, analysts anticipate some near-term challenges with sales expected to decline in the current year.
The PIC16F17576 series boasts a novel low-power comparator and voltage reference that can function while the MCU core is in sleep mode. This capability allows for continuous analog measurement with less than 3.0 µA of current draw. Additionally, the Analog Peripheral Manager (APM) oversees the activity of the peripherals to reduce total power use, enabling effective signal monitoring in battery-powered systems without significant power loss.
These MCUs are equipped with operational amplifiers (op amps) that include software-controlled gain ladders, facilitating noise mitigation while preserving precision and power efficiency. The inclusion of up to four op amps and a 12-bit differential ADC with automated averaging enables accurate signal measurement across diverse inputs.
According to Greg Robinson, corporate vice president of Microchip’s MCU business unit, the integrated analog features of the PIC16F17576 MCUs simplify design processes by reducing the need for additional components, which can decrease costs and board size while also cutting power consumption. Despite recent market volatility, Microchip has maintained its strong dividend profile, having raised dividends for 13 consecutive years - one of many insights available through InvestingPro’s extensive financial metrics and analysis tools.
The target applications for this MCU family span various industries, such as environmental and industrial monitoring, smart home and building automation, with specific uses in vibration and strain measurement, flow metering, gas detection, cold asset tracking, and motion sensing.
For developers, the PIC16F17576 MCUs are supported by MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and MPLAB Code Configurator, which simplify the management of the APM and analog peripherals. The MCUs are also compatible with Microchip’s Curiosity Nano EV14L29A development board and MPLAB PICkit development tools. With a gross profit margin of 58% in the last twelve months, Microchip continues to demonstrate operational efficiency in its product development and manufacturing processes.
The PIC16F17576 MCUs are now available, with prices starting at $0.57 per unit in 10,000-unit quantities. For additional information or to make a purchase, interested parties can contact a Microchip sales representative or visit Microchip’s Purchasing and Client Services website.
This announcement is based on a press release statement from Microchip Technology.
In other recent news, Microchip Technology has announced a $1.35 billion public offering of depositary shares, each representing a 1/20th interest in a share of 7.50% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock. The proceeds from this offering are intended for debt repayment and capped call transactions to minimize potential dilution. In addition, Microchip Technology has launched its BR235 and BR235D series power relays, designed for aerospace and defense applications, meeting the MIL-PRF-83536 specification and ISO-9001 certification. On the analyst front, Stifel has adjusted its price target for Microchip Technology from $80 to $60 while maintaining a Buy rating, citing inventory challenges and an uncertain macroeconomic environment. Concurrently, Moody’s has downgraded Microchip’s senior unsecured rating from Baa1 to Baa2, though the outlook has been changed to stable due to expected improvements in financial performance. The company is addressing its inventory issues and expects to guide for sequential revenue growth in the June quarter. Microchip has also taken steps to restructure its Long-Term Agreements with foundry partners, incurring charges of approximately $45 million. These developments reflect Microchip’s ongoing efforts to streamline operations and manage financial challenges.
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