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Investing.com -- BE Semiconductor Industries shares declined Thursday after the company posted weaker-than-expected Q4 2024 results and provided a soft revenue outlook for Q1 2025.
The Dutch semiconductor equipment manufacturer expects a revenue decline of 0-10% in Q1, disappointing analysts who had anticipated growth.
Besi reported Q4 revenue of €153.4 million, down 2% sequentially and 3.9% year-over-year, primarily due to lower demand for automotive applications.
Orders fell 19.7% quarter-over-quarter and 26.7% year-over-year to €121.9 million, reflecting weaker bookings for high-performance computing and mainstream assembly applications.
The company’s gross margin declined slightly to 64%, impacted by unfavorable forex movements.
Analysts at Bernstein described the results as “a tough print with misses on Q4 results and Q1 guidance” and noted that the downturn is still ongoing.
While AI-related applications remain a bright spot, Bernstein emphasized that broader industry challenges persist.
Besi’s Q1 revenue guidance—suggesting a midpoint of €146 million—is below analyst expectations (consensus: €173 million). Bernstein noted that the guidance reflects ongoing weakness and that “mainstream recovery could begin in H2 2025”.
Despite near-term softness, the analysts remain optimistic about Besi’s long-term growth potential in advanced packaging and hybrid bonding. Bernstein reaffirmed its Outperform rating, citing AI-driven demand as a key driver for future growth.