Nikon's fab tool unit shows loss

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Japan's Nikon Corp. continues to lose its focus-and share-in lithography. And the unit continues to lose money.   

Nikon's semiconductor equipment unit announced revenue of 80.7 billion yen ($993 million) in the quarter, up 21.8 percent over last year.  

The unit's operating loss was 4.7 billion yen ($57.8 million) for the quarter, compared to an operating loss of 44 billion yen ($541.4 million) a year ago.

''Nikon reported disappointing Q2 earnings yesterday and revised down its full year target for sales and operating profit (OP). In Q2, OP of 3.9 billion yen ($48 million) was 42 percent below the consensus and 44 percent below our forecasts, owing to 2 LCD stepper unit delays and lower camera profit margins,'' said David Rubenstein, an analyst with MF Global, in a report.

''In the 1H, SLR lenses and compact camera sales volume growth was healthy, but SLR body unit sales were slightly below guidance,'' he said.

''IC stepper unit sales in Q2 decreased to 14 units from 16 units last quarter and 15 units last year. Market share gains were limited against ASML, which shipped 23 ArF immersion tools versus Nikon’s 6 tools during the quarter. Nikon lowered its full year unit forecast by 1 ArF dry tool,'' he said.

''IC/LCD stepper’s OP loss increased in the quarter to minus 4.1 billion yen ($50.5 million) from minus 600 million yen ($7.4 million) in Q1 as 2 LCD stepper shipments were pushed out to the 2H. We estimate that margins declined in both IC steppers and LCD stepper in Q2,'' he added.