SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- National Semiconductor Corp. today reported revenues of $369.5 million for its third fiscal quarter ended Feb. 24, a 22.3% drop from $475.6 million in the like period a year ago, but a 1% increase from $366.5 million in the previous quarter.
The company also reported a loss of $37.8 million, or minus $0.21 a share, in the quarter, compared to a profit of $39.2 million, or $0.21 cents a share, in the like period a year ago. In the previous quarter, National reported a loss of $46.6 million, or $0.26 a share.
"Our bookings momentum during the third quarter shows that our strategy and our programs are working," said Brian L. Halla, chairman, president and CEO of Santa Clara-based National. "We not only increased National's bookings by 22% sequentially, but we also grew orders year-over-year and had a positive book-to-bill for the first time in six quarters," he said.
"We still have work to do," Halla said, "but talking about 'growth' and 'improvements' is refreshing."
Overall, third-quarter bookings increased 22% sequentially from the second quarter, and 16% compared to the year-ago quarter, according to the company In fact, the month of February showed the strongest year-over-year growth for the company.
Display chip products, which includes flat-panel displays and traditional CRTs, led the quarter with dramatic growth sequentially and year-over-year. Wireless handset IC products, including power management, audio chips and wireless application-specific solutions, also saw stronger bookings during Q3.
Bookings for PC products showed significant year-to-year growth. But application-specific products for wireline markets, meanwhile, continued to show declining bookings, according to National.
In the fourth quarter, National projects its revenues will increase by 6-9% over the third quarter-somewhere in the range of approximately $390-to-$405 million. Gross margin percentage should also improve over the third quarter, resulting in lower net loss per share.
RSS
Digital
10 emerging technologies to watch:
EE Times has compiled a list of emerging technologies that we think will be worth watching out for in 2010. Biofeedback or thought-control of electronics are among the contenders.
Hot applications in 2010:
We've compiled a list of 10 technology applications you should watch for in 2010, ranging from e-book readers to 3-D TVs. We examine the features that make these apps so compelling as well unresolved issues.
Top 25 predictions for semis in 2010:
2010 is just beginning to unfold in the electronics industry. Looking into our crystal ball, we have released our own chip forecasts--and other predictions--for 2010.
Seven things to fix in 2010:
The editors of EE Times came up with their own informal list of things we hope engineers fix in 2010, spanning everything from nano-lithography to space travel. What do you want to see get done this year?
'09 moves that are shaping the future:
This was a brutal year, but the industry gets a nod for showing grace under fire. Here's our Top 10 guide to the coming year, illustrating what to expect in 2010.
10 CEOs out in 2009:
It's been a tough year for the global electronics industry and CEOs. We survey the dismissal of 10 industry CEOs during the first three quarters of 2009 and what's ahead for the rest of the year.
Notable women in microelectronics:
There is no better time than a global economic recession to examine the keys to successful corporate governance. So, EE Times has compiled an international list that celebrates women who are business and technology leaders in semis.
EE Times updates Silicon 60:
Seventeen companies have been added to the lastest version of our Silicon 60 list of emerging startups. Forty-three companies survived as emerging companies that are still worth watching.
RSS| 
Digital| 
Mobile
