BOSTON based semi conductor equipment makers did well a few months ago:
Stocks up at semiconductor equipment firms
Boston Business Journal - by Kyle Alspach
Date: Friday, December 17, 2010, 4:40pm EST - Last Modified: Friday, December 17, 2010, 4:54pm EST
Publicly-traded Massachusetts semiconductor capital equipment makers have seen their shares rise by an average of 21 percent in December — led by Axcelis Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: ACLS), which has jumped 28 percent since Dec. 1, and Brooks Automation Inc. (NASDAQ: BRKS), which is up 25 percent.
Not far behind are Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates Inc. (NASDAQ: VSEA), up 16 percent for the month, and Teradyne Inc. (NYSE: TER), which has risen 14 percent.
Fueled by consumer electronics such as the iPad and other computer tablets, manufacturers of equipment used in semiconductor chip production have had a banner year in 2010 following a major downturn in 2008 and 2009, IT tracking firm Gartner (NYSE:IT) said this week.
The Connecticut-based firm said worldwide semiconductor capital equipment spending is expected to reach $38.4 billion in 2010. That would be an increase of 131 percent over 2009, which would make 2010 the strongest growth year ever for the industry, Gartner said.
Spending on semiconductor capital equipment is expected to be essentially flat in 2011, according to the firm.
The stock rundown for Massachusetts firms in the industry:
• Beverly, Mass.-based Axcelis closed down nearly 5 percent for the day on Friday at $3.27.
• Chelmsford, Mass.-based Brooks closed up 4 percent on Friday, at $9.24.
• Gloucester, Mass.-based Varian closed up 4.7 percent for the day at $37.03.
• North Reading, Mass.-based Teradyne closed up half a percent on Friday at $13.87.
Read more: Stocks up at semiconductor equipment firms | Boston Business Journal
