By Mauro Orru
ASM International posted better-than-expected orders and sales for the fourth quarter following a rebound in its China business and strong demand from customers seeking to produce the integrated circuits that power smartphones, computers and other electronic devices.
The Dutch company, which supplies chip makers with tools for the deposition of thin films, said orders climbed to roughly 800 million euros ($928.6 million) in the fourth quarter from 731.4 million euros a year earlier. The figure, which the group said is preliminary, is well above company expectations of slightly above 636.8 million euros recorded in the third quarter.
A rebound in orders from China toward the end of the quarter and solid bookings from logic and foundry customers--those from customers seeking to produce the integrated circuits that power smartphones, computers and other electronic devices--led to the better-than-expected figure, according to the company.
The announcement comes days after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world's largest contract chip maker and a key buyer of semiconductor-making equipment, set out record spending plans for the year.
Investors in semiconductor-making equipment suppliers like ASM International and its larger rival ASML Holding welcomed growing spending plans from a client of TSMC's stature since higher capital expenditure raises expectations that TSMC will need to purchase more semiconductor-making machines to satisfy demand from its own customers, including Nvidia and Apple.
ASM International's stock is up more than 30% since the year began. However, shares are flat on Monday as markets react to President Trump's plans to impose 10% tariffs on imports from several European countries in an effort to pressure Denmark to sell Greenland to the U.S.
UBS analysts wrote in a note to clients that strength in advanced logic and foundry orders was expected considering TSMC's recent statements, but the timing is more of a surprise.
"The commentary around stronger orders from China will likely catch the market off guard, given prevailing concerns about local competition and prior company statements hinting at a substantial revenue drop in China," they said. ASM said in October that it was forecasting a double-digit decline in Chinese sales this year.
The company said revenue in the fourth quarter fell to 698 million euros from 809 million euros a year earlier, but it still exceeded company guidance between 630 million euros and 660 million euros.
ASM said it expects revenue at constant currencies to show a healthy increase in the current quarter compared to the fourth quarter. The company is scheduled to post a full set of fourth-quarter results on March 3.
Write to Mauro Orru at mauro.orru@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 19, 2026 05:07 ET (10:07 GMT)
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