Analog Devices

ADI : NASDAQ : US$51.23 
BUY  Target Price $ 60

COMPANY DESCRIPTION:

Analog Devices designs, manufactures and markets high- performance analog, mixed-signal and digital signal processing integrated circuits (ICs) used in industrial, communications, computer, and consumer applications .target: US$60.00

Technologies DIVERSIFICATION CONTINUES TO PAY OFF

ADI delivered a little upside for EPS last night and guided modestly better than the Street as all verticals except consumer ran ahead of expectations. With the better mix, gross margins were a positive surprise as was EPS. CQ1 guidance calls for more of the same as well as better revenue. With a dividend hike and $1b buyback in place, we believe ADI continues to offer defensive exposure to semiconductors at a time when growth for the industry remains in question. We are reiterating our BUY and increase our price target to $60 from $55.
We are increasing our estimates and price target largely on better gross margins. For CQ1, EPS is now expected to be $0.56 up from our prior estimate of $0.49, while revenues remain roughly $2.6B. EPS for C2014 is increased slightly to $2.40 from $2.39 while revenue remains roughly $2.8b. Our price target is increased to $60, or roughly 20x C2014 EPS plus $12.07 net cash per share.
Broad upside minus consumer ADI’s revenue was better than expected across its Industrial, Automotive, and Communications segments, while Consumer was weak. The most significant upside came from Communications where the company sells into wireline and wireless equipment and avoids lower margin smartphone ICs. We believe a strong capex cycle for wireless basestations could deliver revenue and earnings upside versus our revised estimates.