ASML Q4 Sales Reach 10.5 Trillion Won... "Expecting Growth Next Year"

Gross Profit Margin 51.4%
Annual Sales Exceed 40 Trillion Won

ASML, a Dutch semiconductor equipment company known as the 'super Eul (乙)' in the semiconductor industry, posted better-than-expected results for the fourth quarter of last year.

On the 24th, ASML announced that its net sales for the fourth quarter of last year reached 7.237 billion euros (approximately 10.5197 trillion KRW), with a gross profit margin of 51.4%.

Previously, during its third-quarter earnings announcement, the company had forecasted fourth-quarter net sales of 6.7 to 7.1 billion euros and a gross profit margin of 50 to 51%, so the actual results slightly exceeded these expectations. Compared to the same period last year, sales increased by 20%, but net profit decreased by 5.9%.

For the full year, net sales rose 30.2% year-on-year to 27.659 billion euros (approximately 40.2051 trillion KRW). Operating profit was 14.136 billion euros (approximately 20.548 trillion KRW), and the gross profit margin was 51.3%, up 0.8 percentage points (P) from the previous year.

The order backlog stood at 39 billion euros (approximately 56.6904 trillion KRW). ASML explained that regarding EUV lithography equipment, it delivered the first module of the high numerical aperture (NA) EUV system 'EXE:5000' to customers at the end of last year.

Peter Wennink, ASML's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), stated, "The semiconductor industry is still navigating the bottom of the cycle, but there are some positive signs. The inventory levels in the semiconductor industry's end consumer market are continuously improving, and the utilization of lithography equipment has also begun to increase."

CEO Wennink emphasized that this year will be a turning point for a performance rebound. He said, "Although there are positive signs this year, we maintain a conservative view and expect this year's sales to be at the 2023 level. Since significant growth is anticipated next year, this year will be an important year to prepare for that."

ASML forecasts net sales of 5 to 5.5 billion euros and a gross profit margin of 48% to 49% for the first quarter of this year. Research and development (R&D) expenses and selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses are expected to be 1.07 billion euros and 300 million euros, respectively.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.