[ET Net News Agency, 1 March 2021] BOCOM International Research lifted its target price
for ASM Pacific Technology (00522) to HK$125 from HK$120 and maintained its "buy" rating.
ASM guided to 1Q 2021 bookings of >US$700m (up >20%) on "unprecedented" semis solution
demand, whereas SMT bookings will drop seasonally in 1Q. The research house expects growth
in higher-end products to help offset the potential GPM dilution from the strong wire
bond/die bonder outlook.
Following the divestment of the materials business, ASM's strategic initiative to cut
off legacy low-margin/low-volume businesses should help improve its longer-term GPM
outlook. Given the current semis supply shortage, BOCOM believes SMT orders have the
potential to see stronger growth in 2H 2021, once the semi supply shortage eases, as
stronger demand flows downstream. (KL)