Corporate News
Posted On Thursday, January 24, 2008 at at 5:40 PM by Finance AnalysisChartered Semiconductor
Valuation
Our target price of S$0.90 continues to be based on a 2008E P/BV of 1.0-1.3x, at a slight premium to our valuation for UMC due to CHRT’s improved technological edge. Benchmarking CHRT to UMC is justified in our view because the gap between the two companies in operating margins, ROE, weighted average tech node, and breakeven utilization is narrowing. We use P/BV as our primary valuation method due to the cyclicality of the industry, and earnings could be absent during downcycles.
We rate CHRT Medium Risk based on our quantitative risk-rating system, which tracks 260-day historical share-price volatility. Upside risks that could cause the shares to trade above our target price include stronger-thanexpected PC and handset demand, faster-than-expected inventory build by OEM/EMS customers, a better-than-expected wafer pricing environment, and faster-than-expected tech migration to 0.09um at 12" fab.
Operating expenses were significantly below expectations as a result of economies of scale. As at 31 Dec 07, MLT’s portfolio reached S$2.379bn, with revaluation gains of S$125.58m. Target price lowered to S$1.36 from S$1.65.
Singapore-listed heart stent maker Biosensors said Thursday that it has appointed Robert Michael Kleine as president and chief executive with immediate effect. He replaces Lu Yoh Chie who will continue as chairman, the company said in a statement.