BancBoston Robertson Stephens Upgrades Semiconductor Equipment Industry and Key Players

BancBoston Robertson Stephens' senior semiconductor equipment analyst, Sue Billat, has upgraded the semiconductor equipment industry and several key players, including Applied Materials, ASM Lithography, ETEC Systems, and KLA-Tencor. Billat believes that the sector has hit bottom and will see increasing technology buys from leading chipmakers, driven by DRAM stabilization and strong results from microprocessor makers. The analyst has upgraded industry leaders from Long-Term Attractive to Buy ratings, citing the benefits of 0.18 micron and below capability, which will be the beneficiaries in 1999.

Key Takeaways:

• Sue Billat, senior semiconductor equipment analyst at BancBoston Robertson Stephens, has upgraded the semiconductor equipment industry and key players, including Applied Materials, ASM Lithography, ETEC Systems, and KLA-Tencor.
• Billat believes that the sector has hit bottom and will see increasing technology buys from leading chipmakers, driven by DRAM stabilization and strong results from microprocessor makers.
• The analyst has upgraded industry leaders from Long-Term Attractive to Buy ratings, citing the benefits of 0.18 micron and below capability.
• Intel's $500 million investment in Micron, Micron will be used for 0.18 micron capacity, providing a major boost to the industry.
• BancBoston Robertson Stephens is a leading international investment banking firm focused on emerging growth companies, with 55 senior research analysts covering over 575 companies.

Statistics:

• $500 million: The amount invested by Intel in Micron, which will be used for 0.18 micron capacity.
• 0.18 micron: The technology capability that will be the beneficiaries in 1999, according to Billat.
• 55: The number of senior research analysts at BancBoston Robertson Stephens.
• 575: The number of companies covered by researchers at BancBoston Robertson Stephens.

Sources:

• BancBoston Robertson Stephens, PRNewswire, Oct. 23.