ASML to Buy Back Extra EUR1 Billion of Shares; Reports Record Sales for 2015

By Ian Walker

Dutch semiconductor-equipment maker ASML Holding NV (ASML.AE) on Wednesday said it planned to buy back an extra one billion euros ($1.09 billion) of its shares as it reported record sales for 2015.

The company, whose customers include large chip makers such as Intel Corp. (INTC) and Samsung Electronics Co. (005930.SE), has also raised its dividend 50% to EUR1.05 a share.

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2015, net sales rose to EUR6.29 billion, from EUR5.86 billion, despite falling in the fourth quarter as had been previously guided. The company expects sales for the first quarter to be around EUR1.3 billion, and then rise in the second quarter.

"As we indicated three months ago, we expect our logic customers to take shipments of our leading edge immersion tools in the second quarter in preparation of their 10 nanometer node ramp," Chief Executive Peter Wennink said.

Net profit for the fourth quarter fell 4% to EUR292.4 million, from EUR304.8 million, making EUR1.39 billion for the whole year, compared with EUR1.2 billion in 2014.

Revenue in the fourth quarter slipped to EUR1.43 billion from EUR1.55 billion, while for the year it was EUR6.29 billion, compared with EUR5.86 billion.

At the time of its third-quarter earnings in October, ASML said it had expected fourth-quarter sales to fall to around EUR1.4 billion, in part because its foundry customers had become slightly more cautious in their investment plans.

Write to Ian Walker at [e-mail]; @IanWalk40289749

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 20, 2016 02:16 ET (07:16 GMT)

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