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STMicroelectronics Cautious on 2025 Outlook Amid Weak Q1 Forecast

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STMicroelectronics (STMicro), one of Europe’s leading semiconductor manufacturers, announced on Thursday that it is too early to provide full-year guidance for 2025, as market uncertainties and inventory corrections continue to weigh on its business. The company warned that sales would decline further in the first quarter, reflecting a prolonged downturn in key markets.

STMicro’s stock fell 6.8% to 22.18 euros by 1226 GMT, hitting its lowest level since June 2020. CEO Jean-Marc Chery told analysts that the company expects the first quarter to mark the low point for 2025 but refrained from offering a full-year outlook due to limited visibility in demand recovery.

The company forecast first-quarter revenue of $2.51 billion, a nearly 28% year-over-year drop, falling short of analysts’ expectations of $2.72 billion, according to LSEG’s IBES data. This follows an earlier warning in November about a steeper-than-usual seasonal revenue decline.

The broader semiconductor industry is facing headwinds, with Texas Instruments, a key competitor, also reporting weak first-quarter projections due to inventory buildup in the automotive and industrial sectors.

To manage the downturn, STMicro plans to significantly reduce production days across its fabrication plants, assembly, and test facilities. Finance chief Lorenzo Grandi stated that some manufacturing sites would undergo temporary closures in the first quarter, with additional reductions likely extending into the second quarter.

Despite these challenges, STMicro reported fourth-quarter net income of $341 million, exceeding analysts’ estimates of $326 million. Strong performance in personal electronics partially offset declining industrial sector revenues.

For 2025, the company plans to scale back capital expenditures, targeting an investment of $2 billion to $2.3 billion, compared to $2.53 billion in 2024 and $4 billion in 2023.

 

Corning Forecasts Strong Q1 Results Amid AI Infrastructure Demand

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Corning (GLW.N) has projected first-quarter revenue and profit above Wall Street estimates, driven by robust demand for optical fiber products essential for AI infrastructure.

Key Highlights:

  • AI-Driven Growth:
    • Increased adoption of AI technologies fuels demand for optical fiber used in high-speed data transfer.
  • Government Support & Infrastructure Expansion:
    • Corning is expected to benefit from the $500-billion Stargate project, aimed at expanding network connectivity.
  • Financial Performance:
    • Q1 Revenue Forecast: $3.60 billion (vs. analyst estimate of $3.53 billion).
    • Q1 Profit Forecast: $0.48-$0.52 per share (midpoint above expected $0.48).
    • Q4 Revenue: $3.87 billion (beating $3.76 billion estimate).
    • Q4 Profit: $0.57 per share (vs. expected $0.56).
  • Segment Performance (Q4 2023):
    • Optical Communications Revenue: $1.37 billion (exceeding $1.29 billion estimate).
    • Display Technologies Revenue: $971 million (slightly below expected $976.7 million).
  • Market Reaction:
    • Shares rose 5.6% in premarket trading after the announcement.

Corning’s outlook underscores its strong position in AI-driven infrastructure, particularly in telecom and high-speed data transmission.