Broadcom sees fourth quarter boost from data center demand, iPhone launch
(Reuters) - Broadcom Inc (AVGO.O) on Thursday forecast current-quarter revenue largely above estimates on higher demand for components that power data centers, while the launch of Apple Inc's new iPhones is expected to bolster its wireless business.
Shares of Broadcom rose 4 percent to $224.90 in extended trading after the chipmaker also reported third-quarter profit that topped analysts' estimates.
Revenue from enterprise storage business jumped 70 percent in the reported quarter as the acquisition of Brocade helped drive sales gains at the unit.
Its wireless business, which makes chips for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS connectivity, reported flat revenue, while its wired infrastructure unit, which makes components used in telecommunication networks, posted a 4 percent rise from a year earlier.
"More than half our consolidated revenue ... is benefiting from strong cloud and enterprise data center spending," Chief Executive Officer Hock Tan said on a post-earnings call with analysts.
"This, coupled with a seasonal uptick in wireless, will drive our forecast revenue in the fourth quarter."
The company expects a ramp at its North American customer - which analysts identified as Apple - to drive a 25 percent rise in wireless revenue from the previous quarter, although it may be down in single-digit percentage compared with a year earlier.
Apple (AAPL.O) is set to unveil its new iPhones next week.
Tan, who has transformed Broadcom into a $100 billion (77.31 billion pounds)behemoth through a series of acquisitions, surprised Wall Street in July with his move to acquire software maker CA Technologies for $19 billion.
Explaining his rationale behind the CA acquisition, Tan said he planned to target the company's enterprise customers with Broadcom's offerings including server and storage connectivity products.
The CA deal comes after U.S. President Donald Trump blocked Broadcom's $117 billion offer to buy Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O) on national security grounds.
Broadcom forecast current-quarter revenue of about $5.40 billion, plus or minus $75 million. Analysts on average were expecting revenue of $5.35 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Net income attributable to common stock rose to $1.2 billion, or $2.71 per share, in the quarter ended Aug. 5 from $481 million, or $1.14 per share, a year earlier.
Excluding items, the company earned $4.98 per share.
Net revenue rose to $5.06 billion from $4.46 billion.
Analysts on average were expecting earnings of $4.83 per share on revenue of $5.07 billion.
(Reporting by Sonam Rai and Sayanti Chakraborty in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
