Taiwan-based LED chipmaker Epistar reported third-quarter revenues of NT$4.26 billion (US$143 million), a 20% decrease on quarter and 26% decrease on year. Due to a decrease in utilization rate, gross margin for third quarter dropped to 16.7%. Net profits were only NT$12 million in the third quarter due to investment losses from firms such as Huga and Tekcore. EPS was only NT$0.02.

Despite that third-quarter gross margin fell to 16.7%, the figure was still higher than 14.7% from the first quarter.

The accumulated revenues from January-September reached NT$14.04 billion, a 6% on-year decrease. Falling ASPs in recent months pushed the average gross margin down to 20.37%, significantly lower than the 38.89% gross margins enjoyed during same period in 2010. Accumulated EPS reached NT$1.29, much lower than the NT$5.81 in the same period of 2010.

Source:digitimes