Heute gekauft: EXFO (615787)

Gestern nachbörslich Quartalszahlen gemeldet. Erwartungen weit übertroffen (in diesen Zeiten!), Prognosen angehoben.
Zudem war die Aktie in der jüngeren Vergangenheit extrem volatil (Shortsqueeze möglich) und der Glasfasersektor zeigte sich gestern gut erholt (Lucent, Corning trotz Gewinnwarnung).

Exfo ist letztes Jahr an die Börse gegangen und stellt Testsysteme für Glasfasernetze her. Kunde unter anderem Deutsche Telekom.

Vorsicht, da in Deutschland sehr markteng!

Vorbörslich z.Z. bei $28,5



OTTAWA (Reuters) - EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering Inc.
 (Toronto:EXF.TO - news) (NasdaqNM:EXFO - news) bucked the
 trend of warnings from telecommunications gear suppliers on Monday,
 lifting its 2001 estimates and beating analysts' second-quarter forecasts
 amid growing demand for its fiber-optic testing, monitoring and
 measuring equipment.

 EXFO raised its guidance for the third time in three months, citing its diverse customer base, broad
 product range and high-demand equipment.

 Fueled by strong sales and savings from its recent acquisitions, EXFO said it now expects 2001 cash
 earnings of 40 to 50 cents per share, up from a first quarter increase in estimates to 40 to 45 cents.
 The company's revenue target was also lifted to between $150 million and $165 million, from January
 guidance of $140 million to $150 million.

 EXFO lifted its 2001 revenue forecast on March 6, when it announced its $122 million acquisition of
 EFOS Inc., to $150 million to $160 million, while maintaining its earnings target at 40 to 45 cents per
 share.

 For the second quarter, the company reported net earnings, excluding amortization of assets and
 goodwill, of $7.5 million, or 14 cents a share, versus year-earlier earnings of $2.5 million, or 6 cents a
 share.

 Analysts polled by research firm First Call/Thomson Financial forecast earnings of 9 cents a share and
 revenues of $33 million.

 Including amortization of goodwill, EXFO posted earnings of $24,000, or nil per share, versus last
 year's $2.4 million, or 6 cents a share.

 The company said its second-quarter cash earnings from operations rose just 2 cents per share from
 the first quarter once after-tax gains were factored in.

 Quebec City-based EXFO posted revenues of $36.3 million, a 108 percent gain over last year's $17.4
 million.

 The rare increase in estimates comes as Corning Inc. (NYSE:GLW - news), the world's No. 1 maker
 of fiber-optic cable, said on Monday its 2001 profits would come in below estimates and more layoffs
 could be pending amid slower spending by customer.

 The warning echoes similar cuts by JDS Uniphase Corp. (Toronto:JDU.TO - news), the world's
 biggest supplier of fiber-optic components, and Nortel Networks Corp. (Toronto:NT.TO - news), the
 world's largest supplier of fiber-optic network equipment.

 Sales have been slipping for several suppliers of fiber-optic equipment, which sends information as
 high-speed light waves through glass cables, amid a spending slowdown from phone companies and
 service providers sparked by a downturn in the U.S. economy.

 ``We have been able to maintain this upward trend because we're strategically positioned in
 high-growth markets,'' said EXFO chief executive Germain Lamonde in a statement.

 ``We also supply all stripes of customers in the fiber-optic industry, including network service
 providers, system and component manufacturers, as well as research labs with in excess of 80 product
 lines.''

 The second-quarter results include revenues from Burleigh Instruments Inc., which sells precision
 positioning equipment and sophisticated meters to test optical equipment. EXFO purchased the
 company in a $275 million deal in November.

 EXFO, which has set an aggressive acquisition strategy, has also closed a deal to buy Vanguard
 Technical Solutions Inc., which makes automation equipment.

 ``This string of transactions is part of our acquisition strategy to strengthen our position in the optical
 component manufacturing market,'' Lamonde said.

 ``Manufacturers are faced with a pressing need to increase yields and volumes while reducing costs in
 order to meet the fiber-optic industry's growing demand for bandwidth.''

 Shares in EXFO added 20 Canadian cents to end at C$36.70 on the Toronto Stock Exchange, before
 the results were released. The stock is well off its 52-week high of C$134.00 and only edging above
 its low of C$26.00. On Nasdaq, the stock ended at $23-1/4, up 1/4.

 ($1-$1.57 Canadian)

                 






Gruß Dampf