Tag Archives: aapl

Is Apple Supplier NXP Semi Looking To Home In On Auto Market?

Apple ( AAPL ) chip supplier NXP Semiconductors ( NXPI ) could be looking to further focus on the automotive market, as it considers a $2 billion sale of its standard products unit, according to reports. NXP Semi shares jumped as much as 3.8% Friday morning in quick turnover to retake their 200-day moving average. But the stock pared its gains to closed with a 1.8% rise and fell back below the 200-day line. The standard products unit — which consists of transistors, diodes and other standard-chip products — accounted for 20% of NXP Semi’s 2015 sales, but the segment’s revenue fell 3% year-over-year, with an 18% drop in Q4. Chinese firms, including Beijing-based investment firm JAC Capital, are interested in a deal with NXP for the unit, sources told Bloomberg. The move could signal an effort by NXP to further focus on the automotive market, and even products it supplies to smartphone makers, including Apple. NXP became the largest chip supplier to the automotive industry with the completion of its $12 billion merger with smaller peer Freescale Semiconductor in December. At that time, the company said it had plans to lead the auto industry in terms of infotainment, vehicle networking, body, safety and secure access. NXP’s automotive segment revenue jumped 17% last year, boosted by the acquisition, to $1.34 billion. That represents 22% of NXP’s total sales for 2015. NXP, which has an IBD Composite Rating of 81 out of 99, is set to report Q1 earnings on April 25. Analysts expect the bottom line to drop 19% to $1.09 a share, while the top line jumps 51% to $2.21 billion. As NXP stock is trading 27% below its 52-week high, top-rated peer Nvidia ( NVDA ) is sitting just 2% below its recent high. The Tesla Motors ( TSLA ) supplier broke out of a cup-with-handle base several weeks ago and is now extended from buy range. Monolithic Power Systems ( MPWR ) is trading 8% below its high as it works on a base, while Silicon Motion Tech ( SIMO ) is nearing profit-taking zone after a breakout last month. Nvidia closed up 0.65%, Monolithic Power added 0.3%, and Silicon Motion climbed 2.4% Friday. Apple added 0.1%, and Tesla fell 2.8%.

Apple iPhone Encryption Fight With Feds Enters New Phase

Apple ’s ( AAPL ) fight with the federal government over the encryption software on its iPhones only took a short pause after the Justice Department backed down in the San Bernardino, Calif., shooter case. Apple is facing renewed challenges on the issue from several fronts. The Justice Department on Friday said it will continue to seek a court order to require Apple to help it access data from a locked iPhone seized in a New York drug investigation, the Wall Street Journal reported . A judge in the Brooklyn drug case had previously refused to force Apple to help open the iPhone. That case had been overshadowed by the San Bernardino terrorist probe. On March 28, federal prosecutors withdrew their demand that Apple help it hack an iPhone 5C belonging to deceased killer Syed Farook, saying it had found a way to unlock the phone using a third party. But that solution only works on older iPhones, FBI Director James Comey said Wednesday, NBC News reported . Federal law enforcement officials reportedly have at least a dozen criminal investigations in which they are trying to get Apple to unlock iPhones. Apple CEO Tim Cook has maintained that government demands for it to hack its iPhone software would set a dangerous precedent. If Apple is forced to write software to get around its security, it would be creating a back door that criminals, hackers and spies could exploit, he said. That would jeopardize the privacy and security of the personal and financial data on millions of iPhones, Cook said. Meanwhile, Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., are preparing legislation titled the “Compliance With Court Orders Act of 2016.” As drafted, the legislation would require any individual or company to comply with any U.S. court order and hand over data to authorities, including data that is encrypted or made “unintelligible” by other means. Gaurav Laroia, policy counsel with the Free Press Action Fund, called the proposed bill a “massive overreach” by the government. It “would undermine any technology that helps secure people’s private communications,” he said in a statement. Burr and Feinstein “have forgotten the rights guaranteed to Americans under the Constitution,” Laroia said. Daniel Castro, vice president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, also slammed the proposed bill. He said the bill would force companies to create workarounds for their software, even when it is the customer who controls the encryption keys.

AT&T, Verizon Wireless Q1 Margin Boost Might Last Until iPhone 7

Wireless profit margins at AT&T ( T ) and Verizon Communications ( VZ ) should improve when they report first-quarter earnings — owing to fewer customers upgrading to new smartphones — a trend that might continue until Apple ( AAPL ) rolls out its iPhone 7 in the fall. The improving wireless margins at Verizon and AT&T has its roots in financing plans with monthly installment payments and accounting methods. Michael Rollins, an analyst at Citigroup, says upgrade rates are falling as wireless customers hang onto devices longer. “The longer device embrace by customers should help carrier financials for the first quarter,” Rollins said in a research report Friday. Apple’s iPhone 6S refresh was only a “marginal improvement” over the earlier iPhone 6, but the iPhone 7 should be different, Rollins says. “The iPhone 7 could lead to another industrywide upgrade cycle, as has been seen by each new ‘number’ of iPhone, and we await more details about the innovations it will contain,” he wrote. “Even with faster device sales in Q4, we are starting to see signs that the device cycle could eventually extend to 27 to 30 months, up from more traditional pacing of 24-26 months back in 2014-2015.” Jefferies analyst Mike McCormack has a similar view. “We expect lower volumes as upgrades hit record lows, supporting stronger industry margins,” McCormack said in a research note Thursday. “We expect this theme to prevail going forward, at least until the iPhone 7 launch this fall. We see opportunity for margin outperformance at both AT&T and Verizon, and continued positive momentum at T-Mobile US ( TMUS ).” Verizon kicks off the telecom Q1 earnings season on April 21, followed by AT&T on April 26. UBS analyst John Hodulik was ahead of the pack with a report out March 18. “The move to installment sales for handsets has been a big driver of improved industry profitability given the accounting treatment,” wrote Hodulik. “However, installment plans are also having more tangible effects on the industry by lengthening upgrade cycles for postpaid phones. “This is putting pressure on upgrade rates, which is in turn driving lower churn and fewer gross adds. We believe this will be a key theme for Q1 earnings, driving another quarter of strong sector profitability, especially at AT&T and Verizon.” Shares of both AT&T and Verizon were up a fraction in afternoon trading in the stock market today .