18
Hittite Microwave (HITT)
Ever more complicated computer chips are making their way into more places, allowing for new applications such as "intelligent" cruise-control systems in cars that automatically slow a vehicle as it approaches oncoming traffic. Hittite Microwave has a hand in many of those markets, as a sought-after designer of integrated circuits. The company doesn't actually make microcircuits, a task that requires multibillion-dollar fabrication plants. Instead, Hittite leverages its engineering expertise to design chips for everything from cable modems to space satellites. The company's shares have nearly doubled since its initial public offering last July. Over the last two years, revenue almost doubled to $80.7 million in 2005 from a year earlier, while profits tripled to $20.1 million. The Chelmsford (Mass.) company even expanded its enviable gross margin from 63% to 68%. As more devices get more smarts, Hittite's engineering prowess will be in even more demand.
Company Info |
|
| 2005 Rank | NR |
| Market Value* ($ Millions) | 1,115.6 |
| Sales* ($ Millions) | 90.7 |
| Sales Growth (3-yr. avg. annual) |
38.1 % |
| Profits* ($ Millions) | 25.7 |
| Profit Growth (3-yr. avg. annual) | 73.1 % |
| Return on Inv. Capital (3-yr.) | 25.4 % |
| Share Price 12-Mo. Hi/Lo | 39/18 |
| Share Price As of 4/28/06 | 39 |
| Return on Equity | 24.3 % |
| P/E Ratio | 46 |
| No. of Employees | 220 |
| Industry | Semiconductors |
| CURRENT MARKET INFO | HITT > |
| COMPANY WEB SITE > | |
| Location | Chelmsford, Mass. |
| Phone | 978 250-3343 |
*Trailing 12 months
Stock price data as of 4/28/06
DATA: Standard & Poor's Compustat
Related Articles
Communications Gear抯 Strong Signals
Agilent Cashes in Its Chip Unit
Company Snapshot
Hittite Microwave engages in the design and development of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits, modules, and subsystems used in radio frequency, microwave, and millimeter wave applications worldwide. The company's product portfolio comprises amplifiers, attenuators, frequency dividers and detectors, frequency multipliers, mixers and converters, modulators, oscillators, phase shifters, sensors, and switches. In addition, it supplies custom semiconductor components to its customers. The company's products are used in a range of wired and wireless communications applications, such as cellular telephone base stations, microwave and millimeter wave radio systems, broadband wireless access systems, and direct broadcast satellite systems. Its products are also used in detection, measurement, and imaging applications, including military communication, targeting, guidance, and electronic countermeasure systems; commercial, scientific, and military spacecraft; automotive collision avoidance systems; medical imaging systems; and industrial test equipment. Hittite Microwave sells its products to original equipment manufacturers through direct sales force, independent sales representatives, and distributors. The company was founded in 1985 by Yalcin Ayasli and is headquartered in Chelmsford, Mass.
Data provided by 
