Himax Reports Q3 Results

Himax reports that its CMOS sensor sales improved significantly in Q3 2014: "Revenues from CMOS image sensors continued to show strength in the third quarter, increasing more than 20% from the previous quarter. Sales of the 2 and 5 megapixel products were particularly strong. However, the Company saw some delays in certain customers’ replacing older generation sensors with lower cost new designs which affected the Company’s gross margin. As expected, 8 megapixel CMOS image sensors began small volume sales in the third quarter and sales will accelerate in Q4 2014. The Company also launched its first 13 megapixel sensor during the fourth quarter. It anticipates 8 megapixel CMOS image sensors to continue to be the mainstream in 2015, and 13 megapixel the rising star in high end smartphones. This puts Himax firmly in the map as one of a handful of companies capable of offering a comprehensive product portfolio for main cameras of smartphones.

Additionally, the Company is also developing CMOS image sensors for non-consumer applications, for example, CMOS image sensor product line for automotive and surveillance applications, which typically enjoy higher margins and have less intensive competition. Collectively, the Company expects its CMOS image sensor business to more than double in 2014, making it a fast rising player in the market."

"...the Company continues to partner with various industry leading companies using its cutting edge and industry-dominant wafer level optics, or WLO, for the development of three technologies of the future, namely, array camera, special purpose sensors and microdisplay light guides for head-mounted devices. This product development often requires adoption of Himax’s internal CMOS image sensor, LCOS microdisplay and video processing algorithm teams. Himax sits in a leading and unique position as it is the only company in the industry which is able to offer such a one-stop total solution. To meet the anticipated demand growth for LCOS and WLO products, the Company is working on new plans to expand production capacity. The Company will report the progress in due course."