TriQuint Semiconductor 3rd-quarter profit rises

HILLSBORO, Ore. - Chip maker TriQuint Semiconductor Inc. on Wednesday said it earned a sharply higher third-quarter profit, as an acquisition helped boost sales by 52 percent.

Profit rose to $11.8 million, or 8 cents per share, from $1.9 million, or a penny per share, last year.

Excluding stock-based compensation charges and charges associated with its purchase of WJ Communications Inc., earnings were 12 cents per share.

Revenue rose to $186.3 million from $122.9 million because of strong demand for 3G handsets, sales of wireless LAN products, and gains from its purchase of WJ Communications.

TriQuint bought WJ Communications, a communications equipment maker, for $68.7 million, or $1 per share, earlier this year.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters, who usually exclude one-time items from their estimates, expected 11 cents per share and sales of $160.5 million.

For the fourth quarter, the company said it expects earnings between 8 cents and 11 cents per share and sales between $160 million and $175 million. Earnings when adjusted are expected between 11 cents and 14 cents per share.

Analysts expect 15 cents per share and $177 million in revenue.

TriQuint's shares rose 19 cents, or 4.9 percent, to $4.08 in after-hours trading Wednesday, after ending the regular session unchanged at $3.89.

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