Atmel, Amkor post better-than-expected profits

SAN FRANCISCO, April 30 (Reuters) - Chipmakers Atmel Corp (ATML.O) and Amkor Technology Inc (AMKR.O) on Wednesday posted better-than-expected profits, giving shares of both companies an initial boost in extended trading.

Atmel cited record shipments of microcontrollers for its strong results and Amkor called its results "solid," reflecting a seasonal slowdown after an exceptionally strong fourth quarter.

Atmel reported first-quarter results of $6.79 million, or 2 cents a share, down from $28.9 million, or 6 cents a share, a year ago, pulled down in part by restructuring charges. Revenue climbed to $411.2 million from $391.3 million.

Analysts, on average, had expected Atmel to earn 1 cent a share on revenue of $403.9 million, according to Reuters Estimates.

Amkor posted a first-quarter profit of $72.0 million, or 36 cents a share, up from $34.6 million, or 18 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue rose to $699.5 million from $651 million.

Amkor, a microchip packaging and testing company based in Chandler, Arizona, bested analysts' average estimate of 26 cents a share in earnings on revenue of $685.2 million.

In after-hours trading, shares of Amkor jumped 10 percent to $10.50 while Atmel initially advanced 1 percent before settling back unchanged, at $3.72.

For the current, second quarter, San Jose, California-based Atmel said it expects revenue to be little changed to up as much as 3 percent versus the first quarter, in line with seasonality and what it said were general market trends.

Atmel did not give a per-share profit forecast.

Amkor issued a similar revenue forecast for the current, second, quarter, noting it expected revenue to increase 1 percent to 3 percent from the first quarter.

It also forecast a gross margin of about 25 percent and net income of 32 cents to 36 cents a share.

Amkor said its net income forecast includes an estimated $9.7 million, with no net tax effect, from a real estate transaction that closed in April. (Reporting by Duncan Martell, editing by Richard Chang)