With more signs of life elsewhere in the economy
these days, can technology sales be far behind? A supply chain check into PC
builds shows big improvement there as well, according to a brief report from FBR
Research.
The company says that its recent checks into third-quarter PC builds with the
top five notebook ODMs and the top four desktop motherboard makers have
improved over last month's checks.
Specifically, FBR Research is now forecasting that third-quarter PC
builds will grow 18 percent quarter over quarter, up from the previous forecast
of 13 percent.
FBR Research expects notebook units to grow by 21 percent
quarter over quarter, an improvement over July's forecast of 15 percent. Desktop
builds are predicted to grow 13 percent quarter over quarter, better than last
month's forecast of 11 percent.
"The positive revision to 3Q notebook builds is due to continued demand
momentum for consumer ultralow-voltage models, new netbook launches from
Hewlett Packard in particular, and some slight stimulative impacts from the
upcoming launch of Windows 7 in early 4Q09," the company says in its report.
"We hear some component shortages still exist for hard disk drives, LCD
panels, LED backlights and LCD casings, an issue that could push some September
production into 4Q, along with Typhoon impacts, too."
FBR Research notes that the upward revisions may push
Intel's revenues to the high end of its revenue guidance. The forecast could
potentially mean good news for PC makers' earnings, too. HP and Dell are
scheduled to announce earnings in August. FBR
Research says HP is more likely to see the positive effects of the upward
revisions to its forecast.
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