CyberOptics Corporation (Nasdaq: CYBE) today reported operating results for the first quarter of 2012 ended March 31.

• Consolidated sales totaled $11.3 million, compared to $13.4 million in the first quarter of 2011, reflecting the absence of solar sensor sales and weakness in SMT alignment sensors due to semiconductor and solar market conditions.
• Operating income of $92,000 was down from $1.1 million in last year’s first quarter.

• Net income came to $92,000 or $0.01 per diluted share, compared to $846,000 or $0.12 per diluted share in the year-earlier period.
• Cash and marketable securities increased $837,000 to $31.4 million at March 31, 2012 from $30.5 million at December 31, 2011. Cash reserves at the end of this year’s first quarter also were up substantially from $22.4 million at March 31, 2011.

Kathleen P. Iverson, chief executive officer and chair, commented: “We believe CyberOptics’ first quarter results, which were consistent with our previously issued guidance for this period, likely marked the trough of a multi-quarter cyclical downturn in the global electronics industry. We have remained profitable throughout this downturn, in addition to significantly increasing our share of the automated optical inspection (AOI) market with our family of QX products. This performance validates the strong emphasis that we have placed in recent years on developing next-generation inspection systems, which have enabled CyberOptics to compensate for short-term weakness in our SMT and solar alignment sensor businesses. By establishing a strong foundation for future growth and profitability, we anticipate improved operating results in future quarters as the global electronics market recovers from its recent period of weakness.”

She continued: “In addition to generally weak market conditions, CyberOptics’ operating results also reflect the normal seasonal slowdown that we typically experience in the first and fourth quarters of most years. Even so, first quarter sales of inspection systems increased 3% from the year-earlier period to $5.6 million, paced by the 39% year-over-year sales growth of our best-in-class AOI system products, which are based upon CyberOptics’ unique strobed inspection module technology. Our QX500 AOI sales gained momentum late in the first quarter when Asian original design manufacturers (ODMs) started placing significant orders. During the quarter, we also realized the initial sales of our new QX100 off-line AOI tabletop system, which is aimed at expanding our served market. Altogether, we gained 13 new AOI customers in this year’s first quarter.”

Iverson added, “As anticipated, sales of SMT alignment sensors declined from the year-earlier period due to sluggish semiconductor and solar market conditions. We believe sales should start rebounding in the second half of the year. Also as forecasted, sales of solar sensors, which accounted for $1.6 million of revenue in the first quarter of 2011, were virtually nil in this year’s first quarter, reflecting the continued impact of excess production capacity in the photovoltaic cell market. We do not anticipate any material strengthening in the solar market until later in 2012.”

Looking ahead to the second quarter, sales of inspection systems are expected to post strong year-over-year, double-digit growth, paced by continued strengthening of AOI product sales, including the new QX100 tabletop system. As stated previously, Asian ODMs started placing significant AOI orders late in the first quarter, consistent with the fact that most new production capacity is installed during the second and third quarters. CyberOptics ended the first quarter with an order backlog of $5.6 million, up from $4.9 million at the end of last year’s fourth quarter. Given these factors, CyberOptics is forecasting improved operating results for the second quarter of 2012 ending June 30. The company is continuing to forecast robust demand for inspection systems and WaferSense products, the introduction of new products, and strengthening demand for both SMT and solar alignment sensors later in the year.

About CyberOptics
Founded in 1984, CyberOptics Corporation is a leading provider of sensors and inspection systems that provide process yield and through-put improvement solutions for the global electronic assembly and semiconductor capital equipment markets. Our products are deployed on production lines that manufacture surface mount technology circuit boards and semiconductor process equipment. By increasing productivity and product quality, our sensors and inspection systems enable electronics manufacturers to strengthen their competitive positions in highly price-sensitive markets. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, we conduct worldwide operations through facilities in North America, Asia and Europe.