Broadcom forecast boosts AI sales amid lingering enterprise weakness

Broadcom’s revenue for the first quarter of fiscal year 2022 was $7.9 billion, up 20% from the same period a year ago. The company’s earnings per share for the quarter were $6.61, compared to $5.09 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021. The company’s strong performance was driven by robust demand for its wireless and broadband products, as well as growth in its software business.

The company also provided an upbeat outlook for the rest of the year, citing strong demand for its products across multiple end markets, including smartphones, data centres, and the Internet of Things (IoT). However, the company noted that the enterprise market continues to be weak due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the lingering weakness in the enterprise market, Broadcom’s performance is a testament to the growing demand for technology products and services, particularly in areas like wireless and broadband. The company’s continued investment in AI and other advanced technologies has also helped it stay ahead of the curve and meet the changing needs of its customers.

Overall, Broadcom’s strong performance in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022 is a positive sign for the technology industry as a whole, as it suggests that demand for technology products and services remains strong despite the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic.

Broadcom Corp forecasted second-quarter revenue above expectations on March 3, 2023, as rising expenditures in artificial intelligence drive demand for its data centre processors.

AI has thus emerged as a bright light for semiconductor makers such as Nvidia Corp and Broadcom amid a failing economy, when both consumer and industry expenditure is on the wane, due to the technology’s great prospective applications, as demonstrated by OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT.

Broadcom thus expects “exponential” growth in demand for its networking solutions this year from hyperscale clients eager to put artificial intelligence in their systems. 

As we see the enthusiasm, perhaps hype, in pushing applications and workloads in generative AI, we are seeing some of these hyperscalers putting on a feeling of urgency and attention, and of course, investing to be up to speed, if not to be left behind.

Broadcom, which provides networking chips used in data centres as well as specialised chips that accelerate AI work, anticipates a 20% increase in networking revenue in the current quarter.

While experts found signs of life in the AI domain, they also noted flaws in areas like internet and cloud investment.

We’re also seeing more mixed end-market demand and Broadcom also declared a $4.60 quarterly dividend per share.

According to Refinitiv statistics, the chip manufacturer forecasts current-quarter revenue of around $8.7 billion, while analysts on average predict $8.59 billion.

Sales increased 16% to $8.92 billion in the first quarter ended January 29, while adjusted profits per share of $10.33 above projections of $10.10.