Verigy looks to rebound from loss

Article Excerpt

VERIGY LTD. $11 (Nasdaq symbol VRGY; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 58.8 million; Market cap: $646.8 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.9; WSSF Rating: Extra Risk) lost $87 million, or $1.49 a share, in the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009. It earned $71 million, or $1.18 a share, in the prior year. These figures exclude writedowns of investments, as well as charges related to an 18% cut that Verigy made to its workforce. The layoffs saved Verigy $120 million in the latest year. Revenue for the year fell 53.3%, to $323 million from $691 million. However, orders rose 17% during the fourth quarter. Verigy expects that its revenue in the current quarter will rise by 8% to 19% over the fourth quarter, as the improving economy prompts chipmakers to spend more on testing equipment. Verigy is a buy. buy…