Look out, Intel, ARM Holdings is encroaching on your turf.
The U.K. chip designerARM (
ARMH
) dominates the smartphone and tablet markets, but now is making
progress penetrating the personal computer and server markets,
areas long controlled byIntel (
INTC
).
Microsoft (
MSFT
) launched the first version of its Windows PC operating system
to run on ARM-based chips Oct. 26. The new OS, called Windows RT,
is a break from the decades-old Windows-Intel, or Wintel,
alliance. Windows RT runs Microsoft's convertible tablet-notebook
called Surface. Other hardware companies are making Windows RT
machines as well.
Also, recent news reports haveApple (
AAPL
) considering a switch from Intel processors to its own chips
based on ARM technology for future Mac computers. ARM-based chips
already power Apple's iPhones and iPads.
On the server front, computer makers are designing new servers
around ARM's new 64-bit chip architecture.
Near High
ARM shares have been on a roll since Oct. 23 when the company
reported better-than-expected Q3 results and said Q4 sales would
be in line with Wall Street's forecasts. ARM's U.S. shares are
trading near a 12-year high.
"In-line guidance for the fourth quarter is a victory in
itself because most chip companies in the fourth quarter are
expecting revenue declines of about 5%," said Gary Mobley, an
analyst with the Benchmark Company. "Certainly, ARM is the
brightest star in the chip solar system."
While ARM's success in the mobile device sector is driving its
current sales, the firm has aspirations to move up the computing
food chain with higher performance processors for PCs and
servers.
The growth of ARM's licensing business indicates that some of
those initiatives are taking off, Mobley says.
ARM has two revenue streams: licensing and royalties. Chip and
computer companies license its intellectual property when they're
developing new products. And once those products ship, they pay a
royalty per unit sale.
"Over the past 12 months, the royalty revenue growth has been
pretty darn good relative to the broader chip group," Mobley said
"But it's been the licensing activity that has really driven the
strength for ARM Holdings."
ARM has the "de facto licensable, third-party, general-purpose
processor" intellectual property, he says.
Plus, it's licensing technology at a much higher value per
transaction than it once did because it's upselling customers
other technologies, such as performance optimization packs and
graphics processor designs.
MIPS Technologies (
MIPS
) used to be a viable competitor, but on
Nov. 6
it agreed to sell most of its patents to a consortium led by ARM
and the rest of the company to Imagination Technologies.
In addition to mobile devices, ARM has a solid presence in
consumer electronics, such as Internet-enabled TVs and home
appliances, says Patrick Moorhead, an analyst with Moor Insights
& Strategy.
"Overall their prospects look good because they're very strong
in the areas of growth," he said. By contrast, companies linked
to the declining PC industry, including Intel andAMD (AMD), have
seen their fortunes fall.
But ARM has opportunities to take market share in the PC and
server markets, Moorhead says. "By 2015, they could have upwards
of 10% market share in the PC space conservatively," including
Windows RT computers, he said.
Apple might be looking at ARM processors for a new type of
computing device that would fill a niche for a lower-cost PC in
its product line, Moorhead said.
Server Market
The opportunity is potentially bigger in the server market
because businesses that run web centers are looking for servers
that consume less electricity.
Chip companies likeApplied Micro Circuits (AMCC),Cavium
(CAVM), Calxeda andMarvell (MRVL) are developing server chips
using 64-bit ARM multicore processor designs. Those chips would
compete directly with Intel's industry-leading processors.
The ARM server chip business is still in its early days.
Licensing revenue is starting to roll in, but royalty revenue
likely won't show up until 2014, Mobley says.
In order for ARM to penetrate the server market, a new
ecosystem has to be created around its chips. Server operating
systems and application software would have to be written or
ported over to the ARM architecture, he says.
"The opportunities are great," Mobley said.
ARM's third-quarter earnings jumped 29% from a year ago to 18
cents per U.S. share. Sales rose 18% to $228 million. Analysts
had forecast earnings per share of 17 cents and sales of $222
million.
For the December quarter, ARM expects sales to be "in-line
with current market expectations." Analysts polled by Thomson
Reuters are looking for ARM to earn 19 cents a share, up 12%, on
sales of $237 million, up 10%.