KUALA LUMPUR: Shares in Inari Amertron Bhd fell marginally in early trade Monday despite reporting in-line earnings for the fourth quarter ended June 30 (4Q21).

       The semiconductor counter shed 0.83%, or three sen to RM3.57 with over two million shares traded at 9.14am.

       Its net profit was 145% higher to RM88.36mil in 4Q21, while revenue jumped 54% to RM361mil for the quarter under review.

       Inari has proposed a fourth interim dividend of 2.5 sen per share, bringing the total for the full FY21 to 11 sen per share — up from 4.4 sen per share in FY20.

       Maybank Investment Bank Research said Inari’s 4QFY21 and FY21 core net profit came in within its expectation, with the latter at 105% of its estimate (111% of consensus).

       “We nudge up FY22-23E earnings by 4-6%. Maintain ‘buy’ with a higher target price of RM4.50, pegged to an unchanged 40x CY22E PER, premised on a strong earnings growth outlook for its radio frequency (RF) products amid the robust global semiconductor industry. Inari remains our top pick in the technology hardware sector,” it said.

       CGS-CIMB Research said Inari’s FY6/21 results were in line at 101% of its net profit forecast but beat consensus FY21F by 7%.

       The research house projects a stronger FY22F, driven by robust growth in RF division on the back of new value-added processes and higher 5G smartphone penetration.

       “We raise our RF division sales growth forecasts from 16%/10% to 25%/12% in FY22F/23F, driven by higher RF content value growth on the back of rising 5G smartphone penetration,” it said.

       It has reiterated its “add” call on Inari with a higher target price of RM4, based on a higher 34x CY22F P/E.