AMD bets on strong chip demand, lifts revenue forecast

Advanced Micro Devices Inc raised its annual revenue forecast on Tuesday, betting on strong demand for its chips used in data centers and personal computers as its chief executive said she was confident the company could source the chips despite a global supply shortage.

The chip designer's shares rose about 4% in extended trading after it also reported better-than-expected results for the first quarter.

CEO Lisa Su said AMD has "good visibility" into being able to secure additional chips from its manufacturing partners.

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"The entire semiconductor supply chain is very, very tight," she told analysts on a conference call. "That being said, we've been working very closely with our supply chain partners. We have seen improvements that have led to the improved full-year guide."

AMD has been prying away central processor chip market share from Intel Corp, whose manufacturing operations have fallen behind contract factories used by AMD, such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

It has also benefited from a surge in demand for its graphics chips from gamers who have spent more time playing and upgrading their equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company said it now expected 2021 revenue to rise 50% from a year earlier, implying a figure of $14.64 billion, compared with its previous forecast of a 39% jump.

Revenue in the first quarter soared 93% to $3.45 billion, beating a Refinitiv IBES estimate of $3.21 billion, thanks in part to higher average selling prices for its chips.

Read more: TSMC sees chip shortage lasting into 2022, books solid profit

"We feel very good about our progress, particularly in notebooks," Su said. "We're seeing traction in the premium ultrathin, gaming and commercial" notebook markets.

Sales in AMD's computing and graphics business, which includes graphics and central processor chips for personal computers, rose 46% to $2.10 billion.

Its enterprise, embedded and semi-custom segment, the unit that houses data center chips, posted an almost four-fold jump in sales to $1.35 billion.

Excluding items, the company earned 52 cents per share, exceeding expectations of 44 cents per share.