ANAHEIM – Multi-Fineline Electronix expects to report fiscal first-quarter net sales of approximately $239 million, relatively in line with the same period of 2011. 

“We expect our net sales results to exceed the high end of our previous guidance range, as the supply chain shortages from the flooding in Thailand improved throughout the quarter. We also saw an increase in shipments to our largest key customer. The increased orders improved capacity utilization, which we expect to result in gross margin also exceeding the high end of our previous guidance,” said CEO Reza Meshgin.

“This year, we anticipate that we will see less of a seasonal decline than we have historically experienced during the second quarter. As a result, we expect year-over-year net sales growth in the second quarter.  However, we anticipate a moderate sequential decline in gross margin based on the lower sequential revenues, which will reduce our capacity utilization. Demand for our flex assemblies for both smartphones and tablets remains strong, and we continue to expect year-over-year top-line growth and sequential gross margin expansion in the second half of 2012.”