TORONTO – EMS provider SMTC Corp. reported fourth quarter revenue of $66.8 million, up 24% sequentially, and down 12.2% year-over-year.
 
For the quarter, net earnings were $1 million, up from a net loss of $1.2 million in the third quarter, but down 52.4% year-over-year.
 
Gross profit was $6.4 million, or 9.5% of revenue, compared with $3.4 million (6.3% of revenue) and $7.7 million (10.1%) year-over-year.
 
“Fourth quarter results reflect our customers' resumption of traditional order levels that were unusually low in the previous quarter. As expected, our results did not attain the record level in 2006; however, our overall financial performance was in line with our expectations,” stated John Caldwell, president and CEO. “Notably, we have engaged with several new customers that are now ramping to solid revenue levels. We also progressed two important strategic initiatives to bring additional capability to our customers by expanding our footprint in Mexico and China.”
 
Revenue for 2007 was $256.4 million and net income was $2.7 million, down 2.4% and 74.3% respectively year-over-year. Caldwell blamed very soft orders in the third quarter for the drop. Cash flow from operations was $25 million.
 
"Our goals for 2008 are to achieve substantially higher earnings on a growing revenue base, as well as continuing to generate cash from operations to further reduce debt,” Caldwell said. “We expect results in the second half to be stronger with new customers, ramping to higher volumes and seasonality of certain of our longstanding customers.”