ANGLETON, TX -- Benchmark Electronics' fourth-quarter profit rose 15% to $28.3 million over the same period last year. The EMS provider's sales were up 18% to $737.3 million. For the year, the company netted $111.7 million, up 39% over 2005. Sales rose 29% to $2.91 billion from $2.26 billion. During the fourt quarter, Benchmark closed on its acquisition on Pemstar.

The company provided cautious guidance as a major customer -- Sun -- has begun diversifying away,
as expected, and end-market demand is softer-than-expected amid inventory reductions.

Benchmark guided for first-quarter 2007 sales of $735 million to $765 million, and 2007 revenue growth of 12 to 15%.

During the quarter, inventory turns rose 1.1 times sequentially to 6.5 times. Estimates suggest sales to Sun fell more than 10% sequentially.