KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 30): Unisem (M) Bhd posted a net profit of RM27.12 million or 4.02 sen per share for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2014 (3QFY14), against a net loss of RM648,000 or 0.1 sen per share.

The semiconductor manufacturer attributed the improved earnings to high sales volume, lower overhead cost and better capacity utilization.

Quarterly revenue grew 11% to RM273.27 million, from RM246.78 million.

Unisem declared a tax-exempt interim dividend of 4% or 2 sen per share.

The company has been profitable for three financial quarters in a row, after it had slipped into the red for financial years. The company posted a net loss of RM32.31 million in the financial year ended Dec 31, 2012, and its losses widened to RM105.37 million FY13.

For the cumulative nine months to Sept 30, 2014 (9MFY14), Unisem registered a net profit of RM47.23 million or seven sen per share, from a net loss of RM14.59 million or 2.16 sen per share. Revenue increased marginally to RM752.9 million, from RM743.43 million previously.

On segmental basis, Unisem said its cumulative revenue in Asia segment improved 2.7%, while income from its operations in US declined by 9.5%.

“The improvement in net profits was primarily attributable to increased gross profit margin arising from change in product mix, lower overhead costs in PT Unisem after the restructuring exercise, grant income received by a foreign subsidiary and lower interest expense,” it said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia this evening.

On its prospect, Unisem expects its performance to remain “satisfactory” in 4QFY14.

Unisem share price has been trending upward since January, reaching a year’s high of RM1.90 on Aug 18. The stock has surged 68% or 68 sen year-to-date, and it closed at RM1.68 today, giving it a market capitalization of RM1.13 billion.