RF Micro Chief Executive Calls Wireless Market 'Robust and Growing'

The CEO of chip maker RF Micro Devices Inc. said at an investor conference Tuesday he still sees the wireless market as "robust" and his employer as poised for growth and margin expansion.

The company, whose semiconductors are used in cell phones, will drive continued growth in revenue, gross profit, operating income, and earnings per share, said Bob Bruggeworth during his presentation at Needham & Co.'s ninth annual growth conference.

RF Micro did not give updated financial guidance. In November, the Greensboro, N.C., company reaffirmed its outlook for the fiscal third quarter, which ended in December. The company said at the time it still sees earnings between 10 cents and 12 cents per share and adjusted earnings, excluding stock options and amortization of intangibles, between 12 cents and 14 cents per share.

RF Micro expects sales between $264 million and $280 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial are looking for earnings of 13 cents per share on sales of $272.6 million for the quarter.

Dean Priddy, chief financial officer, said during the conference the company has seen strong demand from its top-tier customers, notably cell phone makers Nokia Corp. and Motorola Inc.

The company recently closed the sale of its Bluetooth assets to cell phone technology company Qualcomm Inc. for $39 million, and said it expects to report a gain in the December quarter as a result.

RF Micro's shares rose 22 cents, or 3.4 percent, to $6.78 on the Nasdaq Stock Market. In the past 52 weeks, the stock has changed hands between $5.25 and $9.58.