Super Micro misses quarterly revenue estimates on stiff competition, shares fall

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(Reuters) -Super Micro Computer reported third-quarter revenue below estimates on Tuesday, hurt by stiff competition in the server-making industry, however it forecast fourth-quarter revenue above estimates as it expects steady demand for its AI servers. Shares of the San Jose, California-based company, which have more than tripled in value so far this year, were down nearly 8% in trading after the bell. The AI server maker was added to the S&P 500 index last month. Super Micro is banking on its in-house liquid cooling technology for servers to gain market share in a competitive industry. "As new solutions ramp, including fully production ready DLC (Direct Liquid Cooling), we expect to continue gaining market share," Super Micro CEO Charles Liang said in a statement.Its close relations with chip giants Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, whose headquarters are less than 10 miles from Super Micro's, help it receive early samples of chips to check prototypes, giving it further advantage over rivals. The company expects fourth-quarter revenue between $5.1 billion and $5.5 billion, compared with estimates of $4.89 billion, according to LSEG data. The company raised its annual sales forecast to a range of $14.7 billion to $15.1 billion from the previously stated $14.3 billion to $14.7 billion. Excluding items, Super Micro reported a profit of $6.65 per share in the first quarter, compared with analysts' estimates of $5.78 per share. Revenue for the quarter ended March 31 stood at $3.85 billion, compared with estimates of $3.95 billion, according to LSEG data. Rivals Dell and Hewlett Packard Enterprise could eventually catch up and heat up competition in the sector and drive down prices. But for now analysts see Super Micro as being well placed. Gross margin for the three-month period was 15.5%, compared with 17.6%, a year ago, in line with analyst expectations. (Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)