QUALCOMM (Nasdaq:QCOM), Broadcom (Nasdaq:BRCM), Atheros (Nasdaq:ATHR), LSI (NYSE:LSI), National Semi (NYSE:NSM), ON Semi (Nasdaq:ONNN), Fairchild (NYSE:FCS) Look Good Going into 2011

FBR Capital gave their outlook for the chip sector going into 2011, and still see it performing strongly, although probably less than the last several quarters. Favorites in the sector include QUALCOMM (Nasdaq:QCOM), Broadcom (Nasdaq:BRCM), Atheros (Nasdaq:ATHR), LSI (NYSE:LSI), National Semiconductor (NYSE:NSM), ON Semi (Nasdaq:ONNN), Fairchild (NYSE:FCS) and Microsemi (Nasdaq:MSCC), all of which have an "Outperform" rating on them from FBR.

FBR said, "We remain constructive on the chip sector for 2011 and think that semiconductor stocks can appreciate higher over the course of the year given (1) robust end demand for smartphones, tablets, infrastructure equipment, and industrial/automotive applications; (2) higher chip content per device in handsets, automobiles, and others; (3) still-reasonable channel inventories; (4) still-limited capacity growth, and (5) reasonably high earnings power. That said, chip stocks have had a powerful move higher since September, and thus could be subject to profit taking, a pullback, or at the very least some digesting to start the year. Indeed, 2010 saw a continuation of the substantial recovery that began in 2H09, and we see these positive demand trends continuing into 2011. While the chip cycle did "over-heat" some in 2010, likely driving 2011 semiconductor revenue growth to track flattish year over year given the 5–10 points of revenue replenishment good news that does not repeat in 2011, we still believe this is the sector's first ever "soft-landing." We do see some revenue- and EPS-related "ship-ahead" risks still for chip firms, particularly in the industrial and communications/networking sectors, and expect some misses from chip firms in these sectors in 1H11, though the magnitude of these resets should be modest. Valuations remain generally attractive for the group (though not as attractive as two to three quarters ago) and we see material upside in Outperform-rated stocks like QUALCOMM, Broadcom, Atheros, LSI, National Semi, ON Semi, Fairchild, and Microsemi."

QUALCOMM closed Tuesday at $49.18, up $0.06, or 0.13 percent. Broadcom closed at $44.98, down $0.72, or 1.58 percent. Atheros closed at $33.94, down $0.62, or 1.79 percent. LSI ended the day at $5.93, up $0.02, or 0.34 percent. National Semiconductor closed at $13.64, up $0.06, or 0.44 percent. Fairchild ended the session at $15.14, down $0.33, or 2.13 percent. Microsemi closed Tuesday at $23.59, down $0.71, or 2.92 percent.