Marvell, Atheros Weakest While Qualcomm is Strongest

3Q production checks largely stable versus prior checks; Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL), Atheros (NASDAQ: ATHR), Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) weakest. We have a fresh look atproduction start trends across the top foundry suppliers, FBR Capital reports.In aggregate, 3Q production starts have remained largely stable since our prior checks as negative revisions by Atheros (-6%), AMD (-3%), and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) (-2%) were offset by slight production increases from Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) (+7%) and Marvell (+6%, small increase after large decline earlier in quarter). On a sequential basis, we see the most relative weakness from Atheros, Nvidia, Marvell, and Mediatek (TPE: 2454), while Texas Instruments and Qualcomm show the most relative strength. In aggregate, foundry starts should grow a few points sequentially in 3Q. Clearly, weakness in the computing sector has not yet eased and remains worse than other sectors, according to FBR.FBR writes that for Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM), 3Q sequential growth of +12% and 4Q sequential growth of +18% suggest the firm needs more product as it ramps up its Snapdragon or othersmartphone solutions, and as it possibly prepares to begin shipping product into new iPhones soon.See more real-time trading ideas Here