Release Details

Orders Rise 60%; Dividend Increased

POWAY, Calif., July 20, 2005 -- Cohu, Inc. (NASDAQ:COHU) today announced that net sales were $51.8 million for the second quarter ended June 25, 2005 compared to $47.3 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2004 and $44.4 million for the first quarter of 2005. Net income for the second quarter of 2005 was $5.6 million or $0.25 per share compared to net income of $6.9 million or $0.32 per share for the second quarter of 2004 and net income of $6.5 million or $0.30 per share for the first quarter of 2005. During the quarter ended June 25, 2005, deferred profit increased $3.0 million as a result of increased revenue deferrals.

Net sales for the first six months of 2005 were $96.2 million with net income of $12.1 million and net income per share of $0.55 compared to net sales of $83.3 million with net income of $9.0 million and net income per share of $0.41 for the first six months of 2004. The tax benefit for the six months ended June 25, 2005 includes approximately $3.0 million from the reversal of accrued taxes as a result of the completion of a tax examination in March 2005 and a reduction in the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets of approximately $1.7 million in June 2005.

Orders for the second quarter of 2005 were $71.0 million compared to $44.4 million for the first quarter of 2005. Backlog was $81.8 million at June 25, 2005 and $62.6 million at March 26, 2005. Second quarter 2005 sales of semiconductor test handling equipment accounted for 80.4% of total sales. Sales of television cameras and related equipment were 9.1% of sales and metal detection and microwave communications equipment contributed 10.5% of sales for the same period.

James A. Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The $71 million in new orders for the quarter is the highest level since 2000 and an increase of 60% from the prior quarter. Orders for our high-performance thermal IC handlers were the highest ever and we saw a significant increase in orders for general purpose IC test handlers. We continue to invest in thermal technology to support expanding requirements for our advanced thermal solutions. In May we acquired certain assets, including intellectual property, technology and a new thermal product, from KryoTech, Inc. for $4.1 million." Cohu's Board of Directors approved an increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.06 per share payable on November 4, 2005 to shareholders of record on September 9, 2005. Cohu has paid consecutive quarterly cash dividends since 1977.

Certain matters discussed in this release, including statements concerning Cohu's expectations of industry conditions and 2005 operations, are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or forecasted. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the concentration of our revenues in a limited number of customers; intense competition in the semiconductor test handler industry; inventory write-offs; failure to obtain customer acceptance and recognize revenue; the cyclical and unpredictable nature of capital expenditures by semiconductor manufacturers; Cohu's ability to convert new products under development into production on a timely basis, support product development and meet customer delivery and acceptance requirements for next generation equipment; difficulties in integrating acquisitions and new technologies and other risks addressed in Cohu's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including the most recently filed Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Cohu assumes no obligation to update the information in this release.

Cohu is a leading supplier of test handling solutions used by the global semiconductor industry as well as a supplier of closed circuit television, metal detection and microwave communications equipment.

Cohu will be conducting its conference call on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time. The call will be webcast at www.cohu.com. Replays of the call can be accessed at www.cohu.com.

Full Press Release including Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Balance Sheets

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