“The launch of Apple’s iPhone 5 handset is going to be a huge event not only for Apple, but for a host of semiconductor companies,” Patrick Seitz reports for Investor’s Business Daily. “Apple’s sixth-generation iPhone could be a “tsunami” that floods the coffers of companies such as Qualcomm (QCOM) and Fairchild Semiconductor (FCS), FBR analysts said in a research report Wednesday. FBR expects Apple to announce the iPhone 5 in early to mid-September (reports have said Sept. 12) and launch it a couple of weeks later.”

Seitz reports, “The iPhone 5 could be “one of the most important catalysts” for chip companies and wireless service providers this year, the FBR report said. It predicts that 50 million to 52 million iPhone 5 units could be built in the fourth quarter, which is well above most Wall Street estimates. The iPhone 5 will be a ‘home run’ for critical component suppliers, driving large volume production, the report says”

“Other iPhone suppliers that should benefit from the new handset include Avago Technologies (AVGO), Broadcom (BRCM), Cirrus Logic (CRUS), Maxim Integrated Products (MXIM), ON Semi (ONNN), Skyworks Solutions (SWKS), Texas Instruments (TXN) and TriQuint Semiconductor (TQNT),” Seitz reports. “The iPhone 5 could hold opportunities for Wolfson Microelectronics and NXP Semiconductors (NXPI), depending on what features Apple ultimately includes in the new handset.”

Read more in the full article here.