Is ENTG's Q1 forecast for 2025 signaling a strong start?

**Entegris' Q1 forecast for 2025 does not necessarily indicate a strong start** for several reasons:

1. **Guidance Below Expectations**: The company's guidance for Q1 2025 includes an EPS range of $0.640 to $0.710, which is below the consensus EPS estimate of $0.740. This suggests that analysts are anticipating slightly lower earnings than what Entegris is projecting.
2. **Revenue Guidance**: The revenue guidance for Q1 2025 is set at $775 million to $805 million, which is slightly below the consensus revenue estimate of $795.42 million. This indicates that while revenue is expected to grow, it may not meet the highest expectations.
3. **Comparing to Previous Performance**: Entegris' Q4 2024 results exceeded expectations, with an adjusted EPS of $0.84, surpassing the estimate by $0.06. However, the Q1 2025 guidance does not match the strong performance of the previous quarter.
4. **Analyst Sentiment**: Despite the Q1 guidance, Citi has raised Entegris' stock price target to $125, maintaining a "buy" rating. This suggests that analysts are optimistic about the company's long-term prospects, even if the Q1 forecast is below expectations.

In conclusion, while Entegris has had strong performance in the recent past, its Q1 2025 forecast indicates a more cautious outlook for the upcoming quarter, which does not signal a strong start.