National Semiconductor Corporation · Santa Clara, CA United States ·(NYSE: NSM)

National Semiconductor has an international reputation for semiconductors. The pioneering chip maker offers a variety of integrated circuits (ICs), especially analog and mixed-signal (blending analog and digital functions) chips. Its varied offerings reflect its focus on analog chips, which transform physical information -- light, sound, pressure, even radio waves -- into data that a computer can use. National's chips are used in a host of communications, consumer electronics, networking, automotive, and aerospace applications. Belying its name, National derives about three-quarters of sales from customers outside the US, largely to contract manufacturers that serve its ultimate OEM customers. To read the full description, subscribe now.