6-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Month of May 2006

CAMTEK LTD.
(Translation of Registrant’s Name into English)

Ramat Gavriel Industrial Zone
P.O. Box 544
Migdal Haemek 23150
ISRAEL

(Address of Principal Corporate Offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F x Form 40-F o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes o No x



SIGNATURE

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

CAMTEK LTD.
(Registrant)

By: /s/ Ronit Dulberg
——————————————
Ronit Dulberg,
Chief Financial Officer

Dated: May 30, 2006

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CAMTEK LTD. ANNOUNCES RECORD FIRST QUARTER 2006 RESULTS

Record quarterly revenues of $24.9 million
Net income of $4.4 million, up 115% sequentially

Adjusts 2006 revenue guidance upwards to $100 – 110 million

MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel - May 16, 2006 - Camtek Ltd. (NASDAQ: CAMT), today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006.

Highlights of the first quarter
  Achieved record revenues of $24.9 million, a 28% sequential growth.
  Record net income reaching $4.4 million, a 115% sequential increase.
  Strong growth in gross, operating and net margins.

Revenues for the first quarter of 2006 were $24.9 million, 172% above the $9.1 million as reported in the first quarter of last year, and sequentially up 28% from the $19.4 million as reported in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2006 was $13.1 million, representing a gross margin of 52.5%. This is compared with gross profit of $3.8 million or gross margin of 41.2%, as reported in the first quarter of last year and gross profit of $9.6 million, or gross margin of 49.5% as reported in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Operating profit for the first quarter of 2006 was $4.4 million representing an operating margin of 17.8%, and was up 120% from the operating profit of $2.1 million or 10.8% operating margin as reported in the prior quarter. In the first quarter of last year, the Company reported an operating loss of $2.0 million.

First quarter net income was $4.4 million or 16 cents per diluted share, representing a net margin of 17.8%. This compares with a net loss of $2.4 million, or 9 cents loss per diluted share as reported in the first quarter of 2005. First quarter 2006 net income grew by 115% over fourth quarter 2005 net income of $2.1 million, or 7 cents per share, which represented a net margin of 10.6%.

“This was another record quarter – our third in a row,” commented Rafi Amit, Camtek’s CEO. “We increased our sales both to the PCB/HDI and to the semiconductor industries and registered a positive cash flow. The Falcon, our line of wafer inspection systems for the semiconductor industry, continued its penetration in the market and solidified its position as a leading product among top-tier manufacturers. In parallel to our continuing activity in developing the Falcon’s future generations, we are focusing R&D efforts in the high-end of the PCB industry, where margins are higher and our technological advantages give us an edge. This positions us very well for the coming years. “

Ronit Dulberg, Camtek’s CFO added, “Our current order stream allows us to comfortably reiterate our revenue guidance of $26-29 million for the second quarter. Furthermore, based on the satisfying results of the first quarter, the demand levels for our products, and our reading of the marketplace, we estimate at this point that our revenues in 2006 are likely to exceed our previous guidance and fall in the range of $100-110 million.”

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Camtek will host a conference call today, Tuesday May 16th, 2006 at 11:30 a.m. EDT. Ronit Dulberg, Chief Financial Officer, and Yuval Attias, Director of Finance, will be on the call and will be available to answer investor questions after presenting the results.

To participate, please call one of the telephone numbers below at least 10 minutes before the start of the call.

US: 1 866 860 9642 at 11:30 a.m. EDT
UK: 0 800 917 4613 at 4:30 p.m. GMT
Israel: 03 918 0609 at 6:30 p.m. Israel time
International: +972 3 918 0609

For those unable to participate, the teleconference will be available for replay for 14 days on Camtek’s website at www.camtek.co.il beginning 48 hours after the call.

ABOUT CAMTEK LTD.

With headquarters in Migdal Ha’Emek Israel, Camtek Ltd., designs, develops, manufactures, and markets automatic optical inspection systems and related products. Camtek’s automatic inspection systems are used to enhance both production processes and yield for manufacturers in the printed circuit board industry, the high density interconnect substrate industry and the semiconductor manufacturing and packaging industry. This press release is available at www.camtek.co.il.

This press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future performance of the Company. These statements are only predictions and may change as time passes. We do not assume any obligation to update that information. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected, including as a result of changing industry and market trends, reduced demand for our products, the timely development of our new products and their adoption by the market, increased competition in the industry, price reductions as well as due to risks identified in the documents filed by the Company with the SEC.

CAMTEK: IR/PR ISRAEL IR INTERNATIONAL
Ronit Dulberg, CFO Financial Communication Ehud Helft / Kenny Green
Tel: +972-4-604-8308 Noam Yellin GK International
Fax: +972-4-604 8300 Tel: +972 3 6954333 Tel: (US) 1 866 704 6710
Mobile: +972-54-9050776 Fax: +972 544 246720 kenny@gk-biz.com
ronitd@camtek.co.il   ehud@gk-biz.com

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CAMTEK LTD.
Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share data )

December 31,
March 31,
2005
2006
US dollars
 
ASSETS            
   
CURRENT ASSETS   
Cash and cash equivalents    8,714    10,209  
Marketable securities    2,101    2,000  
Accounts receivable, net    26,412    30,626  
Inventories    24,942    27,008  
Due from affiliates    290    115  
Other current assets    2,817    3,996  


   Total current assets    65,276    73,954  


   
   Fixed assets, net    9,963    10,021  


   
   Total assets     75,239    83,975  


   
LIABILITIES   
   
CURRENT LIABILITIES   
Accounts payable -trade    8,678    11,438  
Other current liabilities    8,721    9,868  


   Total current liabilities    17,399    21,306  
 
Convertible loan    5,000    5,000  
Accrued severance pay, net of amounts funded    222    222  


   Total liabilities    22,621    26,528  


   
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   
   
Ordinary shares NIS 0.01 par value, authorized 100,000,000 shares,  
   issued 28,095,516 in 2005 and 28,213,866 in 2006, outstanding  
   27,083,897 in 2005 and 27,202,247 in 2006    125    125  
Additional paid-in capital    43,732    43,984  
Deferred stock-based compensation    (221 )  (68 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  
   Unrealized loss on marketable securities    (2 )  -  
Retained earnings    9,977    14,399  


     53,611    58,440  
Treasury stock, at cost (1,011,619 shares in 2005 and 2006)    (993 )  (993 )


     52,618    57,447  


   
   Total liabilities and shareholders' equity     75,239    83,975  


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CAMTEK LTD.
Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except share data)

Year
Ended
December 31

Three
Months
Ended March 31

Three
Months
Ended March 31

2005
2005
2006
US dollars
 
Revenues      63,032    9,141    24,880  
Cost of revenues    32,781    5,374    11,817  



   
Gross Profit    30,251    3,767    13,063  



   
Research and development costs    8,469    1,819    2,437  
Selling, general and administrative expenses    18,760    3,975    6,209  
   
Total operating expenses    27,229    5,794    8,646  



   
Operating income (loss)    3,022    (2,027 )  4,417  



   
Financial and other income (expenses), net    (320 )  (361 )  105  



   
Income (loss) before income taxes    2,702    (2,388 )  4,522  
Provision for income taxes    -    -    100  



   
Net income (loss)    2,702    (2,388 )  4,422  



   
Net income (loss) per ordinary share:  
   
       Basic    0.10    (0.09 )  0.16  



       Diluted    0.10    (0.09 )  0.16  



   
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding:  
   
       Basic    27,253    27,145    27,366  



       Diluted    27,586    27,687    27,753  




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