* Foxconn Q4 profit at T$45.21 billion, versus estimated

$63.86 billion

* Tech giant forecasts strong revenue growth for Q1, full

year

* Foxconn's shares have dropped 6% so far this year

(Adds details; paragraphs 1-14)

TAIPEI, March 16 (Reuters) - Taiwan's Foxconn,

the world's largest contract electronics maker, said on Monday

it expected strong revenue growth in the first quarter and the

whole of this year, even as it posted a fall of 2% in quarterly

profit, lagging estimates.

The technology giant, Nvidia's ( NVDA ) biggest server maker

and Apple's ( AAPL ) top iPhone assembler, did not give a reason

in its statement for the fall in profit, which came despite

robust global demand for AI products.

Foxconn's guidance for both the first quarter and full year

revenue are for "strong growth", the highest outlook the company

can give, as it does not provide a numeric outlook.

It is the first time the company has provided an outlook for

the full year 2026, and said growth would be driven by sustained

strong demand for AI servers.

Net profit for the period from October to December was

T$45.21 billion ($1.42 billion), versus an LSEG consensus

estimate of T$63.86 billion.

The electronics giant said it also expected first-quarter

revenue for smart consumer electronics to see significant growth

year-on-year.

Foxconn will hold its earnings call later on Monday in

Taipei, where it is also expected to update its outlook for the

year.

Foxconn, formally called Hon Hai Precision Industry ( HNHPF ),

reported in January record fourth-quarter revenue on strong

demand for AI products.

Most of the iPhones Foxconn makes for Apple ( AAPL ) are assembled in

China, but it now produces the bulk of those sold in the United

States in India. The company is also building factories in

Mexico and Texas to make AI servers for Nvidia ( NVDA ).

Foxconn has also been looking to expand its footprint in

electric vehicles, which the company sees as a major generator

of future growth, though that has not always gone smoothly.

In August, Foxconn said it had struck a deal to sell a

former car factory at Lordstown, Ohio, for $375 million,

including its machinery that it bought in 2022 to make EVs.

Foxconn's shares have dropped 6% so far this year,

underperforming a gain of 15% in Taiwan benchmark's index

.

Its shares closed up 0.9% on Monday ahead of the results.

($1=32.0940 Taiwan dollars)