Managing Director, Zero One, Zero One

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Managing Director, Zero One

Zero One

Founded in 2015, Zero One produces independent investment research and provides corporate finance advisory services with a focus on both listed and private technology companies. Founder Vincent Fernando has over 20 years of experience in US and Asia capital markets.

Independent Investment Research

Equity Bottom-Up

MediaTek Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions. The company provides SOC system solutions for wireless communications, high-definition TV, optical storage, DVD and Blu-ray products.

<ul>
<li>Qualcomm's latest earnings came in at the high end of guidance with automotive revenue surging and mobile steady. We analyze QCOM results' key implications for Mediatek.</li>
<li>Qualcomm's 2024E global handset market volume guidance remained unchanged vs. last quarter; however we believe Mediatek may have taken some market share in CY1Q24.</li>
<li>Qualcomm confirmed Mediatek's view regarding high-end phone demand strength right now, with AI capabilities the likely driver. Combining QCOM + Mediatek color suggests an AI-driven handset upgrade cycle ahead.</li>
</ul>


Qualcomm's latest earnings came in at the high end of guidance with automotive revenue surging and mobile steady. We analyze QCOM results' key implications for Mediatek.
Qualcomm's 2024E global handset market volume guidance remained unchanged vs. last quarter; however we believe Mediatek may have taken some market share in CY1Q24.
Qualcomm confirmed Mediatek's view regarding high-end phone demand strength right now, with AI capabilities the likely driver. Combining QCOM + Mediatek color suggests an AI-driven handset upgrade cycle ahead.


Key Insights from Qualcomm's Latest Data; Mediatek Taking Market Share?

Asustek Computer Inc. manufactures and markets computer motherboards, interface cards, notebook computers, and other related products.

<ul>
<li>Branded PC makers' shares have been mostly lower in April, however Intel and Microsoft developments are providing strong signals for a future PC upgrade cycle into AI PCs.</li>
<li>Over 60% of Fortune 500 companies are now using Microsoft's CoPilot AI assistant; Intel expects the industry to exceed its prior forecast for AI PC shipments in 2024E.</li>
<li>CoPilot is the killer app that will trigger a global enterprise PC upgrade cycle; The next generation of CoPilot will be an edge AI app that will require powerful hardware.</li>
</ul>


Branded PC makers' shares have been mostly lower in April, however Intel and Microsoft developments are providing strong signals for a future PC upgrade cycle into AI PCs.
Over 60% of Fortune 500 companies are now using Microsoft's CoPilot AI assistant; Intel expects the industry to exceed its prior forecast for AI PC shipments in 2024E.
CoPilot is the killer app that will trigger a global enterprise PC upgrade cycle; The next generation of CoPilot will be an edge AI app that will require powerful hardware.


PC Monitor: The Next Version of MSFT CoPilot Will Be the Killer App for a Global AI PC Upgrade Cycle

Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

Vanguard Intl Semiconductor / Equity Bottom-Up

Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation offers integrated circuit foundry services.  The Company manufactures 0.18um logic, mixed-signal, analog, high voltage, low power, CMOS RF, flash, embedded memory, and bipolar CMOS DMOS semiconductors.

<ul>
<li>1Q24 sales reached 96% of 4Q23, the recent low of sales, but GM upside 1% QoQ.   </li>
<li>Demand is gradually picking up in 2Q24F, but inventory adjustments for industrial and automotive applications are ongoing.  </li>
<li>Specifically speaking, in 2Q24 we expect to see a revival in demand, with QCOQ and MPS potentially beginning to place orders in Fab 5.</li>
</ul>


1Q24 sales reached 96% of 4Q23, the recent low of sales, but GM upside 1% QoQ.   
Demand is gradually picking up in 2Q24F, but inventory adjustments for industrial and automotive applications are ongoing.  
Specifically speaking, in 2Q24 we expect to see a revival in demand, with QCOQ and MPS potentially beginning to place orders in Fab 5.


Vanguard (5347.TT):  1Q24 Sales Did Reach the Bottom, and 2Q24F Rebounds ~15% QoQ in Sales.

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) - ADR / Equity Bottom-Up

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. manufactures integrated circuits based on its proprietary designs.  The Company offers a comprehensive set of integrated circuit fabrication processes to manufacture CMOS logic, mixed-mode, volatile and non-volatile memory and BiCMOS chips.  Taiwan Semiconductor is an affiliate of Philips Electronics N.V.

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) - ADR (TSM US)

<ul>
<li>Samsung 1Q24 results beat consensus by a wide margin and the company gave strong guidance for its Memory segment, guiding for further strength driven by servers, PCs, &amp; phones needs.</li>
<li>Guided strong demand for PC/Mobile Memory in 2H24E driven by on-device AI, which supports the case of edge AI hardware beginning to drive demand in addition to cloud/server-based AI hardware.</li>
<li>Foundry segment's losses reduced, but still loss-making? Samsung's order backlog is at an all-time high but Samsung Foundry results suggest manufacturing yield performance likely well behind TSMC.</li>
</ul>


Samsung 1Q24 results beat consensus by a wide margin and the company gave strong guidance for its Memory segment, guiding for further strength driven by servers, PCs, &amp; phones needs.
Guided strong demand for PC/Mobile Memory in 2H24E driven by on-device AI, which supports the case of edge AI hardware beginning to drive demand in addition to cloud/server-based AI hardware.
Foundry segment's losses reduced, but still loss-making? Samsung's order backlog is at an all-time high but Samsung Foundry results suggest manufacturing yield performance likely well behind TSMC.


Deep Dive Into Samsung's Memory & Foundry Results: TSMC, AI PC, Server, AI Phone Implications

Tracking developments across tech supply chains, Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tracking developments across tech supply chains

<ul><li>AI server cooling options include liquid &amp; air solutions to improve efficiency and performance.</li><li>India is set to introduce a new chip incentive package to boost its semiconductor industry.</li><li>Apple's supply chain expansion in Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam, has been significant, while MediaTek aims for 30% market share in China with upcoming flagship SoC.</li></ul>

AI server cooling options include liquid &amp; air solutions to improve efficiency and performance.India is set to introduce a new chip incentive package to boost its semiconductor industry.Apple's supply chain expansion in Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam, has been significant, while MediaTek aims for 30% market share in China with upcoming flagship SoC.

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (30-Apr-2024): AI server cooling: liquid & air solutions

Taiwan Tech
Insights on Taiwan Tech Stocks

PC Monitor: The Next Version of MSFT CoPilot Will Be the Killer App for a Global AI PC Upgrade Cycle

CoPilot, as an edge AI app, will drive a global PC upgrade cycle with its next-gen version requiring advanced hardware.

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Vanguard (5347.TT): 1Q24 Sales Did Reach the Bottom, and 2Q24F Rebounds ~15% QoQ in Sales.

1Q24 sales reached 96% of 4Q23, the recent low of sales. Demand is gradually picking up in 2Q24F, but inventory adjustments for industrial and...

Patrick Liao

Deep Dive Into Samsung's Memory & Foundry Results: TSMC, AI PC, Server, AI Phone Implications

Foundry segment's losses reduced, but still loss-making. Samsung's order backlog is at an all-time high but Samsung Foundry results suggest...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (30-Apr-2024): AI server cooling: liquid & air solutions

AI server cooling with liquid & air solutions, India's new chip incentive package, Apple's Southeast Asia supply chain growth, MediaTek aims for...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Key Insights from Qualcomm's Latest Data; Mediatek Taking Market Share?

We deep dive into Qualcomm's latest results and the key take-aways relative to Mediatek. Overall, we find the latest QCOM results as positive for...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

PC Monitor: The Next Version of MSFT CoPilot Will Be the Killer App for a Global AI PC Upgrade Cycle

​CoPilot, as an edge AI app, will drive a global PC upgrade cycle with its next-gen version requiring advanced hardware.

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Vanguard (5347.TT): 1Q24 Sales Did Reach the Bottom, and 2Q24F Rebounds ~15% QoQ in Sales.

1Q24 sales reached 96% of 4Q23, the recent low of sales. Demand is gradually picking up in 2Q24F, but inventory adjustments for industrial and...

Patrick Liao

Deep Dive Into Samsung's Memory & Foundry Results: TSMC, AI PC, Server, AI Phone Implications

Foundry segment's losses reduced, but still loss-making. Samsung's order backlog is at an all-time high but Samsung Foundry results suggest...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (30-Apr-2024): AI server cooling: liquid & air solutions

AI server cooling with liquid & air solutions, India's new chip incentive package, Apple's Southeast Asia supply chain growth, MediaTek aims for...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

CoPilot, as an edge AI app, will drive a global PC upgrade cycle with its next-gen version requiring advanced hardware.