Senior Technology Analyst, Japanese Equities, LightStream Research

Scott Foster

Senior Technology Analyst, Japanese Equities

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Equity Bottom-Up

ROHM COMPANY LIMITED manufactures custom linear integrated circuits and semiconductor devices for use primarily in consumer electronics.  The Company has plants and sales offices worldwide.  Rohm's subsidiaries include Wako Electric and Apollo Electronics.

<ul>
<li>Sales are growing again and the company has turned profitable with capacity utilization up and costs down. Guidance for 2H of FY Mar-26 looks conservative. </li>
<li>Sales of power devices is rising after a long period of weakness, supported by auto, industrial and data center related demand.</li>
<li>Projected valuations are once again reasonable. The share price should continue to trend upwards.</li>
</ul>


Sales are growing again and the company has turned profitable with capacity utilization up and costs down. Guidance for 2H of FY Mar-26 looks conservative. 
Sales of power devices is rising after a long period of weakness, supported by auto, industrial and data center related demand.
Projected valuations are once again reasonable. The share price should continue to trend upwards.


Rohm (6963 JP): Renewed Growth, Conservative Guidance & Reasonable Valuation

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

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) - 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.

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) - ADR (TSM US)

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) - ADR

<ul>
<li>TSMC: +23% Premium; Has Broken Down from Historically High Level</li>
<li>ChipMOS: -3.0% Discount; Good Level to Go Long the ADR Spread</li>
<li>CHT: -1.1% Discount; Good Level to Go Long the ADR Spread</li>
</ul>


TSMC: +23% Premium; Has Broken Down from Historically High Level
ChipMOS: -3.0% Discount; Good Level to Go Long the ADR Spread
CHT: -1.1% Discount; Good Level to Go Long the ADR Spread


Taiwan Dual-Listings Monitor: TSMC Historically High Premium Cracks; ChipMOS & CHT Opportunities

Semiconductor & Technology Specialist, Ingenuity

William Keating

Semiconductor & Technology Specialist

Ingenuity

Our focus is exclusively on in-depth research & consulting in the broader semiconductor industry. We focus on the key players, namely Intel, Micron, Qualcomm, Apple, Samsung, NVIDIA, AMD, TSMC & Global Foundries - as well as some of the lesser known, but nonetheless critical, companies such as ASML (for EUV), Mellanox, Cavium, Xilinx etc. We specialise in their products, roadmaps, process technologies, competitive advantages & threats etc. We also help our clients understand the implications of new and emerging technologies, e.g. 3D X-Point, 3D NAND, Carbon Nanotubes, Autonomous Driving, Graphene, Silicon Photonics, Wafer-Level Optics, Artificial Intelligence, FPGA, GPU, ASIC etc. 

Semiconductor Analysis & Research

Alphabet, Inc. operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides web-based search, advertisements, maps, software applications, mobile operating systems, consumer content, enterprise solutions, commerce, and hardware products.

<ul>
<li>Marc Benioff on Gemini 3: I’ve used ChatGPT every day for 3 years. Just spent 2 hours on Gemini 3. I’m not going back. The leap is insane</li>
<li>Anthropic on expansion of Google Cloud TPU:  The expansion is worth tens of billions of dollars and is expected to bring well over a gigawatt of capacity online in 2026.</li>
<li>DeepMind is Alphabet's dark horse. AlphaFold is one of the most significant AI-related accomplishments ever. What will they turn their attention to next? Let's see...</li>
</ul>


Marc Benioff on Gemini 3: I’ve used ChatGPT every day for 3 years. Just spent 2 hours on Gemini 3. I’m not going back. The leap is insane
Anthropic on expansion of Google Cloud TPU:  The expansion is worth tens of billions of dollars and is expected to bring well over a gigawatt of capacity online in 2026.
DeepMind is Alphabet's dark horse. AlphaFold is one of the most significant AI-related accomplishments ever. What will they turn their attention to next? Let's see...


Alphabet. More Of The AI, Less Of The Drama

<ul>
<li>Himax (HIMX US): Silicon Photonics Becomes Strategic Imperative for Foundries, Reinforcing Long View </li>
<li>Silicon Motion (SIMO US): Multiple Growth Drivers Converging Into 2026E </li>
<li>Taiwan Dual-Listings Monitor: TSMC &amp; UMC Spreads at Historically Rare Levels </li>
</ul>


Himax (HIMX US): Silicon Photonics Becomes Strategic Imperative for Foundries, Reinforcing Long View 
Silicon Motion (SIMO US): Multiple Growth Drivers Converging Into 2026E 
Taiwan Dual-Listings Monitor: TSMC &amp; UMC Spreads at Historically Rare Levels 


Taiwan Tech Weekly: Industry Moves Show Silicon Photonics Becoming Must-Have for Next Gen Compute

Himax Technologies Inc Adr / Equity Bottom-Up

Himax Technologies, Inc. designs and manufactures integrated circuits.  The Company produces liquid crystal displays (LCD).

<ul>
<li>Latest industry developments show silicon photonics becoming a must-have capability for leading foundries as AI bandwidth needs push the limits of traditional chip interconnect technology.</li>
<li>Himax is well positioned as a key upstream supplier of CPO optical engines and nano-optics used in TSMC’s silicon-photonics packaging for next-generation NVIDIA platforms.</li>
<li>Himax’s validated CPO roadmap, proprietary WLO nano-optics platform, and a 2026E-2028E commercialization timeline position the company well. We reiterate our Structural Long rating for Himax into 2026E.</li>
</ul>


Latest industry developments show silicon photonics becoming a must-have capability for leading foundries as AI bandwidth needs push the limits of traditional chip interconnect technology.
Himax is well positioned as a key upstream supplier of CPO optical engines and nano-optics used in TSMC’s silicon-photonics packaging for next-generation NVIDIA platforms.
Himax’s validated CPO roadmap, proprietary WLO nano-optics platform, and a 2026E-2028E commercialization timeline position the company well. We reiterate our Structural Long rating for Himax into 2026E.


Himax (HIMX US): Silicon Photonics Becomes Strategic Imperative for Foundries, Reinforcing Long View

Insights on Tech Hardware and Semiconductors

Tech Hardware and Semiconductor Research
Insights on Tech Hardware and Semiconductors

Rohm (6963 JP): Renewed Growth, Conservative Guidance & Reasonable Valuation

Rohm has pulled itself out of the red and appears to be low-balling 2H guidance. Power device sales for auto, industrial and data center use are...

Scott Foster

Taiwan Dual-Listings Monitor: TSMC Historically High Premium Cracks; ChipMOS & CHT Opportunities

We analyze the premium and discount levels of dual-listed Taiwan companies, suggesting potential spread trading levels based on historical trends.

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Alphabet. More Of The AI, Less Of The Drama

DeepMind is Alphabet's dark horse. AlphaFold is one of the most significant AI-related accomplishments ever. What will they turn their attention to...

William Keating

Taiwan Tech Weekly: Industry Moves Show Silicon Photonics Becoming Must-Have for Next Gen Compute

Silicon photonics and multiple growth drivers are shaping the strategic imperatives for firms like Himax and Silicon Motion in Taiwan. TSMC and...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Himax (HIMX US): Silicon Photonics Becomes Strategic Imperative for Foundries, Reinforcing Long View

Latest developments show silicon photonics becoming essential for leading foundries as AI demands strain chip interconnect tech. Himax well...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Rohm (6963 JP): Renewed Growth, Conservative Guidance & Reasonable Valuation

Rohm has pulled itself out of the red and appears to be low-balling 2H guidance. Power device sales for auto, industrial and data center use are...

Scott Foster

Taiwan Dual-Listings Monitor: TSMC Historically High Premium Cracks; ChipMOS & CHT Opportunities

We analyze the premium and discount levels of dual-listed Taiwan companies, suggesting potential spread trading levels based on historical trends.

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Alphabet. More Of The AI, Less Of The Drama

DeepMind is Alphabet's dark horse. AlphaFold is one of the most significant AI-related accomplishments ever. What will they turn their attention to...

William Keating

Taiwan Tech Weekly: Industry Moves Show Silicon Photonics Becoming Must-Have for Next Gen Compute

​Silicon photonics and multiple growth drivers are shaping the strategic imperatives for firms like Himax and Silicon Motion in Taiwan. TSMC and...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Himax (HIMX US): Silicon Photonics Becomes Strategic Imperative for Foundries, Reinforcing Long View

​Latest developments show silicon photonics becoming essential for leading foundries as AI demands strain chip interconnect tech. Himax well...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Silicon photonics and multiple growth drivers are shaping the strategic imperatives for firms like Himax and Silicon Motion in Taiwan. TSMC and...

Latest developments show silicon photonics becoming essential for leading foundries as AI demands strain chip interconnect tech. Himax well...