Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

Equity Bottom-Up

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) / Equity Bottom-Up

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC)

<ul>
<li>Based on the some judgments, SMIC consider it will be relatively flat demand in 2024F.</li>
<li>SMIC took into consideration geopolitical instability and allowed equipment vendors to submit orders in advance. </li>
<li>Currently, only a few manufacturers are stockpiling smartphones in response to this wave. The overall industry remains relatively stable.</li>
</ul>


Based on the some judgments, SMIC consider it will be relatively flat demand in 2024F.
SMIC took into consideration geopolitical instability and allowed equipment vendors to submit orders in advance. 
Currently, only a few manufacturers are stockpiling smartphones in response to this wave. The overall industry remains relatively stable.


SMIC (981.HK): Probably A Double U-Shape Correction for Around 2 Years Until the End of 2024F.

Asia and Global Semiconductor and Tech Research

Andrew Lu

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Takeaways post model updated: 1. most foundries miss 4Q23 but y/y decline to decelerate; 2. y/y sales passed the trough but utilization later; 3. wafer shipment down 18-20% in 2023;</li>
<li>More takeaways: 4. different mix with different price; 5. some are defensive this year, some might have larger upside for 2024; 6. gross margin still falling and capex cut needed.</li>
<li>
<strong>Automotive/Industrial lags only not beginning of the fall</strong>: Smartphone, pc, consumer/IOT foundry orders might recover earlier than automotive/industrial for 2-3 quarters, resulting fablesses in these area to outperform.</li>
</ul>


Takeaways post model updated: 1. most foundries miss 4Q23 but y/y decline to decelerate; 2. y/y sales passed the trough but utilization later; 3. wafer shipment down 18-20% in 2023;
More takeaways: 4. different mix with different price; 5. some are defensive this year, some might have larger upside for 2024; 6. gross margin still falling and capex cut needed.

Automotive/Industrial lags only not beginning of the fall: Smartphone, pc, consumer/IOT foundry orders might recover earlier than automotive/industrial for 2-3 quarters, resulting fablesses in these area to outperform.


Takeaways Post Our Global Foundry Model Updated and Initial View on 2024

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

<ul>
<li>Q323 revenues of $1.85 billion, flat sequentially but down 11% YoY. Net income was $249 million, up 5% sequentially but down 26% YoY.</li>
<li>At a midpoint of $1.85 billion, forward guidance is once again flat sequentially. Overall it was a solid report with guidance slightly better than UMC delivered last week.</li>
<li>Despite the solid quarter, the company's outlook for 2024 was bleak with a 50% CapEx cut, LTAs under mounting pressure &amp; ominous-sounding LTA "True Up" on the horizon. </li>
</ul>


Q323 revenues of $1.85 billion, flat sequentially but down 11% YoY. Net income was $249 million, up 5% sequentially but down 26% YoY.
At a midpoint of $1.85 billion, forward guidance is once again flat sequentially. Overall it was a solid report with guidance slightly better than UMC delivered last week.
Despite the solid quarter, the company's outlook for 2024 was bleak with a 50% CapEx cut, LTAs under mounting pressure &amp; ominous-sounding LTA "True Up" on the horizon. 


GlobalFoundries Pops On Q323 Earnings. But Why?

Novatek Microelectronics Corp / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>It's likely that quarterly sales will return to normal seasonality in 2024F, and the Smartphone demand has shown some signs of recovery.</li>
<li>Revenue/ GM/ OPM are declined 8.6%/ 2.7%/ 2.7% in 4Q23F, but we consider the end market might be recovery. </li>
<li>The OLED penetration rate in smartphones is 42.5% in 2023F , and it's anticipated that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/novatek-microelectronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10904:1" rel="noopener">Novatek Microelectronics Corp (3034 TT)</a> will exceed the market in terms of OLED sales.</li>
</ul>


It's likely that quarterly sales will return to normal seasonality in 2024F, and the Smartphone demand has shown some signs of recovery.
Revenue/ GM/ OPM are declined 8.6%/ 2.7%/ 2.7% in 4Q23F, but we consider the end market might be recovery. 
The OLED penetration rate in smartphones is 42.5% in 2023F , and it's anticipated that Novatek Microelectronics Corp (3034 TT) will exceed the market in terms of OLED sales.


Novatek (3034.TT): It's Likely Quarterly Sales Will Return to Normal Seasonality in 2024F.

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) / Equity Bottom-Up

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing)

<ul>
<li>Last week global heavyweights AMD, Samsung, and Qualcomm delivered good news, including for the Memory, PC, and Smartphone industries. Taiwan company results supported their views as well.</li>
<li>Looking ahead, Novatek, Asustek, and Himax are set to release in Taiwan. Combined with NXP abroad, this will provide color on display demand, automotive, and servers/PCs.</li>
<li>A new Chinese memory chip maker just received major government investment, with an IPO of its related company planned.</li>
</ul>


Last week global heavyweights AMD, Samsung, and Qualcomm delivered good news, including for the Memory, PC, and Smartphone industries. Taiwan company results supported their views as well.
Looking ahead, Novatek, Asustek, and Himax are set to release in Taiwan. Combined with NXP abroad, this will provide color on display demand, automotive, and servers/PCs.
A new Chinese memory chip maker just received major government investment, with an IPO of its related company planned.


Taiwan Tech Weekly: Positive Signs for Memory, PC, Smartphones; Key Autos & Display Color This Week

Taiwan

United Microelectronics Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets integrated circuits (ICs) and related electronic products.  The Company's main products are consumer electronic ICs, memory ICs, personal computer peripheral ICs, and communication ICs.

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United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT)

SMIC (981.HK): Probably A Double U-Shape Correction for Around 2 Years Until the End of 2024F.

Based on the some judgments, SMIC consider it will be relatively flat demand in 2024F. SMIC took into consideration geopolitical instability and...

Patrick Liao

Takeaways Post Our Global Foundry Model Updated and Initial View on 2024

Seven takeaways Post Our Global Foundry Model Updated and Initial View on 2024 foundry shipment, blended wafer price, sales, and capex growth/decline

Andrew Lu

GlobalFoundries Pops On Q323 Earnings. But Why?

Despite the solid quarter, the company's outlook for 2024 was bleak with a 50% CapEx cut, LTAs under mounting pressure & an ominous-sounding LTA...

William Keating

Novatek (3034.TT): It's Likely Quarterly Sales Will Return to Normal Seasonality in 2024F.

It's likely that quarterly sales will return to normal seasonality in 2024F. It is likely that quarterly sales will return to normal seasonality in...

Patrick Liao

Taiwan Tech Weekly: Positive Signs for Memory, PC, Smartphones; Key Autos & Display Color This Week

Last week global heavyweights AMD, Samsung, and Qualcomm delivered good news, including for the Memory, PC, and Smartphone industries. Taiwan...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

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