Podcast On the Business of Semiconductors, The Circuit

The Circuit

Podcast On the Business of Semiconductors

A Podcast On the Business of Semiconductors. With Jay Goldberg and Ben Bajarin

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>Discussion on the balance between custom ASICs and GPUs in the tech industry</li><li>Concerns about over-excitement towards custom ASICs and potential loss of market share for GPUs</li><li>Considerations of architectural compatibility, innovation adoption, and economic viability for custom ASICs compared to GPUs.</li></ul>This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.

Discussion on the balance between custom ASICs and GPUs in the tech industryConcerns about over-excitement towards custom ASICs and potential loss of market share for GPUsConsiderations of architectural compatibility, innovation adoption, and economic viability for custom ASICs compared to GPUs.This content is sourced through publicly available sources and has been machine generated. Information displayed is for general informational purposes only.

Episode 105: Sanity Check on Custom ASICS?

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

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

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) - ADR

<ul>
<li>OpenAI Joins the AI Chip Race -- Partnering with TSMC and Broadcom to Reduce Nvidia Reliance</li>
<li>TSMC January Revenue Rises 35.9% -- But Reduces 1Q25E Expectations Due to Quake Impact</li>
<li>Hon Hai Guides for 1Q25E Growth to Be Above Average and 'Strong'</li>
</ul>


OpenAI Joins the AI Chip Race -- Partnering with TSMC and Broadcom to Reduce Nvidia Reliance
TSMC January Revenue Rises 35.9% -- But Reduces 1Q25E Expectations Due to Quake Impact
Hon Hai Guides for 1Q25E Growth to Be Above Average and 'Strong'


Taiwan Tech Weekly: OpenAI Developing Alternative to Nvidia with TSMC; Hon Hai Guides Strong 1Q25E

<ul>
<li>Rapidus Corporation -- The Japan-based semiconductor startup has emerged as a key part of the country’s ambition to reclaim a foothold in the advanced semiconductor manufacturing space.</li>
<li>How Rapidus Compares to TSMC -- Rapidus’s challenge is not only in catching up with TSMC’s leading-edge process nodes but also in ensuring manufacturing maturity and cost competitiveness.</li>
<li>Maintain Structural Long rating for TSMC -- Accumulate on market weakness. TSMC is partially insulated from U.S. tariff risks thanks to its position producing the most advanced chips.</li>
</ul>


Rapidus Corporation -- The Japan-based semiconductor startup has emerged as a key part of the country’s ambition to reclaim a foothold in the advanced semiconductor manufacturing space.
How Rapidus Compares to TSMC -- Rapidus’s challenge is not only in catching up with TSMC’s leading-edge process nodes but also in ensuring manufacturing maturity and cost competitiveness.
Maintain Structural Long rating for TSMC -- Accumulate on market weakness. TSMC is partially insulated from U.S. tariff risks thanks to its position producing the most advanced chips.


Japan's Semiconductor Gamble: Can Rapidus Challenge TSMC?

Covering IPOs, Healthcare and Technology Stocks

Andrei Zakharov

Equity Capital Markets

Sailpoint Technologies Holdings / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>SailPoint, a founder-led provider of identity security for the modern enterprise, aims to raise up to $1B to pay off debt.</li>
<li>The company ended last quarter at $813M of implied ARR and I see a clear path to $1B+ ARR in FY26 ended Jan 30, 2026.</li>
<li>I believe SailPoint may consider IPO at valuation above take-private transaction of ~$6.9B in 2022. The company is expected to go public in February.</li>
</ul>


SailPoint, a founder-led provider of identity security for the modern enterprise, aims to raise up to $1B to pay off debt.
The company ended last quarter at $813M of implied ARR and I see a clear path to $1B+ ARR in FY26 ended Jan 30, 2026.
I believe SailPoint may consider IPO at valuation above take-private transaction of ~$6.9B in 2022. The company is expected to go public in February.


SailPoint IPO Valuation Analysis: Paying Debt With IPO Proceeds and $1B+ ARR in FY26

US-EU Index Rebalances / Quantitative Researcher, ORTEX

Dimitris Ioannidis

US-EU Index Rebalances / Quantitative Researcher

Global Financial Data and Analytics Platform

ORTEX

ORTEX is a global financial data and analytics platform providing real-time securities lending and short interest data, index rebalance data, holdings and insider transactions, trading signals, corporate actions and news,  stock machine learning and factor scores and other analytics. The majority of the data are downloadable and accessible through APIs.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mongodb-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26655:1" rel="noopener">MongoDB (MDB US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/biogen-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:972:1" rel="noopener">Biogen Inc (BIIB US)</a> are the main candidates for deletion based on their current and previous-review ranking.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ansys-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15473:1" rel="noopener">Ansys Inc (ANSS US)</a> is expected to be deleted from the index by June 2025 following its $35bn acquisition by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/synopsys-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3493:1" rel="noopener">Synopsys Inc (SNPS US)</a>. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-airlines-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15776:1" rel="noopener">United Airlines Holdings (UAL US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alnylam-pharmaceuticals-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2191:1" rel="noopener">Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY US)</a> are currently the main candidates for addition, thus the first in line to replace <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ansys-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15473:1" rel="noopener">Ansys Inc (ANSS US)</a>.</li>
</ul>



MongoDB (MDB US) and Biogen Inc (BIIB US) are the main candidates for deletion based on their current and previous-review ranking.

Ansys Inc (ANSS US) is expected to be deleted from the index by June 2025 following its $35bn acquisition by Synopsys Inc (SNPS US). 

United Airlines Holdings (UAL US) and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY US) are currently the main candidates for addition, thus the first in line to replace Ansys Inc (ANSS US).


Nasdaq100 Dec2025 Forecast (Part 1): MDB & BIIB in Trouble; UAL & ALNY First Replacements

United States

Broadcom Inc. designs, develops, and supplies semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions. The Company offers storage adapters, controllers, networking processors, motion control encoders, and optical sensors, as well as infrastructure and security software to modernize, optimize, and secure the most complex hybrid environments. Broadcom serves customers worldwide.

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Broadcom (AVGO US)

Episode 105: Sanity Check on Custom ASICS?

The episode delves into the debate between custom ASICs and GPUs in the tech industry, highlighting the benefits and drawbacks of each while...

The Circuit

Taiwan Tech Weekly: OpenAI Developing Alternative to Nvidia with TSMC; Hon Hai Guides Strong 1Q25E

OpenAI partners with TSMC and Broadcom to reduce reliance on Nvidia in AI chip race, while Hon Hai expects above average and 'strong' growth in...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Japan's Semiconductor Gamble: Can Rapidus Challenge TSMC?

Japan's Rapidus aims to boost country's semiconductor industry, but faces significant challenges in catching up to TSMC's advanced nodes and cost...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

SailPoint IPO Valuation Analysis: Paying Debt With IPO Proceeds and $1B+ ARR in FY26

SailPoint is expected to IPO in February. In my insight, I discuss valuation comps, IPO valuation and outline key risks for IPO investors.

Andrei Zakharov

Nasdaq100 Dec2025 Forecast (Part 1): MDB & BIIB in Trouble; UAL & ALNY First Replacements

Ansys (ANSS) is expected to be deleted from Nasdaq100 by June 2025 following its acquisition by Synopsys (SNPS). United Airlines (UAL) and Alnylam...

Dimitris Ioannidis

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Episode 105: Sanity Check on Custom ASICS?

The episode delves into the debate between custom ASICs and GPUs in the tech industry, highlighting the benefits and drawbacks of each while...

The Circuit

Taiwan Tech Weekly: OpenAI Developing Alternative to Nvidia with TSMC; Hon Hai Guides Strong 1Q25E

​OpenAI partners with TSMC and Broadcom to reduce reliance on Nvidia in AI chip race, while Hon Hai expects above average and 'strong' growth in...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Japan's Semiconductor Gamble: Can Rapidus Challenge TSMC?

​Japan's Rapidus aims to boost country's semiconductor industry, but faces significant challenges in catching up to TSMC's advanced nodes and cost...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

SailPoint IPO Valuation Analysis: Paying Debt With IPO Proceeds and $1B+ ARR in FY26

SailPoint is expected to IPO in February. In my insight, I discuss valuation comps, IPO valuation and outline key risks for IPO investors.

Andrei Zakharov

Nasdaq100 Dec2025 Forecast (Part 1): MDB & BIIB in Trouble; UAL & ALNY First Replacements

Ansys (ANSS) is expected to be deleted from Nasdaq100 by June 2025 following its acquisition by Synopsys (SNPS). United Airlines (UAL) and Alnylam...

Dimitris Ioannidis

OpenAI partners with TSMC and Broadcom to reduce reliance on Nvidia in AI chip race, while Hon Hai expects above average and 'strong' growth in...

Japan's Rapidus aims to boost country's semiconductor industry, but faces significant challenges in catching up to TSMC's advanced nodes and cost...