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

<ul>
<li>Asus's 1Q24 earnings beat consensus by 46% thanks to major increase in operating margin driven by costs optimization. Adjusted Asus brand Op profit rose 227% YoY and 98% QoQ.</li>
<li>Asus will host a major AI PC launch event May 21st, with additional AI PCs launched at Computex in Taiwan June 4th. Will feature <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/qualcomm-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:969:1" rel="noopener">Qualcomm Inc (QCOM US)</a> Snapdragon processors.</li>
<li>Asus confident in an PC upgrade cycle and has guided for sales to rise and margins to expand in the coming quarters. We maintain our Structural Long rating for Asus.</li>
</ul>


Asus's 1Q24 earnings beat consensus by 46% thanks to major increase in operating margin driven by costs optimization. Adjusted Asus brand Op profit rose 227% YoY and 98% QoQ.
Asus will host a major AI PC launch event May 21st, with additional AI PCs launched at Computex in Taiwan June 4th. Will feature Qualcomm Inc (QCOM US) Snapdragon processors.
Asus confident in an PC upgrade cycle and has guided for sales to rise and margins to expand in the coming quarters. We maintain our Structural Long rating for Asus.


Asustek: Margin Beat, Guides More Upside; Qualcomm for AI PCs; Why Asus Confident in AI PC Up-Cycle

<ul>
<li>Dell has outperformed Acer and other Taiwan PC names Asus and MSI by a wide margin. Close Long Dell vs. Short Acer. Dell's value gap has dissipated.</li>
<li>Latest indications from Dell and HP highlight that the AI PC's will drive upgrades from customers, but the PC recovery remains soft. AI PC impact only in 2025E.</li>
<li>Dell and HPQ's recent results provide positive color for upcoming Asus, Acer, and MSI results. Trade: Long Asus into its upcoming earnings results.</li>
</ul>


Dell has outperformed Acer and other Taiwan PC names Asus and MSI by a wide margin. Close Long Dell vs. Short Acer. Dell's value gap has dissipated.
Latest indications from Dell and HP highlight that the AI PC's will drive upgrades from customers, but the PC recovery remains soft. AI PC impact only in 2025E.
Dell and HPQ's recent results provide positive color for upcoming Asus, Acer, and MSI results. Trade: Long Asus into its upcoming earnings results.


PC Monitor: Long Dell Vs. Short Acer Update; Dell & HPQ Results Indicate Opportunity in Asus

<ul>
<li>Asustek reported results on November 13th that beat analyst expectations thanks to a major margin rebound. The stock soared post results.</li>
<li>Asus plans to be the first company globally to release an AI PC, leveraging extensive AI R&amp;D across different devices as well as its leading market share in gaming PCs.</li>
<li>However, gaming PC competitor MSI is already moving fast; Shows how gaming PCs are likely to be the first AI PC battleground. Long Asustek, remains preferred over Acer.</li>
</ul>


Asustek reported results on November 13th that beat analyst expectations thanks to a major margin rebound. The stock soared post results.
Asus plans to be the first company globally to release an AI PC, leveraging extensive AI R&amp;D across different devices as well as its leading market share in gaming PCs.
However, gaming PC competitor MSI is already moving fast; Shows how gaming PCs are likely to be the first AI PC battleground. Long Asustek, remains preferred over Acer.


How Asustek Plans to Take the Lead Globally in AI PCs; Gaming PCs First Key Battleground

<ul>
<li>Intel's upcoming Meteor Lake family of chips will include a new specific component specifically for running AI processes locally on PCs.</li>
<li>Meteor Lake will enable mass market adoption of AI PCs by providing a platform for developers to create more advanced AI PC applications than are currently possible.</li>
<li>Meteor Lake's launch could start by end-October. Intel's Innovation conference September 19-20th will likely add visibility. Intel's potential supports a Long thesis for Taiwan's PC supply chain.</li>
</ul>


Intel's upcoming Meteor Lake family of chips will include a new specific component specifically for running AI processes locally on PCs.
Meteor Lake will enable mass market adoption of AI PCs by providing a platform for developers to create more advanced AI PC applications than are currently possible.
Meteor Lake's launch could start by end-October. Intel's Innovation conference September 19-20th will likely add visibility. Intel's potential supports a Long thesis for Taiwan's PC supply chain.


Intel's Meteor Lake Chips Could Make It 'Cool' Again; Will Enable Mass Market Adoption of AI PCs

<ul>
<li>Asustek and Acer recently reported 2Q23 results with both companies showing a rebound in margins and normalized inventory levels. The cycle trough is clearly past.</li>
<li>Asustek expects to grow its server product revenue by 500% by 2027 and is also developing AI PCs that could generate a significant sales volume by 3Q24.</li>
<li>The latest results and comments not just make a coming PC up-cycle clear, but also imply that it could be stronger than previous cycles thanks to AI PCs.</li>
</ul>


Asustek and Acer recently reported 2Q23 results with both companies showing a rebound in margins and normalized inventory levels. The cycle trough is clearly past.
Asustek expects to grow its server product revenue by 500% by 2027 and is also developing AI PCs that could generate a significant sales volume by 3Q24.
The latest results and comments not just make a coming PC up-cycle clear, but also imply that it could be stronger than previous cycles thanks to AI PCs.


PC Monitor: Asustek Preparing for AI PC Upgrade Wave, Volume Sales in 3Q24

Taiwan

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

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Asustek Computer (2357 TT)

Asustek: Margin Beat, Guides More Upside; Qualcomm for AI PCs; Why Asus Confident in AI PC Up-Cycle

Asus beats earnings expectations by 46% in 1Q24, plans major AI PC launch event with Qualcomm processors, confident in PC upgrade cycle and future...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

PC Monitor: Long Dell Vs. Short Acer Update; Dell & HPQ Results Indicate Opportunity in Asus

Dell has outperformed Acer and other Taiwan PC names. Positive results from Dell and HPQ remove risk of disappointment in upcoming results for...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

How Asustek Plans to Take the Lead Globally in AI PCs; Gaming PCs First Key Battleground

However, gaming PC competitor MSI is already moving fast; Shows how gaming PCs are likely to be the first AI PC battleground. Long Asustek, remains...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Intel's Meteor Lake Chips Could Make It 'Cool' Again; Will Enable Mass Market Adoption of AI PCs

Intel's Meteor Lake chip family will enable mass adoption of AI PCs and the company could become widely admired by the market again. This also...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

PC Monitor: Asustek Preparing for AI PC Upgrade Wave, Volume Sales in 3Q24

Asustek and Acer recently reported 2Q23 results with both companies showing a rebound in margins and normalized inventory levels. The cycle trough...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Asustek: Margin Beat, Guides More Upside; Qualcomm for AI PCs; Why Asus Confident in AI PC Up-Cycle

​Asus beats earnings expectations by 46% in 1Q24, plans major AI PC launch event with Qualcomm processors, confident in PC upgrade cycle and future...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

PC Monitor: Long Dell Vs. Short Acer Update; Dell & HPQ Results Indicate Opportunity in Asus

​Dell has outperformed Acer and other Taiwan PC names. Positive results from Dell and HPQ remove risk of disappointment in upcoming results for...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

How Asustek Plans to Take the Lead Globally in AI PCs; Gaming PCs First Key Battleground

However, gaming PC competitor MSI is already moving fast; Shows how gaming PCs are likely to be the first AI PC battleground. Long Asustek, remains...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Intel's Meteor Lake Chips Could Make It 'Cool' Again; Will Enable Mass Market Adoption of AI PCs

Intel's Meteor Lake chip family will enable mass adoption of AI PCs and the company could become widely admired by the market again. This also...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

PC Monitor: Asustek Preparing for AI PC Upgrade Wave, Volume Sales in 3Q24

Asustek and Acer recently reported 2Q23 results with both companies showing a rebound in margins and normalized inventory levels. The cycle trough...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Asus beats earnings expectations by 46% in 1Q24, plans major AI PC launch event with Qualcomm processors, confident in PC upgrade cycle and future...

Dell has outperformed Acer and other Taiwan PC names. Positive results from Dell and HPQ remove risk of disappointment in upcoming results for...