AI | Semiconductors | Commodities, Mint Finance

Raghav Vashisht

AI | Semiconductors | Commodities

Deep Fundamental Analysis

Mint Finance

Mint Finance's investment research blends deep fundamental analysis with technical & quant insights. Investment strategies straddle across multiple asset classes with risk management embedded into every trade to deliver an outsized reward-to-risk ratio.

Mint Finance's research is centered around three key themes. First, energy transition and climate change. Second, artificial intelligence. Third, shifting world order with its impact across politics and monetary economics.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Engineering work continues on the 14A, but further capacity expansion is on hold until a major external customer commits.</li>
<li>CEO Lip-Bu Tan is prioritising balance sheet strength and shareholder returns after years of aggressive capex.</li>
<li>Intel would only expand PPE upon firm commitments, ensuring any new foundry capacity is tied to revenue certainty.</li>
</ul>


Engineering work continues on the 14A, but further capacity expansion is on hold until a major external customer commits.
CEO Lip-Bu Tan is prioritising balance sheet strength and shareholder returns after years of aggressive capex.
Intel would only expand PPE upon firm commitments, ensuring any new foundry capacity is tied to revenue certainty.


Is 14A on the Chopping Block, or Is Intel Raising the Stakes for a Whale

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>MediaTek Reportedly Wins Meta’s 2nm AI Chip Order Over Broadcom</li>
<li>Memory Monitor: SK Hynix Vs. Micron -- Different Speeds &amp; Focus, Same Structural Shift </li>
<li>Semi Key Indicators Q2 2025: PC, Smartphone Unit Shipments, Global Semi &amp; WFE Sales All Looking Good </li>
</ul>


MediaTek Reportedly Wins Meta’s 2nm AI Chip Order Over Broadcom
Memory Monitor: SK Hynix Vs. Micron -- Different Speeds &amp; Focus, Same Structural Shift 
Semi Key Indicators Q2 2025: PC, Smartphone Unit Shipments, Global Semi &amp; WFE Sales All Looking Good 


Taiwan Tech Weekly: Mediatek Reportedly Bests Broadcom for Meta Custom Chip Win; Semi Key Indicators

<ul>
<li>SOXX rose 1.3% as AMD, Nvidia, and Broadcom rallied on China access and upgrades, while Micron and ASML lagged on memory and High-NA concerns.</li>
<li>ASML warned on 2026 as TSMC and Samsung delay High-NA EUV; newer designs instead boost demand for etch players over lithography.</li>
<li>$136M ETF outflows and a 25% drop in options activity show gains remain narrow, with investors waiting on tariffs and real tech catalysts.</li>
</ul>


SOXX rose 1.3% as AMD, Nvidia, and Broadcom rallied on China access and upgrades, while Micron and ASML lagged on memory and High-NA concerns.
ASML warned on 2026 as TSMC and Samsung delay High-NA EUV; newer designs instead boost demand for etch players over lithography.
$136M ETF outflows and a 25% drop in options activity show gains remain narrow, with investors waiting on tariffs and real tech catalysts.


[Wafer Watch] Top Chipmakers Drive the Index, Broader Market Stalls

Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

<ul>
<li>Samsung doesn’t provide guidance when it reports, but gives revenue an operating profit guidance ~2 weeks before reporting. But we have an officially non-official preview in Korean media. </li>
<li>2Q25 operating profit will be “weaker than expected”, declining “by more than 15% from the first quarter” to KRW mid-5 trillion range. Consensus expects +1% QoQ. </li>
<li>Some positive news to counter balance this large disappointment – smartphone, HBM3E – I am skeptical any of these can lift profits in 2H25, revisit early 2026.</li>
</ul>


Samsung doesn’t provide guidance when it reports, but gives revenue an operating profit guidance ~2 weeks before reporting. But we have an officially non-official preview in Korean media. 
2Q25 operating profit will be “weaker than expected”, declining “by more than 15% from the first quarter” to KRW mid-5 trillion range. Consensus expects +1% QoQ. 
Some positive news to counter balance this large disappointment – smartphone, HBM3E – I am skeptical any of these can lift profits in 2H25, revisit early 2026.


Samsung 2Q25 Official Leaks: Sharp Decline in Operating Profits, but It’s the Bottom. Really?

<ul>
<li>Lisuan new GPU is a first step, but performance far behind AMD/Nvidia. Loongson new server CPU looks good, close to Intel chip of 2021. Major bottleneck remains SMIC 7nm capacity.</li>
<li>Qualcomm looks close to qualifying Samsung’s 2nm to manufacture Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. This would imply a major yield breakthru for Samsung.</li>
<li>Microsoft ARM CPU Maia is in production, but its AI accelerator Braga seems delayed significantly – either performance or an architecture rethink.</li>
</ul>


Lisuan new GPU is a first step, but performance far behind AMD/Nvidia. Loongson new server CPU looks good, close to Intel chip of 2021. Major bottleneck remains SMIC 7nm capacity.
Qualcomm looks close to qualifying Samsung’s 2nm to manufacture Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. This would imply a major yield breakthru for Samsung.
Microsoft ARM CPU Maia is in production, but its AI accelerator Braga seems delayed significantly – either performance or an architecture rethink.


Chips News: GPU, CPU in China. Qualcomm Going to Samsung Maybe, Microsoft Accelerator Delayed.

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)

Is 14A on the Chopping Block, or Is Intel Raising the Stakes for a Whale

Intel is focusing on financial stability and shareholder returns, delaying capacity expansion until it secures commitments from major customers.

Mint Finance

Taiwan Tech Weekly: Mediatek Reportedly Bests Broadcom for Meta Custom Chip Win; Semi Key Indicators

MediaTek secures order for Meta's 2nm AI chip, SK Hynix and Micron show different speeds and focus in memory market, positive outlook for PC,...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

[Wafer Watch] Top Chipmakers Drive the Index, Broader Market Stalls

AMD, Nvidia, and Broadcom lead the gains, but falling flows, cautious options bets, and structural shifts in chipmaking leave the rally on...

Mint Finance

Samsung 2Q25 Official Leaks: Sharp Decline in Operating Profits, but It’s the Bottom. Really?

Samsung's 2Q25 operating profit to decline by over 15% from Q1, Consensus expects +1%. Some positive news but skepticism about profit lift in 2H25.

Nicolas Baratte

Chips News: GPU, CPU in China. Qualcomm Going to Samsung Maybe, Microsoft Accelerator Delayed.

Lisuan's new GPU lags behind AMD/Nvidia, Loongson's server CPU competitive vs Intel, SMIC's 7nm capacity a bottleneck. Qualcomm may use Samsung's...

Nicolas Baratte

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Is 14A on the Chopping Block, or Is Intel Raising the Stakes for a Whale

​Intel is focusing on financial stability and shareholder returns, delaying capacity expansion until it secures commitments from major customers.

Mint Finance

Taiwan Tech Weekly: Mediatek Reportedly Bests Broadcom for Meta Custom Chip Win; Semi Key Indicators

​MediaTek secures order for Meta's 2nm AI chip, SK Hynix and Micron show different speeds and focus in memory market, positive outlook for PC,...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

[Wafer Watch] Top Chipmakers Drive the Index, Broader Market Stalls

AMD, Nvidia, and Broadcom lead the gains, but falling flows, cautious options bets, and structural shifts in chipmaking leave the rally on...

Mint Finance

Samsung 2Q25 Official Leaks: Sharp Decline in Operating Profits, but It’s the Bottom. Really?

​Samsung's 2Q25 operating profit to decline by over 15% from Q1, Consensus expects +1%. Some positive news but skepticism about profit lift in 2H25.

Nicolas Baratte

Chips News: GPU, CPU in China. Qualcomm Going to Samsung Maybe, Microsoft Accelerator Delayed.

​Lisuan's new GPU lags behind AMD/Nvidia, Loongson's server CPU competitive vs Intel, SMIC's 7nm capacity a bottleneck. Qualcomm may use Samsung's...

Nicolas Baratte

Intel is focusing on financial stability and shareholder returns, delaying capacity expansion until it secures commitments from major customers.

MediaTek secures order for Meta's 2nm AI chip, SK Hynix and Micron show different speeds and focus in memory market, positive outlook for PC,...

Samsung's 2Q25 operating profit to decline by over 15% from Q1, Consensus expects +1%. Some positive news but skepticism about profit lift in 2H25.

Lisuan's new GPU lags behind AMD/Nvidia, Loongson's server CPU competitive vs Intel, SMIC's 7nm capacity a bottleneck. Qualcomm may use Samsung's...