Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

Equity Bottom-Up

Hua Hong Semiconductor / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Hong Kong's secular bull market continues this year with record buying from mainland investors through the Southbound Connect platform.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aac-technologies-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6544:1" rel="noopener">AAC Technologies Holdings (2018 HK)</a> announced a positive profit alert of of 150% increase in profit for 2024.  The AI, phone and auto segments saw value content increases.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hua-hong-semiconductor-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7201:1" rel="noopener">Hua Hong Semiconductor (1347 HK)</a> is well-positioned to cater to China's increasing demand for locally designed and produced chips, especially in the EV, smart home appliances and wearables industries.
</li>
</ul>


Hong Kong's secular bull market continues this year with record buying from mainland investors through the Southbound Connect platform.

AAC Technologies Holdings (2018 HK) announced a positive profit alert of of 150% increase in profit for 2024.  The AI, phone and auto segments saw value content increases.


Hua Hong Semiconductor (1347 HK) is well-positioned to cater to China's increasing demand for locally designed and produced chips, especially in the EV, smart home appliances and wearables industries.



BUY/SELL/HOLD: Hong Kong Stock Update (February 20)

Asia and Global Semiconductor and Tech Research

Andrew Lu

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) / Equity Bottom-Up

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing)

<ul>
<li>TSMC reiterates 2024 sales y/y growth of 20-25% but revises down 2024 global semiconductor y/y sales from over 10% to 10% and global foundry sales growth from 20% to 15-19%.</li>
<li>
No more Moore's Law: After 3 years ramp up gap between N5-N3, TSMC confirms 10-11 quarters of ramp up gap between N3 and N2 due to longer production cycle.</li>
<li>Driven by stronger digital consumer (33% q/q), HPC (3% q/q), IoT (5% q/q) sales but weaker smartphone IC (-16% q/q), TSMC reports 1Q24 sales decline of only 5% q/q.</li>
</ul>


TSMC reiterates 2024 sales y/y growth of 20-25% but revises down 2024 global semiconductor y/y sales from over 10% to 10% and global foundry sales growth from 20% to 15-19%.

No more Moore's Law: After 3 years ramp up gap between N5-N3, TSMC confirms 10-11 quarters of ramp up gap between N3 and N2 due to longer production cycle.
Driven by stronger digital consumer (33% q/q), HPC (3% q/q), IoT (5% q/q) sales but weaker smartphone IC (-16% q/q), TSMC reports 1Q24 sales decline of only 5% q/q.


What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference?

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>Revenues of US$568.5 million, down 10% sequentially and down 9.7% YoY, at the bottom of the previously guided range.</li>
<li>Net loss of $25.8 million compared to a profit of $7.8 million in the previous quarter and $65.5 million in the year ago period.</li>
<li>With current quarter gross margins in the 2-5% range, HHGrace has flipped from best in class in H123 to the worst in class now.</li>
</ul>


Revenues of US$568.5 million, down 10% sequentially and down 9.7% YoY, at the bottom of the previously guided range.
Net loss of $25.8 million compared to a profit of $7.8 million in the previous quarter and $65.5 million in the year ago period.
With current quarter gross margins in the 2-5% range, HHGrace has flipped from best in class in H123 to the worst in class now.


HHGrace. Yikes! Things Just Got Really Ugly

Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

<ul>
<li>Operating loss in 1Q25 will persist in 2Q25 – I expect throughout 2025. Hua Hong rapid capacity increase is supposedly sold out but D&amp;A is increasing much faster than revenue. </li>
<li>Consensus is not expecting an end-demand slowdown resulting from US import tariffs, or sluggish China domestic consumption. Consensus expects Hua Hong to sell its capacity increase fully. </li>
<li>Given losses in 1H25, Consensus EPS forecast is too high for 2025, probably for 2026 as well. Stock is expensive at 43x 2025 EPS, EPS forecasts looks too high.</li>
</ul>


Operating loss in 1Q25 will persist in 2Q25 – I expect throughout 2025. Hua Hong rapid capacity increase is supposedly sold out but D&amp;A is increasing much faster than revenue. 
Consensus is not expecting an end-demand slowdown resulting from US import tariffs, or sluggish China domestic consumption. Consensus expects Hua Hong to sell its capacity increase fully. 
Given losses in 1H25, Consensus EPS forecast is too high for 2025, probably for 2026 as well. Stock is expensive at 43x 2025 EPS, EPS forecasts looks too high.


Hua Hong: Very Poor Margins to Continue, Operating Losses for Longer

Chief Executive Officer, Emmer Capital Partners Limited

Manishi Raychaudhuri

Chief Executive Officer

Emmer Capital Partners Limited

Emmer Capital Partners is an Asia Pacific focused financial advisory firm engaging in strategic financial asset allocation advice, bespoke thematic research and advising early-stage companies and connecting them to investors. Emmer Capital provides macro-economic and multi-asset investment strategy inputs to institutions, family offices, private wealth managers, private equity, and corporate boards directly and through independent research platforms. Emmer Capital also advises a wide range of startup companies on fund raising and business strategy. Emmer Capital's active engagement with the print and electronic media reaches a broad spectrum of investors across the globe.

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>From the superlative September (US$24.2 bn net buy), onshore investors' net Southbound buying dipped in October (US$11.9 bn) and November (US$15.7 bn). Xiaomi, Alibaba, PopMart and Meituan were bought most.</li>
<li>The most sold stocks during October-November were SMIC, Hua Hong Semi, Innovent Biologics. Enthusiasm for semiconductor and biotech seems to be cooling off, though we believe biotech focus should revive.</li>
<li>Investors' sustained preference is for stocks catering to domestic consumption that are able to adopt AI to improve productivity and expand their cash-generating businesses. Internet platforms fall in this silo.</li>
</ul>


From the superlative September (US$24.2 bn net buy), onshore investors' net Southbound buying dipped in October (US$11.9 bn) and November (US$15.7 bn). Xiaomi, Alibaba, PopMart and Meituan were bought most.
The most sold stocks during October-November were SMIC, Hua Hong Semi, Innovent Biologics. Enthusiasm for semiconductor and biotech seems to be cooling off, though we believe biotech focus should revive.
Investors' sustained preference is for stocks catering to domestic consumption that are able to adopt AI to improve productivity and expand their cash-generating businesses. Internet platforms fall in this silo.


Asian Equities: Southbound Zeal Dips; Some Established Themes Looking Tired, Others Rejuvenated.

China

Hua Hong Semiconductor Limited manufactures semiconductors on 200mm wafers for specialty applications. The Company's products are used in the consumer electronic, communication, computing and industrial, and automotive industries.

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Hua Hong Semiconductor (1347 HK)

BUY/SELL/HOLD: Hong Kong Stock Update (February 20)

Mainland investors are buying record amounts in HK during secular bull mkt. AAC Tech reported positive earnings surprise and Hua Hong is rapidly...

David Mudd

What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference?

What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference? TSMC revises down 2024 global semi y/y sales from over 10% to...

Andrew Lu

HHGrace. Yikes! Things Just Got Really Ugly

A surprise loss-making Q323, ASPs down ~16% YTD and set to decline further, inventory write-downs and gross margin collapsing to the 2-5% range....

William Keating

Hua Hong: Very Poor Margins to Continue, Operating Losses for Longer

Expect operating losses in 2025 for Hua Hong on rapid capacity increase, increasing D&A outpacing revenue growth. Consensus EPS forecasts are...

Nicolas Baratte

Asian Equities: Southbound Zeal Dips; Some Established Themes Looking Tired, Others Rejuvenated.

Southbound buying dipped in October-November. Focus remains on stocks catering to domestic consumption & AI adoption. Semiconductor & biotech zeal...

Manishi Raychaudhuri

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BUY/SELL/HOLD: Hong Kong Stock Update (February 20)

Mainland investors are buying record amounts in HK during secular bull mkt. AAC Tech reported positive earnings surprise and Hua Hong is rapidly...

David Mudd

What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference?

What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference? TSMC revises down 2024 global semi y/y sales from over 10% to...

Andrew Lu

HHGrace. Yikes! Things Just Got Really Ugly

A surprise loss-making Q323, ASPs down ~16% YTD and set to decline further, inventory write-downs and gross margin collapsing to the 2-5% range....

William Keating

Hua Hong: Very Poor Margins to Continue, Operating Losses for Longer

​Expect operating losses in 2025 for Hua Hong on rapid capacity increase, increasing D&A outpacing revenue growth. Consensus EPS forecasts are...

Nicolas Baratte

Asian Equities: Southbound Zeal Dips; Some Established Themes Looking Tired, Others Rejuvenated.

​Southbound buying dipped in October-November. Focus remains on stocks catering to domestic consumption & AI adoption. Semiconductor & biotech zeal...

Manishi Raychaudhuri

Expect operating losses in 2025 for Hua Hong on rapid capacity increase, increasing D&A outpacing revenue growth. Consensus EPS forecasts are...

Southbound buying dipped in October-November. Focus remains on stocks catering to domestic consumption & AI adoption. Semiconductor & biotech zeal...