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

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

<ul>
<li>UMC &amp; Mediatek Results Today in Taiwan, Samsung Also Reporting; Taiwan AI Names Flying; Himax &amp; Novatek Top Losers Ahead of Results.</li>
<li>Semiconductor Surge: Southeast Asia Taking Center Stage Amid Taiwan's Geopolitical Shift</li>
<li>First Run of Tech/Semis' Guidance Tells Us What Industries and Companies to Avoid</li>
</ul>


UMC &amp; Mediatek Results Today in Taiwan, Samsung Also Reporting; Taiwan AI Names Flying; Himax &amp; Novatek Top Losers Ahead of Results.
Semiconductor Surge: Southeast Asia Taking Center Stage Amid Taiwan's Geopolitical Shift
First Run of Tech/Semis' Guidance Tells Us What Industries and Companies to Avoid


Taiwan Tech Weekly: Semiconductors Surging in Southeast Asia; UMC & Mediatek Results Today

Asia and Global Semiconductor and Tech Research

Andrew Lu

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Both TSMC and UMC saw about 20% cut in automotive industry wafer sales in 3Q23, which was 20% worse than customers' guidance.</li>
<li>Reasons for discrepancies: 1. IDMs cut foundry orders but keep in house utilization higher; 2. Worse than expected US auto factories strike; 3. Rate hike results in worse car sales.</li>
<li>We suggest clients to be cautious on the investment of automotive supply chain for the next 3-6 months</li>
</ul>


Both TSMC and UMC saw about 20% cut in automotive industry wafer sales in 3Q23, which was 20% worse than customers' guidance.
Reasons for discrepancies: 1. IDMs cut foundry orders but keep in house utilization higher; 2. Worse than expected US auto factories strike; 3. Rate hike results in worse car sales.
We suggest clients to be cautious on the investment of automotive supply chain for the next 3-6 months


Top Foundries See Cut in Automotive Industry Wafer Sales, Implications

Semiconductors, Memory and SSDs Specialist, Objective Analysis

Jim Handy

Semiconductors, Memory and SSDs Specialist

Objective Analysis

Objective Analysis offers third-party independent market research and data for the semiconductor industry and investors in the semiconductor industry.

Semiconductors, Memory and SSDs

<ul>
<li>There are signs of a recovery in the chip sector</li>
<li>Memory spot prices are up, and revenues have risen for six consecutive months</li>
<li>Growth is higher than average, indicating the start of another super-cycle</li>
</ul>


There are signs of a recovery in the chip sector
Memory spot prices are up, and revenues have risen for six consecutive months
Growth is higher than average, indicating the start of another super-cycle


Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>A bit over a year ago <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/renesas-electronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15933:1" rel="noopener">Renesas Electronics (6723 JP)</a> announced its transaction to buy <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dialog-semiconductor-plc-664a1f83-2a21-4690-a91f-fb971832e7ad" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21607:1" rel="noopener">Dialog Semiconductor (DLG GR)</a> for €4.8bn (roughly ¥624bn) and the transaction closed end-August 2021.</li>
<li>In September, Renesas announced a "Progress Update" covering various business segments, expectations for supply in the sector, and eventual "shareholder return" policy.</li>
<li>This past week the Nikkei carried an article talking about a possible stock buyback later this year. I explore.</li>
</ul>


A bit over a year ago Renesas Electronics (6723 JP) announced its transaction to buy Dialog Semiconductor (DLG GR) for €4.8bn (roughly ¥624bn) and the transaction closed end-August 2021.
In September, Renesas announced a "Progress Update" covering various business segments, expectations for supply in the sector, and eventual "shareholder return" policy.
This past week the Nikkei carried an article talking about a possible stock buyback later this year. I explore.


Renesas (6723 JP) - On Top of Peer-Beating Growth, and Valuation... Watch for Buybacks

Research on Tech Companies

Evelyn Zhang

<p>MCU (microcontroller) is the basic control unit for a large number of electronic devices. Large international manufacturers occupied a major market share. Since 2021, the global MCU market has been suffering from a persistent shortage of stock, and prices have soared. Many downstream companies, especially car makers, are experiencing severe shortage of MUC chips. Chinese downstream customers have begun to accelerate the localization of MCU supply chains.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I am optimistic about the performance of China MCU manufacturers this year, and I suggest paying attention to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gigadevice-semiconductor-beijing-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27253:1" rel="noopener">GigaDevice Semiconductor (Beijing)-A (603986 CH)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/espressif-systems-shanghai-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:30311:1" rel="noopener">Espressif Systems Shanghai Co (688018 CH)</a> , <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sino-wealth-electronic-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14697:1" rel="noopener">Sino Wealth Electronic (300327 CH)</a> </p>

MCU (microcontroller) is the basic control unit for a large number of electronic devices. Large international manufacturers occupied a major market share. Since 2021, the global MCU market has been suffering from a persistent shortage of stock, and prices have soared. Many downstream companies, especially car makers, are experiencing severe shortage of MUC chips. Chinese downstream customers have begun to accelerate the localization of MCU supply chains.I am optimistic about the performance of China MCU manufacturers this year, and I suggest paying attention to GigaDevice Semiconductor (Beijing)-A (603986 CH) , Espressif Systems Shanghai Co (688018 CH) , Sino Wealth Electronic (300327 CH) 

Germany

Infineon Technologies AG designs, manufactures, and markets semiconductors. The Company offers products include power semiconductors, microcontrollers, security controllers, radio frequency products, and sensors. Infineon markets its products to the automotive, industrial, communications, and consumer and security electronics sectors.

Infineon Technologies (IFX GR)

Taiwan Tech Weekly: Semiconductors Surging in Southeast Asia; UMC & Mediatek Results Today

Key Taiwan results ahead include Mediatek, UMC, Realtek, Novatek, and Himax. Taiwan AI names have been flying lately while Novatek and Himax have...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Top Foundries See Cut in Automotive Industry Wafer Sales, Implications

Top foundries see worse than expected automotive wafer sales, implying more automotive supply chain members are going to miss earnings expectation...

Andrew Lu

Are Semiconductors Finally Recovering?

The chip sector is beginning to recover with rising memory prices and six consecutive months of above-average revenue growth, suggesting the onset...

Jim Handy

Renesas (6723 JP) - On Top of Peer-Beating Growth, and Valuation... Watch for Buybacks

Renesas (6723) saw INCJ sell down last year. Absorption has been OK not great. The company has hinted at being able to start buybacks, and recent...

Travis Lundy

Cashing in the Chips

The Pandemic, buyer hording and supply chain issues all contributed to a perfect storm that's causing a global shortage of computer chips. I take a...

Evelyn Zhang

Taiwan Tech Weekly: Semiconductors Surging in Southeast Asia; UMC & Mediatek Results Today

Key Taiwan results ahead include Mediatek, UMC, Realtek, Novatek, and Himax. Taiwan AI names have been flying lately while Novatek and Himax have...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Top Foundries See Cut in Automotive Industry Wafer Sales, Implications

Top foundries see worse than expected automotive wafer sales, implying more automotive supply chain members are going to miss earnings expectation...

Andrew Lu

Are Semiconductors Finally Recovering?

​The chip sector is beginning to recover with rising memory prices and six consecutive months of above-average revenue growth, suggesting the onset...

Jim Handy

Renesas (6723 JP) - On Top of Peer-Beating Growth, and Valuation... Watch for Buybacks

Renesas (6723) saw INCJ sell down last year. Absorption has been OK not great. The company has hinted at being able to start buybacks, and recent...

Travis Lundy

Cashing in the Chips

The Pandemic, buyer hording and supply chain issues all contributed to a perfect storm that's causing a global shortage of computer chips. I take a...

Evelyn Zhang

The chip sector is beginning to recover with rising memory prices and six consecutive months of above-average revenue growth, suggesting the onset...