Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Auto &amp; Industrial Semi long boom / bust cycle started during Covid (peak demand) and is ending soon. Revenues declined by -20%. Operating Profits are depressed, down -50% from peak.   </li>
<li>Industry structure, high fragmentation, low transparency led to a protracted and steep bottom. But inventories remain high. The recovery will take time, probably no YoY revenue growth till 2026.   </li>
<li>Two big restructuring are underway, the sector is rationalizing. Lofty expectations of “structural growth” (EV, ADAS, green energy growth) hit the wall of a disappointing reality amplified by trade wars.</li>
</ul>


Auto &amp; Industrial Semi long boom / bust cycle started during Covid (peak demand) and is ending soon. Revenues declined by -20%. Operating Profits are depressed, down -50% from peak.   
Industry structure, high fragmentation, low transparency led to a protracted and steep bottom. But inventories remain high. The recovery will take time, probably no YoY revenue growth till 2026.   
Two big restructuring are underway, the sector is rationalizing. Lofty expectations of “structural growth” (EV, ADAS, green energy growth) hit the wall of a disappointing reality amplified by trade wars.


Auto & Industrial Semi Part1: Background of the Ongoing Crash, Revising Down Lofty Expectations

Equity Bottom-Up

Infineon Technologies  / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Very large miss. Sept-24 (4Q FY24) EPS -30% below Consensus.  Dec-24 (1Q FY25) revenue guidance -16% below Consensus, operating profit at least -20% below Consensus.</li>
<li>End-Demand is slow, large inventory destocking will continue into 1H FY25, followed by “no hockey stick recovery” in 2H FY25. “Current visibility is very low”. </li>
<li>For FY25 (starting in Dec-24 quarter), Consensus assumes +17% revenue growth YoY, management guided for a slight decline. Adding some margins compression, FY25 Consensus Net Income  is ~25-30% too high.   </li>
</ul>


Very large miss. Sept-24 (4Q FY24) EPS -30% below Consensus.  Dec-24 (1Q FY25) revenue guidance -16% below Consensus, operating profit at least -20% below Consensus.
End-Demand is slow, large inventory destocking will continue into 1H FY25, followed by “no hockey stick recovery” in 2H FY25. “Current visibility is very low”. 
For FY25 (starting in Dec-24 quarter), Consensus assumes +17% revenue growth YoY, management guided for a slight decline. Adding some margins compression, FY25 Consensus Net Income  is ~25-30% too high.   


Infineon: Large Miss and Reset. Auto & Industrial Semi Is a Good Space for Shorts.

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

Himax Technologies Inc Adr / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>We hosted a conference call recently with Himax management, the global leader in automotive touch display controllers; the company is experiencing a uniquely stronger automotive supply/demand environment than some peers.</li>
<li>Discussed in detail how larger or more sophisticated interior displays can drive higher dollar content of display controllers per vehicle. We examine trending new car designs with much larger displays.</li>
<li>We forecast an exponential jump-up in display controller content value per vehicle as beautiful display designs are becoming key USP for auto brands; Maintain our Structural Long rating for Himax.</li>
</ul>


We hosted a conference call recently with Himax management, the global leader in automotive touch display controllers; the company is experiencing a uniquely stronger automotive supply/demand environment than some peers.
Discussed in detail how larger or more sophisticated interior displays can drive higher dollar content of display controllers per vehicle. We examine trending new car designs with much larger displays.
We forecast an exponential jump-up in display controller content value per vehicle as beautiful display designs are becoming key USP for auto brands; Maintain our Structural Long rating for Himax.


TechChain Insights: Call with Himax, How New In-Car Displays Can Quadruple Chip Content Per Vehicle

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

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) - ADR

<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

<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

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.

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Infineon Technologies (IFX GR)

Auto & Industrial Semi Part1: Background of the Ongoing Crash, Revising Down Lofty Expectations

Auto & Industrial Semi close to end of long boom/bust cycle, with revenues down -20%. Recovery expected to be slow with no YoY growth till 2026....

Nicolas Baratte

Infineon: Large Miss and Reset. Auto & Industrial Semi Is a Good Space for Shorts.

On Consensus before earnings release, the stock trades at 12.5x FY25. After Consensus adjustment, the stock should be trading at ~16-17x FY25 EPS.

Nicolas Baratte

TechChain Insights: Call with Himax, How New In-Car Displays Can Quadruple Chip Content Per Vehicle

We discussed in depth the company's latest insights in how larger interior displays in autos are driving higher dollar content of display...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

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

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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Auto & Industrial Semi Part1: Background of the Ongoing Crash, Revising Down Lofty Expectations

​Auto & Industrial Semi close to end of long boom/bust cycle, with revenues down -20%. Recovery expected to be slow with no YoY growth till 2026....

Nicolas Baratte

Infineon: Large Miss and Reset. Auto & Industrial Semi Is a Good Space for Shorts.

On Consensus before earnings release, the stock trades at 12.5x FY25. After Consensus adjustment, the stock should be trading at ~16-17x FY25 EPS.

Nicolas Baratte

TechChain Insights: Call with Himax, How New In-Car Displays Can Quadruple Chip Content Per Vehicle

We discussed in depth the company's latest insights in how larger interior displays in autos are driving higher dollar content of display...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

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

Auto & Industrial Semi close to end of long boom/bust cycle, with revenues down -20%. Recovery expected to be slow with no YoY growth till 2026....