Independent research on the U.S. markets, Baptista Research

Baptista Research

Independent research on the U.S. markets

Baptista Research is an independent financial research house focused on the U.S. markets. We provide equity research as well as credit research reports on the top-listed U.S. companies with most of our focus on technology, consumer goods and services, automobiles, industrials, oil and gas, pharma, and healthcare. Our research has served more than 3000 institutional investors including mutual funds, hedge funds, banks, family offices, and various buy-side firms. We operate a research subscription service where institutions, as well as retail investors, can have priority access to all our research. We also have a wide distribution of our research reports across some of the top global financial platforms. Apart from equity research and credit research, we also provide advisory services with respect to mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity/ venture capital fundraising, valuation reports, and investment management services for corporates.
Baptista Research is owned and managed by Ishan Majumdar, an ex-Venture Capitalist/ Investment Banker, a Chartered Accountant, and a Masters’ degree holder in Management from HEC Paris. Ishan has nearly a decade of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), Venture Capital Investing, Corporate Strategy, and Valuation in front-office roles at the likes of BNP Paribas CIB, Credit Agricole CIB, Groupe Danone, and TIW Private Equity. He has worked on and closed multiple acquisition deals, leveraged buyouts, and start-up investment transactions.

Equity Bottom-Up

Kulicke And Soffa Industries / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Kulicke & Soffa demonstrated strong financial and operational performance in the fiscal third quarter of 2026, driven primarily by accelerating demand for semiconductor assembly solutions, particularly in areas connected with artificial intelligence and data center expansion.</li><li>The company reported a sequential revenue increase of 36.2%, supported by heightened capacity utilization across all regions and end markets.</li><li>This robust growth was led by general semiconductor and memory applications, as well as a notable sequential improvement in automotive and industrial segments.</li></ul>

Kulicke & Soffa demonstrated strong financial and operational performance in the fiscal third quarter of 2026, driven primarily by accelerating demand for semiconductor assembly solutions, particularly in areas connected with artificial intelligence and data center expansion.The company reported a sequential revenue increase of 36.2%, supported by heightened capacity utilization across all regions and end markets.This robust growth was led by general semiconductor and memory applications, as well as a notable sequential improvement in automotive and industrial segments.

Kulicke & Soffa’s 36.2% Revenue Surge Signals A Powerful AI Packaging Catalyst; But Is It Enough?

Independent Fund Manager, Swaen Capital

Swaen Capital

Independent Fund Manager

Swaen Capital is a Singapore based licensed independent fund manager with an open architecture, a non bias financial platform creating access to the best custodians and investment managers. Our focus lies within the wealth management business, covering client relationships, financial planning, advisory, as well as discretionary portfolio management. We have developed strategic alliances with other leading independent firms to complement and extend our offerings to clients (global hedge fund research capability, alternative investment offerings, corporate finance, fund structuring & administration, etc). Our know-how, extensive global network and long standing presence in Asia allows us to provide a global footprint and at the same time enables us to capitalize on regional opportunities.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The copper wall is here. Above ~200Gbps per lane, copper can no longer carry signals more than a few metres without prohibitive power and signal-integrity penalties. The industry's answer is to move the optics off the faceplate and onto the chip package itself — Co Packaged Optics (CPO).</li>
<li>Adoption is switch-first. NVIDIA and Broadcom are shipping CPO switches in 2026 on external-laser designs; the XPU side and an in-package laser are deferred by packaging and reliability limits, not yet solved.</li>
<li>Money moves with the architecture. As the optical engine moves into the package, value migrates away from module assemblers toward the layers that fabricate the optical engine itself.</li>
</ul>


The copper wall is here. Above ~200Gbps per lane, copper can no longer carry signals more than a few metres without prohibitive power and signal-integrity penalties. The industry's answer is to move the optics off the faceplate and onto the chip package itself — Co Packaged Optics (CPO).
Adoption is switch-first. NVIDIA and Broadcom are shipping CPO switches in 2026 on external-laser designs; the XPU side and an in-package laser are deferred by packaging and reliability limits, not yet solved.
Money moves with the architecture. As the optical engine moves into the package, value migrates away from module assemblers toward the layers that fabricate the optical engine itself.


Co-Packaged Optics 101: The Future of High-Density AI Interconnects

Asia and Global Semiconductor and Tech Research

Andrew Lu

<ul>
<li>SEMI reports September front end and back end test/assembly equipment sales decline of 18% and 25% y/y, respectively, resulting 3Q23 sales decline of 17% and 28% y/y.</li>
<li>However, WSTS/SIA and US ISM Purchasing Managers Index reported more moderate 7% y/y decline in August global semi sales and 4% y/y decline in September index. </li>
<li>The discrepancy is due to global semi vendors are seeing PC and Smartphone IC improvement but need to consume earlier overbuilt inventories first before boosting in house or foundries' capex.</li>
</ul>


SEMI reports September front end and back end test/assembly equipment sales decline of 18% and 25% y/y, respectively, resulting 3Q23 sales decline of 17% and 28% y/y.
However, WSTS/SIA and US ISM Purchasing Managers Index reported more moderate 7% y/y decline in August global semi sales and 4% y/y decline in September index. 
The discrepancy is due to global semi vendors are seeing PC and Smartphone IC improvement but need to consume earlier overbuilt inventories first before boosting in house or foundries' capex.


What Sep US SEMI Equipment and Aug SIA/WSTS Global Sales Y/Y Discrepancy Tells Us?

Global TMT Analyst, Ex-PM, 30 years experience

Neil Campling

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The second PE rumoured interest in ASMPT in 18 months, with KKR circling.</li>
<li>Semiconductor M&amp;A has surged in 2024 YTD with a 33% increase in deal activity compared to 2023.</li>
<li>ASM's leadership in TCB, potential growth within HBM, expansion at TSM and enabling the Nvidia Blackwell platform are all reasons for M&amp;A interest.</li>
</ul>


The second PE rumoured interest in ASMPT in 18 months, with KKR circling.
Semiconductor M&amp;A has surged in 2024 YTD with a 33% increase in deal activity compared to 2023.
ASM's leadership in TCB, potential growth within HBM, expansion at TSM and enabling the Nvidia Blackwell platform are all reasons for M&amp;A interest.


ASMPT (ASM Pacific). 522 HK. M&A. Takeover Target Talk. Déjà Vu ?

<ul><li>Kulicke & Soffa reported a fiscal second quarter 2026 marked by a 21.5% sequential revenue increase, driven by improving demand across its served markets, notably general semiconductors and memory, which underpin global data center capacity expansion.</li><li>The company observed strong utilization rates—exceeding 90% in China and solid demand in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan—while Southeast Asia and Western regions showed modest improvement.</li><li>Growth in the automotive and industrial sectors was also notable, led primarily by applications requiring high input/output power and mixed signal packaging, aligning with trends in electric and hybrid vehicles.</li></ul>

Kulicke & Soffa reported a fiscal second quarter 2026 marked by a 21.5% sequential revenue increase, driven by improving demand across its served markets, notably general semiconductors and memory, which underpin global data center capacity expansion.The company observed strong utilization rates—exceeding 90% in China and solid demand in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan—while Southeast Asia and Western regions showed modest improvement.Growth in the automotive and industrial sectors was also notable, led primarily by applications requiring high input/output power and mixed signal packaging, aligning with trends in electric and hybrid vehicles.

Kulicke & Soffa’s Hidden Growth Lever: Fluxless TCB Could Surpass $100 Million!

United States

Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets capital equipment, related spare parts, and packaging materials used to assemble semiconductor devices. The Company also services, maintains, repairs, and upgrades assembly equipment. Kulicke's equipment is used in wire bonding systems, wafer dicing saws, and die bonders.

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Kulicke And Soffa Industries (KLIC US)

Kulicke & Soffa’s 36.2% Revenue Surge Signals A Powerful AI Packaging Catalyst; But Is It Enough?

Kulicke & Soffa demonstrated strong financial and operational performance in the fiscal third quarter of 2026, driven primarily by...

Baptista Research

Co-Packaged Optics 101: The Future of High-Density AI Interconnects

The copper wall is here. Above ~200Gbps per lane, copper can no longer carry signals more than a few metres without prohibitive power and...

Swaen Capital

What Sep US SEMI Equipment and Aug SIA/WSTS Global Sales Y/Y Discrepancy Tells Us?

Sep US SEMI Equipment and Aug SIA/WSTS Global Sales Y/Y Discrepancy Tells Us global semi vendors are consuming earlier overbuilt inventories first...

Andrew Lu

ASMPT (ASM Pacific). 522 HK. M&A. Takeover Target Talk. Déjà Vu ?

Private equity interest in ASMPT has surged due to its leadership in TCB, potential growth in HBM, expansion at TSM, and enabling the Nvidia...

Neil Campling

Kulicke & Soffa’s Hidden Growth Lever: Fluxless TCB Could Surpass $100 Million!

Kulicke & Soffa reported a fiscal second quarter 2026 marked by a 21.5% sequential revenue increase, driven by improving demand across its...

Baptista Research

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Kulicke & Soffa’s 36.2% Revenue Surge Signals A Powerful AI Packaging Catalyst; But Is It Enough?

Kulicke & Soffa demonstrated strong financial and operational performance in the fiscal third quarter of 2026, driven primarily by...

Baptista Research

Co-Packaged Optics 101: The Future of High-Density AI Interconnects

The copper wall is here. Above ~200Gbps per lane, copper can no longer carry signals more than a few metres without prohibitive power and...

Swaen Capital

What Sep US SEMI Equipment and Aug SIA/WSTS Global Sales Y/Y Discrepancy Tells Us?

Sep US SEMI Equipment and Aug SIA/WSTS Global Sales Y/Y Discrepancy Tells Us global semi vendors are consuming earlier overbuilt inventories first...

Andrew Lu

ASMPT (ASM Pacific). 522 HK. M&A. Takeover Target Talk. Déjà Vu ?

​Private equity interest in ASMPT has surged due to its leadership in TCB, potential growth in HBM, expansion at TSM, and enabling the Nvidia...

Neil Campling

Kulicke & Soffa’s Hidden Growth Lever: Fluxless TCB Could Surpass $100 Million!

Kulicke & Soffa reported a fiscal second quarter 2026 marked by a 21.5% sequential revenue increase, driven by improving demand across its...

Baptista Research

Private equity interest in ASMPT has surged due to its leadership in TCB, potential growth in HBM, expansion at TSM, and enabling the Nvidia...