Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>2Q25 guidance is projected to be between NT$147.2bn and NT$159.4bn (midpoint-flat QoQ), with a gross margin expected to range between 45.5% and 48.5%, and operating expenses between 27% and 31%. </li>
<li>In 2Q25, MediaTek expects mobile to be flat to slightly down, continued QoQ growth in smart edge, and QoQ growth in power ICs. </li>
<li>Regarding flagship smartphone SoCs, MediaTek remains optimistic about gaining market share and expects the ASP (average selling price) of its next-generation flagship chips to continue rising.</li>
</ul>


2Q25 guidance is projected to be between NT$147.2bn and NT$159.4bn (midpoint-flat QoQ), with a gross margin expected to range between 45.5% and 48.5%, and operating expenses between 27% and 31%. 
In 2Q25, MediaTek expects mobile to be flat to slightly down, continued QoQ growth in smart edge, and QoQ growth in power ICs. 
Regarding flagship smartphone SoCs, MediaTek remains optimistic about gaining market share and expects the ASP (average selling price) of its next-generation flagship chips to continue rising.


MediaTek (2454.TT): Tariffs Are Highly Uncertain, but Client Purchasing Hasn’t Changed Much.

Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

<ul>
<li>1Q15 Smartphone units up 1.5-3% YoY but given accelerated imports to US and Chinese consumer subsidies, end-demand was probably flat YoY. TSMC 1Q25 revenues suggest that Smartphone chips declined YoY.</li>
<li>We should expect a correction in 2H25 and overall flat 2025 YoY.</li>
<li>The only positive is that chips are getting bigger (AI cores) and more expensive (3nm) and hence positive to Mediatek and Qualcomm, but not to phone Brands Apple included.</li>
</ul>


1Q15 Smartphone units up 1.5-3% YoY but given accelerated imports to US and Chinese consumer subsidies, end-demand was probably flat YoY. TSMC 1Q25 revenues suggest that Smartphone chips declined YoY.
We should expect a correction in 2H25 and overall flat 2025 YoY.
The only positive is that chips are getting bigger (AI cores) and more expensive (3nm) and hence positive to Mediatek and Qualcomm, but not to phone Brands Apple included.


Smartphone Market Grew 2% in 1Q25 with 2 Positives Boosters: Apple Restocking in US, China Subsidies

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

<ul>
<li>The Stakes in the 6G Race: 100x Data Speeds &amp; AI-Driven Networks</li>
<li>Qualcom's Strategy vs. Mediatek's Gameplan to Win the 6G Battle -- Takeaways from MWC 2025 in Barcelona</li>
<li>Investment Takeaways: MediaTek vs. Qualcomm -- Maintain Structural Long for Mediatek but Qualcomm Could Offer Near-Term Relative Value Play</li>
</ul>


The Stakes in the 6G Race: 100x Data Speeds &amp; AI-Driven Networks
Qualcom's Strategy vs. Mediatek's Gameplan to Win the 6G Battle -- Takeaways from MWC 2025 in Barcelona
Investment Takeaways: MediaTek vs. Qualcomm -- Maintain Structural Long for Mediatek but Qualcomm Could Offer Near-Term Relative Value Play


MWC Barcelona Showcased The 6G Showdown: MediaTek Vs. Qualcomm in the Race for Wireless Supremacy

<ul>
<li>3Q24 results are inline at the Operating level and 12% above Consensus at the Net Income level. 4Q guidance inline for revenues but 10% below Consensus at Operating level.</li>
<li>Smartphone revenues increased in 3Q24 on Premium AI-enabled chipset. However, 4Q revenue outlook is flat YoY and QoQ. The recovery period after the 2023 downturn seems to be ending.</li>
<li>The Mediatek conundrum is that the stock is expensive versus a slow 2025 outlook. Growth drivers exists but beyond 2025. <strong>In the short-term, the stock is unattractive</strong>.</li>
</ul>


3Q24 results are inline at the Operating level and 12% above Consensus at the Net Income level. 4Q guidance inline for revenues but 10% below Consensus at Operating level.
Smartphone revenues increased in 3Q24 on Premium AI-enabled chipset. However, 4Q revenue outlook is flat YoY and QoQ. The recovery period after the 2023 downturn seems to be ending.
The Mediatek conundrum is that the stock is expensive versus a slow 2025 outlook. Growth drivers exists but beyond 2025. In the short-term, the stock is unattractive.


Mediatek 3Q24 Inline, 4Q Guidance Slightly Weak, Flattish Revenue Outlook and the Stock Is Expensive

<ul>
<li>Smartphones units sold in 3Q24 increased by +4% YoY. That’s a slowdown from +7% YoY in 1H24.</li>
<li>Growth comes from low-price Emerging Markets demand. But the Premium segment sees increasing ASP with AI-enabled phones.  </li>
<li>Hence for Mediatek and Qualcomm, the investment thesis rests on increasing ASP as AI is propagating – not volume growth. MTK had a nice rally, time to take a breather. </li>
</ul>


Smartphones units sold in 3Q24 increased by +4% YoY. That’s a slowdown from +7% YoY in 1H24.
Growth comes from low-price Emerging Markets demand. But the Premium segment sees increasing ASP with AI-enabled phones.  
Hence for Mediatek and Qualcomm, the investment thesis rests on increasing ASP as AI is propagating – not volume growth. MTK had a nice rally, time to take a breather. 


Smartphone Growth Is Slowing Down to +4% YoY in 3Q. Mediatek Had a Good Rally, Time to Take a Break

Taiwan

MediaTek Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions. The company provides SOC system solutions for wireless communications, high-definition TV, optical storage, DVD and Blu-ray products.

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Mediatek Inc (2454 TT)

MediaTek (2454.TT): Tariffs Are Highly Uncertain, but Client Purchasing Hasn’t Changed Much.

MediaTek projects steady revenue and margin for 2Q25, with flat mobile sales but growth in smart edge and power ICs, while remaining optimistic...

Patrick Liao

Smartphone Market Grew 2% in 1Q25 with 2 Positives Boosters: Apple Restocking in US, China Subsidies

1Q15 slight increase in smartphone units, but end-demand likely remained flat. Expect a correction in 2H25 with overall flat 2025 YoY. Positives...

Nicolas Baratte

MWC Barcelona Showcased The 6G Showdown: MediaTek Vs. Qualcomm in the Race for Wireless Supremacy

MWC 2025 in Barcelona earlier this week showed the race for 6G dominance heating up as Qualcomm and MediaTek strategize for faster data speeds and...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Mediatek 3Q24 Inline, 4Q Guidance Slightly Weak, Flattish Revenue Outlook and the Stock Is Expensive

Since 4Q23, revenues have been fattish in NT$. YoY revenue growth is the result of the 2023 downturn. Our main concern regarding Mediatek is high...

Nicolas Baratte

Smartphone Growth Is Slowing Down to +4% YoY in 3Q. Mediatek Had a Good Rally, Time to Take a Break

Smartphone growth is slowing down but ASP are increasing for Mediatek with 5G AI-enabled phones. Mediatek has other drivers, AI chips and Auto GPU....

Nicolas Baratte

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MediaTek (2454.TT): Tariffs Are Highly Uncertain, but Client Purchasing Hasn’t Changed Much.

​MediaTek projects steady revenue and margin for 2Q25, with flat mobile sales but growth in smart edge and power ICs, while remaining optimistic...

Patrick Liao

Smartphone Market Grew 2% in 1Q25 with 2 Positives Boosters: Apple Restocking in US, China Subsidies

​1Q15 slight increase in smartphone units, but end-demand likely remained flat. Expect a correction in 2H25 with overall flat 2025 YoY. Positives...

Nicolas Baratte

MWC Barcelona Showcased The 6G Showdown: MediaTek Vs. Qualcomm in the Race for Wireless Supremacy

​MWC 2025 in Barcelona earlier this week showed the race for 6G dominance heating up as Qualcomm and MediaTek strategize for faster data speeds and...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Mediatek 3Q24 Inline, 4Q Guidance Slightly Weak, Flattish Revenue Outlook and the Stock Is Expensive

Since 4Q23, revenues have been fattish in NT$. YoY revenue growth is the result of the 2023 downturn. Our main concern regarding Mediatek is high...

Nicolas Baratte

Smartphone Growth Is Slowing Down to +4% YoY in 3Q. Mediatek Had a Good Rally, Time to Take a Break

Smartphone growth is slowing down but ASP are increasing for Mediatek with 5G AI-enabled phones. Mediatek has other drivers, AI chips and Auto GPU....

Nicolas Baratte

MediaTek projects steady revenue and margin for 2Q25, with flat mobile sales but growth in smart edge and power ICs, while remaining optimistic...

1Q15 slight increase in smartphone units, but end-demand likely remained flat. Expect a correction in 2H25 with overall flat 2025 YoY. Positives...

MWC 2025 in Barcelona earlier this week showed the race for 6G dominance heating up as Qualcomm and MediaTek strategize for faster data speeds and...