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

<ul>
<li>
PC upgrade mini-cycle front-loaded: Realtek 3Q25 results reflected normalization after Windows 10-related demand pulled forward into 1H25, with revenue and margins easing sequentially but remaining solid.</li>
<li>
Diversification offsets softness: Communications infrastructure and automotive Ethernet continued to expand, with stronger growth outside China and resilient contribution from next-gen connectivity and Wi-Fi 7 adoption.</li>
<li>
Cautious near term, constructive on 2026E: Inventory build and tariff uncertainty temper 4Q outlook, but management expects a strong 1Q26 rebound as PC inventories normalize and AI-driven peripherals lift ASPs.</li>
</ul>



PC upgrade mini-cycle front-loaded: Realtek 3Q25 results reflected normalization after Windows 10-related demand pulled forward into 1H25, with revenue and margins easing sequentially but remaining solid.

Diversification offsets softness: Communications infrastructure and automotive Ethernet continued to expand, with stronger growth outside China and resilient contribution from next-gen connectivity and Wi-Fi 7 adoption.

Cautious near term, constructive on 2026E: Inventory build and tariff uncertainty temper 4Q outlook, but management expects a strong 1Q26 rebound as PC inventories normalize and AI-driven peripherals lift ASPs.


Realtek Results Readthrough: Normalization Marks Pause Before Next PC Wave

Asia and Global Semiconductor and Tech Research

Andrew Lu

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Y/Y improvement for LCD panel, 8"/12" raw wafer, CMOS sensor, GaAs RF, cooling system, design service, and semi equipment and material vendors but y/y deterioration for PC/server and gaming vendors. </li>
<li>After 9 vendors beating consensus, we might see smartphone IC and RF, semi equipment OEM, and design service vendors in US to report a better than expected 4Q23 sales/earnings.    </li>
<li>After 6 vendors missing consensus, we might see PC/general server IC and niche memory vendors in US to report a worse than expected 4Q23 sales and earnings.</li>
</ul>


Y/Y improvement for LCD panel, 8"/12" raw wafer, CMOS sensor, GaAs RF, cooling system, design service, and semi equipment and material vendors but y/y deterioration for PC/server and gaming vendors. 
After 9 vendors beating consensus, we might see smartphone IC and RF, semi equipment OEM, and design service vendors in US to report a better than expected 4Q23 sales/earnings.    
After 6 vendors missing consensus, we might see PC/general server IC and niche memory vendors in US to report a worse than expected 4Q23 sales and earnings.


Stories Behind the Reported Dec/4Q23 Taiwan Semi/Tech Sales

Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

<ul>
<li>IDC reported 3Q24 PC shipments declining -2% YoY, Canalys an increase of +1%. Let’s call this flat. If 4Q24 is “average seasonal”, 2024 will reach ~265m, or the pre-Covid range. </li>
<li>No AI fever, no accelerated replacement cycle, for now. If it happens, it will take time, ie compelling AI apps that only run locally and need a new PC.</li>
<li>In Asia, PC vendors: Lenovo, Acer, Asus. Taiwan ODM: Compal, Quanta, Wistron. Semi with high exposure: Novatek, Realtek. </li>
</ul>


IDC reported 3Q24 PC shipments declining -2% YoY, Canalys an increase of +1%. Let’s call this flat. If 4Q24 is “average seasonal”, 2024 will reach ~265m, or the pre-Covid range. 
No AI fever, no accelerated replacement cycle, for now. If it happens, it will take time, ie compelling AI apps that only run locally and need a new PC.
In Asia, PC vendors: Lenovo, Acer, Asus. Taiwan ODM: Compal, Quanta, Wistron. Semi with high exposure: Novatek, Realtek. 


3Q24 PC Shipments Are Flat YoY. Lenovo, Acer, Asus. Compal, Quanta, Wistron.

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

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) - ADR

<ul>
<li>Top Gainers/Loser: Taiwan Tech Stocks Hit Hard Last Week By Global AI/Tech Pullback</li>
<li>Key Events This Week: Major Earnings Week Including UMC, Mediatek, Realtek, AMD, Microsoft</li>
<li>TechChain Insights: Call with Silicon Motion; QLC NAND Emerging as Key Enabler for AI Devices </li>
</ul>


Top Gainers/Loser: Taiwan Tech Stocks Hit Hard Last Week By Global AI/Tech Pullback
Key Events This Week: Major Earnings Week Including UMC, Mediatek, Realtek, AMD, Microsoft
TechChain Insights: Call with Silicon Motion; QLC NAND Emerging as Key Enabler for AI Devices 


Taiwan Tech Weekly: Hit Hard By AI/Tech Pullback; Watch UMC, Mediatek, Realtek, AMD, MSFT Earnings

<ul>
<li>Y/Y improvement for LCD, PMIC, GaAs RF, gaming card, cooling system, semi equipment&amp;material, semi fab construction, memory, and foundry vendors but more y/y deterioration for WiFi and CMOS sensor vendors</li>
<li>After 6 vendors beating consensus, we might see AI server supply chain, large panel LCD driver, WiFi/networking, and NAND flash vendors in US to report a better than expected 1Q24.</li>
<li>We might see 8"/12" raw wafer (like Shin Etsu, SUMCO , National Silicon Industry, Siltronic AG) vendors in Japan, China, and Germany to report a worse than expected 1Q24.</li>
</ul>


Y/Y improvement for LCD, PMIC, GaAs RF, gaming card, cooling system, semi equipment&amp;material, semi fab construction, memory, and foundry vendors but more y/y deterioration for WiFi and CMOS sensor vendors
After 6 vendors beating consensus, we might see AI server supply chain, large panel LCD driver, WiFi/networking, and NAND flash vendors in US to report a better than expected 1Q24.
We might see 8"/12" raw wafer (like Shin Etsu, SUMCO , National Silicon Industry, Siltronic AG) vendors in Japan, China, and Germany to report a worse than expected 1Q24.


Early Signs from the Reported March/1Q24 Taiwan Semi/Tech Sales

Taiwan

Realtek Semiconductor Corp. designs, tests, and distributes integrated circuits which are used in consumer electronics, computer systems and peripherals, and communication network hardware.  The Company also provides technical counseling and systems software services.

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Realtek Semiconductor (2379 TT)

Realtek Results Readthrough: Normalization Marks Pause Before Next PC Wave

Realtek's 3Q25 results show front-loaded PC upgrade cycle, with revenue and margins remaining solid. Cautious near term, but constructive outlook...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Stories Behind the Reported Dec/4Q23 Taiwan Semi/Tech Sales

Stories Behind the Reported Dec/4Q23 Taiwan Semi/Tech Sales; Y/Y improvement for LCD panel, 8"/12" raw wafer, CMOS sensor, GaAs RF, cooling system,...

Andrew Lu

3Q24 PC Shipments Are Flat YoY. Lenovo, Acer, Asus. Compal, Quanta, Wistron.

3Q24 PC shipments are flat YoY. The great recovery or AI replacement cycle aren’t happening (for now). IDC reported 3Q24 PC shipments declining -2%...

Nicolas Baratte

Taiwan Tech Weekly: Hit Hard By AI/Tech Pullback; Watch UMC, Mediatek, Realtek, AMD, MSFT Earnings

A recap of last week's gainers and losers plus key events to watch out for this week and recently published research pieces.

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Early Signs from the Reported March/1Q24 Taiwan Semi/Tech Sales

Early Signs from the Reported March/1Q24 Taiwan Semi/Tech Sales; we might see AI server, WiFi/networking, and NAND vendors in US to beat 1Q24 but...

Andrew Lu

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Realtek Results Readthrough: Normalization Marks Pause Before Next PC Wave

​Realtek's 3Q25 results show front-loaded PC upgrade cycle, with revenue and margins remaining solid. Cautious near term, but constructive outlook...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Stories Behind the Reported Dec/4Q23 Taiwan Semi/Tech Sales

Stories Behind the Reported Dec/4Q23 Taiwan Semi/Tech Sales; Y/Y improvement for LCD panel, 8"/12" raw wafer, CMOS sensor, GaAs RF, cooling system,...

Andrew Lu

3Q24 PC Shipments Are Flat YoY. Lenovo, Acer, Asus. Compal, Quanta, Wistron.

3Q24 PC shipments are flat YoY. The great recovery or AI replacement cycle aren’t happening (for now). IDC reported 3Q24 PC shipments declining -2%...

Nicolas Baratte

Taiwan Tech Weekly: Hit Hard By AI/Tech Pullback; Watch UMC, Mediatek, Realtek, AMD, MSFT Earnings

A recap of last week's gainers and losers plus key events to watch out for this week and recently published research pieces.

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Early Signs from the Reported March/1Q24 Taiwan Semi/Tech Sales

Early Signs from the Reported March/1Q24 Taiwan Semi/Tech Sales; we might see AI server, WiFi/networking, and NAND vendors in US to beat 1Q24 but...

Andrew Lu

Realtek's 3Q25 results show front-loaded PC upgrade cycle, with revenue and margins remaining solid. Cautious near term, but constructive outlook...