Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

Equity Bottom-Up

United Microelectron Sp Adr / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The Second time Price Increase Scheduled for September in 2026.  </li>
<li>On the 12-inch side, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-microelectron-sp-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11540:1" rel="noopener">United Microelectron Sp Adr (UMC US)</a> is collaborating with Intel to develop 12nm manufacturing capacity. This joint project is expected to enter pilot production in 2027.  </li>
<li>We believe <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-microelectron-sp-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11540:1" rel="noopener">United Microelectron Sp Adr (UMC US)</a>’s share price still has room to move higher. </li>
</ul>


The Second time Price Increase Scheduled for September in 2026.  
On the 12-inch side, United Microelectron Sp Adr (UMC US) is collaborating with Intel to develop 12nm manufacturing capacity. This joint project is expected to enter pilot production in 2027.  
We believe United Microelectron Sp Adr (UMC US)’s share price still has room to move higher. 


UMC (2303.TT, UMC.US): The 2nd Round Wafer Price Increase Within 2026.

Equity Long-Short

Mo Aziz

United Microelectronics Corp / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>UMC's specialty mature-node platform (eNVM, RFSOI, embedded HV FinFET, BCD) gives it real differentiation versus Chinese foundries — but no leading-edge moat against TSMC or Samsung.</li>
<li>The June surge was driven by an unconfirmed Intel 3nm extension report, not the existing 12nm deal confirmed back in 2024 and already in the base business.</li>
<li>Initiate with SELL and TP of NT$95 / USD 15.05 ADR (–40.6%), applying 12x FY26E EV/EBITDA — a generous premium to UMC's 6–9x historical trading range. </li>
</ul>


UMC's specialty mature-node platform (eNVM, RFSOI, embedded HV FinFET, BCD) gives it real differentiation versus Chinese foundries — but no leading-edge moat against TSMC or Samsung.
The June surge was driven by an unconfirmed Intel 3nm extension report, not the existing 12nm deal confirmed back in 2024 and already in the base business.
Initiate with SELL and TP of NT$95 / USD 15.05 ADR (–40.6%), applying 12x FY26E EV/EBITDA — a generous premium to UMC's 6–9x historical trading range. 


UMC (2303 TW, UMC US) - Initiate with a SELL: Priced for a Story that Hasn't Been Confirmed Yet

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><strong>SemiQA is building a new class of analog, neuromorphic AI chips for the edge, with mass production in Taiwan.</strong></li>
<li>SemiQA's analog chip designs enable in-memory computing; doing the AI math inside the memory itself. This cuts power usage by 90% and reduces latency.</li>
<li>
<strong>Analog edge-AI thesis and the case for non-TSMC chip fabs.</strong> Because SemiQA's analog approach does not chase leading-edge transistor density, SemiQA builds on mature, specialty fabs like UMC, Global Foundries.</li>
</ul>


SemiQA is building a new class of analog, neuromorphic AI chips for the edge, with mass production in Taiwan.
SemiQA's analog chip designs enable in-memory computing; doing the AI math inside the memory itself. This cuts power usage by 90% and reduces latency.

Analog edge-AI thesis and the case for non-TSMC chip fabs. Because SemiQA's analog approach does not chase leading-edge transistor density, SemiQA builds on mature, specialty fabs like UMC, Global Foundries.


TechChain Insights: SemiQA's Analog Chips Cut Power Usage by 90% and Use Non-TSMC Mature Node Fabs

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.

<ul>
<li>United Microelectronics Corporation reported first quarter 2026 consolidated revenues of TWD 61.04 billion, reflecting a 5.5% year-over-year increase but a slight sequential decline of 1.2%.</li>
<li>Gross margin stood at 29.2%, a small dip from 30.7% in the previous quarter, while net income attributable to shareholders rose substantially to TWD 15.7 billion, more than doubling the figure from the same quarter last year.</li>
<li>Earnings per share were TWD 1.29, supported in part by significant growth in non-operating income related to favorable stock market performance.</li>
</ul>


United Microelectronics Corporation reported first quarter 2026 consolidated revenues of TWD 61.04 billion, reflecting a 5.5% year-over-year increase but a slight sequential decline of 1.2%.
Gross margin stood at 29.2%, a small dip from 30.7% in the previous quarter, while net income attributable to shareholders rose substantially to TWD 15.7 billion, more than doubling the figure from the same quarter last year.
Earnings per share were TWD 1.29, supported in part by significant growth in non-operating income related to favorable stock market performance.


United Microelectronics: The 22-Nanometer Node At 14% Of Sales Is The Growth Engine Investors Miss!

Semiconductor & Technology Specialist, Ingenuity

William Keating

Semiconductor & Technology Specialist

Ingenuity

Our focus is exclusively on in-depth research & consulting in the broader semiconductor industry. We focus on the key players, namely Intel, Micron, Qualcomm, Apple, Samsung, NVIDIA, AMD, TSMC & Global Foundries - as well as some of the lesser known, but nonetheless critical, companies such as ASML (for EUV), Mellanox, Cavium, Xilinx etc. We specialise in their products, roadmaps, process technologies, competitive advantages & threats etc. We also help our clients understand the implications of new and emerging technologies, e.g. 3D X-Point, 3D NAND, Carbon Nanotubes, Autonomous Driving, Graphene, Silicon Photonics, Wafer-Level Optics, Artificial Intelligence, FPGA, GPU, ASIC etc. 

Semiconductor Analysis & Research

<ul>
<li>On April 29, 2026, UMC reported Q1 2026 revenue of NT$61.04 billion, down 1.2% QoQ, up 5.5% YoY. This was in line with guidance.</li>
<li>Specialty 22nm process comprised a record 14% of revenue in Q1 2026, up from ~13% in Q4 2025 and up from sub-10% one year ago.</li>
<li>Gross margin will remain under pressure through mid 2027 at least, a result of increasing depreciation and rising input costs. Yet the share price has doubled in six weeks. Yikes!</li>
</ul>


On April 29, 2026, UMC reported Q1 2026 revenue of NT$61.04 billion, down 1.2% QoQ, up 5.5% YoY. This was in line with guidance.
Specialty 22nm process comprised a record 14% of revenue in Q1 2026, up from ~13% in Q4 2025 and up from sub-10% one year ago.
Gross margin will remain under pressure through mid 2027 at least, a result of increasing depreciation and rising input costs. Yet the share price has doubled in six weeks. Yikes!


UMC Q126. A Delicate Balance Between Surging 22nm Demand & Rapidly Rising Depreciation, Input Costs

Taiwan

United Microelectronics Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets integrated circuits (ICs) and related electronic products.  The Company's main products are consumer electronic ICs, memory ICs, personal computer peripheral ICs, and communication ICs.

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United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT)

UMC (2303.TT, UMC.US): The 2nd Round Wafer Price Increase Within 2026.

UMC collaborating with Intel on 12nm manufacturing capacity, expected to enter pilot production in 2027, leading to potential share price...

Patrick Liao

UMC (2303 TW, UMC US) - Initiate with a SELL: Priced for a Story that Hasn't Been Confirmed Yet

UMC's specialty mature-node platform sets it apart from Chinese foundries, but lacks a leading-edge advantage against TSMC or Samsung. Initiate...

Mo Aziz

TechChain Insights: SemiQA's Analog Chips Cut Power Usage by 90% and Use Non-TSMC Mature Node Fabs

SemiQA is revolutionizing AI chips for the edge with analog designs, reducing power usage by 90% and latency, while utilizing non-TSMC mature node...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

United Microelectronics: The 22-Nanometer Node At 14% Of Sales Is The Growth Engine Investors Miss!

United Microelectronics Corporation reported first quarter 2026 consolidated revenues of TWD 61.04 billion, reflecting a 5.5% year-over-year...

Baptista Research

UMC Q126. A Delicate Balance Between Surging 22nm Demand & Rapidly Rising Depreciation, Input Costs

UMC's gross margin will remain under pressure through mid 2027 at least, a result of increasing depreciation and rising input costs. Yet the share...

William Keating

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

UMC (2303.TT, UMC.US): The 2nd Round Wafer Price Increase Within 2026.

​UMC collaborating with Intel on 12nm manufacturing capacity, expected to enter pilot production in 2027, leading to potential share price...

Patrick Liao

UMC (2303 TW, UMC US) - Initiate with a SELL: Priced for a Story that Hasn't Been Confirmed Yet

​UMC's specialty mature-node platform sets it apart from Chinese foundries, but lacks a leading-edge advantage against TSMC or Samsung. Initiate...

Mo Aziz

TechChain Insights: SemiQA's Analog Chips Cut Power Usage by 90% and Use Non-TSMC Mature Node Fabs

​SemiQA is revolutionizing AI chips for the edge with analog designs, reducing power usage by 90% and latency, while utilizing non-TSMC mature node...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

United Microelectronics: The 22-Nanometer Node At 14% Of Sales Is The Growth Engine Investors Miss!

United Microelectronics Corporation reported first quarter 2026 consolidated revenues of TWD 61.04 billion, reflecting a 5.5% year-over-year...

Baptista Research

UMC Q126. A Delicate Balance Between Surging 22nm Demand & Rapidly Rising Depreciation, Input Costs

UMC's gross margin will remain under pressure through mid 2027 at least, a result of increasing depreciation and rising input costs. Yet the share...

William Keating

UMC collaborating with Intel on 12nm manufacturing capacity, expected to enter pilot production in 2027, leading to potential share price...

UMC's specialty mature-node platform sets it apart from Chinese foundries, but lacks a leading-edge advantage against TSMC or Samsung. Initiate...

SemiQA is revolutionizing AI chips for the edge with analog designs, reducing power usage by 90% and latency, while utilizing non-TSMC mature node...