Asia and Global Semiconductor and Tech Research

Andrew Lu

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Like other automotive/industrial semi vendors, Diodes guides 4Q23 sales of 20% q/q and 35% y/y decline (miss by 21%) and weaker gross margin/operating margin of 35%/7% (miss by 5ppts).</li>
<li>The company sees 4Q23 sales decline of 20% mainly from 19% of automotive and 26% of industrial customers due to customer inventory cut coupled with year-end distributor inventory management. </li>
<li>We expect this adjustment for automotive/industrial IDMs to last for at least 6 months and suggest our clients to avoid these names unless valuation becoming attractive.  </li>
</ul>


Like other automotive/industrial semi vendors, Diodes guides 4Q23 sales of 20% q/q and 35% y/y decline (miss by 21%) and weaker gross margin/operating margin of 35%/7% (miss by 5ppts).
The company sees 4Q23 sales decline of 20% mainly from 19% of automotive and 26% of industrial customers due to customer inventory cut coupled with year-end distributor inventory management. 
We expect this adjustment for automotive/industrial IDMs to last for at least 6 months and suggest our clients to avoid these names unless valuation becoming attractive.  


With No Surprise, Diodes Guides Automotive/Industrial Semi Demand to Fall over 20% Q/Q

Equity Bottom-Up

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) / Equity Bottom-Up

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) (2330 TT)

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing)

<ul>
<li>TSMC reiterates 2024 sales y/y growth of 20-25% but revises down 2024 global semiconductor y/y sales from over 10% to 10% and global foundry sales growth from 20% to 15-19%.</li>
<li>
No more Moore's Law: After 3 years ramp up gap between N5-N3, TSMC confirms 10-11 quarters of ramp up gap between N3 and N2 due to longer production cycle.</li>
<li>Driven by stronger digital consumer (33% q/q), HPC (3% q/q), IoT (5% q/q) sales but weaker smartphone IC (-16% q/q), TSMC reports 1Q24 sales decline of only 5% q/q.</li>
</ul>


TSMC reiterates 2024 sales y/y growth of 20-25% but revises down 2024 global semiconductor y/y sales from over 10% to 10% and global foundry sales growth from 20% to 15-19%.

No more Moore's Law: After 3 years ramp up gap between N5-N3, TSMC confirms 10-11 quarters of ramp up gap between N3 and N2 due to longer production cycle.
Driven by stronger digital consumer (33% q/q), HPC (3% q/q), IoT (5% q/q) sales but weaker smartphone IC (-16% q/q), TSMC reports 1Q24 sales decline of only 5% q/q.


What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference?

Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

Vanguard Intl Semiconductor / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Vanguard June Revenue Reached a Record High, Representing the Most Significant Positive Signal.  </li>
<li>Q2 Revenue Was in Line with Expectations, but Not Significantly Above Expectations — This Is Consistent with the Company’s Historical Guidance Approach  </li>
<li>AI Applications and the Tight Supply of 8-inch Foundry Capacity Provide the Largest Upside Potential for the Stock.</li>
</ul>


Vanguard June Revenue Reached a Record High, Representing the Most Significant Positive Signal.  
Q2 Revenue Was in Line with Expectations, but Not Significantly Above Expectations — This Is Consistent with the Company’s Historical Guidance Approach  
AI Applications and the Tight Supply of 8-inch Foundry Capacity Provide the Largest Upside Potential for the Stock.


Vanguard (5347.TT): June Revenue Reached a Record High.

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) (TSM US)

<ul>
<li>TSMC (2330) Sets New Record in 1Q26 with EPS of NT$22.08, Upgrading Full-Year USD Revenue Growth to Over 30%.</li>
<li>From a product mix perspective, advanced processes continue to drive this quarter’s growth and profitability.</li>
<li>Chairman stated that with sustained strong demand for advanced processes and robust AI momentum, even amid macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties.</li>
</ul>


TSMC (2330) Sets New Record in 1Q26 with EPS of NT$22.08, Upgrading Full-Year USD Revenue Growth to Over 30%.
From a product mix perspective, advanced processes continue to drive this quarter’s growth and profitability.
Chairman stated that with sustained strong demand for advanced processes and robust AI momentum, even amid macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties.


TSMC (2330.TT; TSM.US): 1Q26 with EPS of NT$22.1, with Full-Year USD Revenue Growth Over 30%.

Asian Hedge Fund Manager, Long Short Equity, Macro

David Mudd

Hua Hong Semiconductor / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Hong Kong's secular bull market continues this year with record buying from mainland investors through the Southbound Connect platform.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aac-technologies-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6544:1" rel="noopener">AAC Technologies Holdings (2018 HK)</a> announced a positive profit alert of of 150% increase in profit for 2024.  The AI, phone and auto segments saw value content increases.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hua-hong-semiconductor-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7201:1" rel="noopener">Hua Hong Semiconductor (1347 HK)</a> is well-positioned to cater to China's increasing demand for locally designed and produced chips, especially in the EV, smart home appliances and wearables industries.
</li>
</ul>


Hong Kong's secular bull market continues this year with record buying from mainland investors through the Southbound Connect platform.

AAC Technologies Holdings (2018 HK) announced a positive profit alert of of 150% increase in profit for 2024.  The AI, phone and auto segments saw value content increases.


Hua Hong Semiconductor (1347 HK) is well-positioned to cater to China's increasing demand for locally designed and produced chips, especially in the EV, smart home appliances and wearables industries.



BUY/SELL/HOLD: Hong Kong Stock Update (February 20)

Taiwan

Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation offers integrated circuit foundry services.  The Company manufactures 0.18um logic, mixed-signal, analog, high voltage, low power, CMOS RF, flash, embedded memory, and bipolar CMOS DMOS semiconductors.

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Vanguard Intl Semiconductor (5347 TT)

With No Surprise, Diodes Guides Automotive/Industrial Semi Demand to Fall over 20% Q/Q

With No Surprise, Diodes Guides Automotive/Industrial Semi Demand to Fall over 20% Q/Q, margin contraction, and rising months of inventory. We see...

Andrew Lu

What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference?

What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference? TSMC revises down 2024 global semi y/y sales from over 10% to...

Andrew Lu

Vanguard (5347.TT): June Revenue Reached a Record High.

Vanguard's record high June revenue signals positive outlook, with AI applications and tight supply of 8-inch foundry capacity offering potential...

Patrick Liao

TSMC (2330.TT; TSM.US): 1Q26 with EPS of NT$22.1, with Full-Year USD Revenue Growth Over 30%.

TSMC achieves record EPS in 1Q26, driven by strong demand for advanced processes and AI, upgrading full-year revenue growth to over 30%.

Patrick Liao

BUY/SELL/HOLD: Hong Kong Stock Update (February 20)

Mainland investors are buying record amounts in HK during secular bull mkt. AAC Tech reported positive earnings surprise and Hua Hong is rapidly...

David Mudd

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With No Surprise, Diodes Guides Automotive/Industrial Semi Demand to Fall over 20% Q/Q

With No Surprise, Diodes Guides Automotive/Industrial Semi Demand to Fall over 20% Q/Q, margin contraction, and rising months of inventory. We see...

Andrew Lu

What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference?

What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference? TSMC revises down 2024 global semi y/y sales from over 10% to...

Andrew Lu

Vanguard (5347.TT): June Revenue Reached a Record High.

​Vanguard's record high June revenue signals positive outlook, with AI applications and tight supply of 8-inch foundry capacity offering potential...

Patrick Liao

TSMC (2330.TT; TSM.US): 1Q26 with EPS of NT$22.1, with Full-Year USD Revenue Growth Over 30%.

​TSMC achieves record EPS in 1Q26, driven by strong demand for advanced processes and AI, upgrading full-year revenue growth to over 30%.

Patrick Liao

BUY/SELL/HOLD: Hong Kong Stock Update (February 20)

Mainland investors are buying record amounts in HK during secular bull mkt. AAC Tech reported positive earnings surprise and Hua Hong is rapidly...

David Mudd

Vanguard's record high June revenue signals positive outlook, with AI applications and tight supply of 8-inch foundry capacity offering potential...

TSMC achieves record EPS in 1Q26, driven by strong demand for advanced processes and AI, upgrading full-year revenue growth to over 30%.