Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

Equity Bottom-Up

Vanguard Intl Semiconductor / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Due to reduced seasonal demand, 4Q24 shipments will decrease by 10% to 12% (QoQ, while the average selling price (ASP) will increase by 3% to 5% QoQ.</li>
<li>Vanguard's investment in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/episil-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7688:1" rel="noopener">Episil Holdings (3707 TT)</a> is focused on the 8" SiC process, indicating Vanguard's ventures into the 8" SiC foundry sector in the near future.</li>
<li>Vanguard is confident in maintaining a minimum DPS policy of NT$4.5</li>
</ul>


Due to reduced seasonal demand, 4Q24 shipments will decrease by 10% to 12% (QoQ, while the average selling price (ASP) will increase by 3% to 5% QoQ.
Vanguard's investment in Episil Holdings (3707 TT) is focused on the 8" SiC process, indicating Vanguard's ventures into the 8" SiC foundry sector in the near future.
Vanguard is confident in maintaining a minimum DPS policy of NT$4.5


Vanguard (5347.TT): 4Q24 Outlook Is a Bit Better, but Investment in EPISIL Isn't a near Term Payback

<ul>
<li>Vanguard’s 4Q24 revenue is expected to drop by mid-to-high single digits, with GM at about 27-28%.</li>
<li>For the products segment wise, the PMIC (power management IC) remains stable, while the Display Driver IC may decline by mid-teens QoQ.  </li>
<li>The Chinese government seems to be subsidizing local fabless orders, raising concerns about the sustainability of the current prosperity and the possibility of excess inventory in the near future.</li>
</ul>


Vanguard’s 4Q24 revenue is expected to drop by mid-to-high single digits, with GM at about 27-28%.
For the products segment wise, the PMIC (power management IC) remains stable, while the Display Driver IC may decline by mid-teens QoQ.  
The Chinese government seems to be subsidizing local fabless orders, raising concerns about the sustainability of the current prosperity and the possibility of excess inventory in the near future.


Vanguard (5347.TT): 4Q24 Outlook Is Lower than Consensus; DDIC Is Declining.

Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) / Equity Bottom-Up

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) (2330 TT)

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing)

<ul>
<li>The price of ASML EUV machine is increasing as thruput (wafer / hour) is increasing. </li>
<li>TSMC 3nm is fully booked in 2025. Here is the list of clients / chips. </li>
<li>SiC and MCU over-investments in China? Very likely. China is limiting SiC investments. </li>
</ul>


The price of ASML EUV machine is increasing as thruput (wafer / hour) is increasing. 
TSMC 3nm is fully booked in 2025. Here is the list of clients / chips. 
SiC and MCU over-investments in China? Very likely. China is limiting SiC investments. 


Tech News This Week. ASML, TSMC, Intel, SiC Capacity, MCU in China

<ul>
<li>4Q24 Guidance: Sales will be US$26.1-26.9bn, up 13%; GM outlook will be 57-59%; and OPM outlook is 46.5-48.5%</li>
<li>AI revenue contribution will triple and reach mid-teens sales contribution this year. Almost every AI innovator cooperates with TSMC.</li>
<li>APT will grow above the corporate average in the next five years.GM is approaching the corporate average, but it's not the same currently.</li>
</ul>


4Q24 Guidance: Sales will be US$26.1-26.9bn, up 13%; GM outlook will be 57-59%; and OPM outlook is 46.5-48.5%
AI revenue contribution will triple and reach mid-teens sales contribution this year. Almost every AI innovator cooperates with TSMC.
APT will grow above the corporate average in the next five years.GM is approaching the corporate average, but it's not the same currently.


TSMC (2330.TT; TSM.US): 4Q24 Outgrowth; Co-Work with Almost AI Innovators.

United Microelectron Sp Adr / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<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)'s </a>outlook for 4Q24 is expected to show a decrease of around -5% QoQ, with a minimum gross margin of 30%.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/qualcomm-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:969:1" rel="noopener">Qualcomm Inc (QCOM US)</a> moving out of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/semiconductor-manufacturing-international-corp-smic" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14231:1" rel="noopener">Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) (981 HK)</a> and has opened up opportunities for UMC.  </li>
<li>UMC is considering selling its 8" Fab, known as 8S, due to its consistently poor performance.  </li>
</ul>



United Microelectron Sp Adr (UMC US)'s outlook for 4Q24 is expected to show a decrease of around -5% QoQ, with a minimum gross margin of 30%.

Qualcomm Inc (QCOM US) moving out of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) (981 HK) and has opened up opportunities for UMC.  
UMC is considering selling its 8" Fab, known as 8S, due to its consistently poor performance.  


UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): 4Q24 Outlook Blurred; QCOM Opens up a New Chance; Considering Selling Fab 8S.

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.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Vanguard Intl Semiconductor (5347 TT)

Vanguard (5347.TT): 4Q24 Outlook Is a Bit Better, but Investment in EPISIL Isn't a near Term Payback

4Q24 shipments to decrease by 10-12% due to reduced demand, while ASP will increase by 3-5%. Vanguard's investment in Episil focuses on 8" SiC...

Patrick Liao

Vanguard (5347.TT): 4Q24 Outlook Is Lower than Consensus; DDIC Is Declining.

Vanguard's 4Q24 revenue expected to drop, Chinese government subsidies raise concerns about sustainability and excess inventory.

Patrick Liao

Tech News This Week. ASML, TSMC, Intel, SiC Capacity, MCU in China

ASML price increase in 2025. TSMC 3nm Order Surge Expected in 2025. Intel's Next-Gen Panther Lake CPUs Handed to Lenovo. China restrictions on SiC...

Nicolas Baratte

TSMC (2330.TT; TSM.US): 4Q24 Outgrowth; Co-Work with Almost AI Innovators.

TSMC's 4Q24 guidance shows strong sales growth, with AI revenue set to triple and contribute significantly to overall sales. APT expected to...

Patrick Liao

UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): 4Q24 Outlook Blurred; QCOM Opens up a New Chance; Considering Selling Fab 8S.

UMC's 4Q24 outlook expects -5% QoQ decrease with 30% gross margin, Qualcomm moving out of SMIC opens opportunities for UMC, considering selling...

Patrick Liao

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Vanguard (5347.TT): 4Q24 Outlook Is a Bit Better, but Investment in EPISIL Isn't a near Term Payback

​4Q24 shipments to decrease by 10-12% due to reduced demand, while ASP will increase by 3-5%. Vanguard's investment in Episil focuses on 8" SiC...

Patrick Liao

Vanguard (5347.TT): 4Q24 Outlook Is Lower than Consensus; DDIC Is Declining.

​Vanguard's 4Q24 revenue expected to drop, Chinese government subsidies raise concerns about sustainability and excess inventory.

Patrick Liao

Tech News This Week. ASML, TSMC, Intel, SiC Capacity, MCU in China

ASML price increase in 2025. TSMC 3nm Order Surge Expected in 2025. Intel's Next-Gen Panther Lake CPUs Handed to Lenovo. China restrictions on SiC...

Nicolas Baratte

TSMC (2330.TT; TSM.US): 4Q24 Outgrowth; Co-Work with Almost AI Innovators.

​TSMC's 4Q24 guidance shows strong sales growth, with AI revenue set to triple and contribute significantly to overall sales. APT expected to...

Patrick Liao

UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): 4Q24 Outlook Blurred; QCOM Opens up a New Chance; Considering Selling Fab 8S.

​UMC's 4Q24 outlook expects -5% QoQ decrease with 30% gross margin, Qualcomm moving out of SMIC opens opportunities for UMC, considering selling...

Patrick Liao

4Q24 shipments to decrease by 10-12% due to reduced demand, while ASP will increase by 3-5%. Vanguard's investment in Episil focuses on 8" SiC...

Vanguard's 4Q24 revenue expected to drop, Chinese government subsidies raise concerns about sustainability and excess inventory.

TSMC's 4Q24 guidance shows strong sales growth, with AI revenue set to triple and contribute significantly to overall sales. APT expected to...

UMC's 4Q24 outlook expects -5% QoQ decrease with 30% gross margin, Qualcomm moving out of SMIC opens opportunities for UMC, considering selling...