This weekly newsletter pulls together summaries of the top ten most-read Insights across Tech Hardware and Semiconductor on Smartkarma.
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1. UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US)/ Vanguard (547.TT): The Wafer Prices of Second-Tier Foundries Are Rising.
- Recently, there’s a rumor: Are 8-inch wafers currently negotiating Q2 prices? Is there a chance for a price increase after the Lunar New Year?
- We’ve heard that TSMC and Samsung are exiting the 8” foundry market.
- Vanguard’s 12” wafer output won’t hit the market until early 2027, so there’s no need to consider price increases for now.
2. Nikon (7731 JP): New Defense Business Beyond the Write-Down
- The market has discounted and moved beyond Nikon’s write-down of the value of its additive manufacturing subsidiary Nikon SLM Solutions.
- Orders for 3D metal printers for HII’s Newport News naval shipyard signal a new growth opportunity for Nikon’s Digital Manufacturing business.
- The investment in Trener Robotics is the next step in the development of Nikon’s Digital Manufacturing business.
3. SMIC (981.HK): Expect a Flat QoQ Results in 1Q26, but 2026 Could Still Be a Growth Year.
- 4Q25 results: revenue was $2,489 million Up 4.5% QoQ and Up 12.8% YoY, gross margin was 19.2% and profit from operations was $299 million.
- The 1Q26 guidance: Revenue to be flat and Gross margin to range from 18% to 20%. A typically seasonal softness can be expected, but 2026 still a stable growing trend.
- However, SMIC’s stock price has risen only 0.28% since December 31, 2025—underperforming TSMC (+15%) and UMC (+12%).
