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. Intel CEO Heads To DC To Save His Job As Former CEO Calls His Leading Edge Strategy A Joke
- Intel CEO Lip Bu Tan is reportedly headed to Washington today to meet with the US Administration and clear up any misunderstandings about his past investments in China etc.
- Meanwhile, former CEO Craig Barrett published his third opinion piece about Intel’s future and calls LBT’s strategy of not investing further in 14A without customer support a joke
- It’s challenging to deal with the US Administration from a position of strength. It’s a whole different ball game when both the CEO & the company are in crisis mode…
2. Taiwan Dual-Listings Monitor: TSMC Spread Remains Extreme; UMC ADR Short Interest Falling
- TSMC: +22.8% Premium; ADR Spread Remains at Historically Extreme Levels
- UMC: -0.8% Discount; Wait for More Extreme Levels; Short Interest in ADRs Falling
- ASE: -0.1% Discount; Continued Opportunity to Go Long the ADR Spread
3. Taiwan Tech Weekly: Foxconn US$1bn USA Robotics Push; Samsung Doubles Down on US Fabs; Intel Crisis
- Foxconn Tech invests US$1bn in U.S. robotics, AI, and smart manufacturing over 10 years, expanding into service robotics via RoboTemi stake.
- Samsung to surpass US$50bn in U.S. chip investments, adding US$7bn for advanced packaging to compete with TSMC and capture AI/HPC integration opportunities.
- Intel faces leadership crisis as CEO Lip Bu Tan’s strategy is criticized; U.S. policy and competitive pressures may accelerate market gains for TSMC and Samsung.
4. TSMC (2330.TT; TSM.US): Board Meeting Resolutions; 2nm Technology Information Leakage Issue.
- Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) – ADR (TSM US) disclosed Board of Directors meeting resolutions today.
- Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) – ADR (TSM US) 2nm technology manufacturing information leakage issue.
- Currently, only TSMC, Samsung, and Intel have achieved trial production at the 2nm node.
5. Apple. A Master Class On How To Win Friends & Influence People
- Apple CEO Tim Cook visited the White House announcing an additional $100 billion investment in the US over the next four years, on top of the $500 billion already committed.
- He launched the American Manufacturing Program with nine initial members seven of which are already long terms partners and two of which have no direct relationship with Apple at all
- Samsung with its image sensor deal (presumably) and MP Materials with its rare earth magnets deal are two clear winners from the Apple announcement. Overall, successful mission by Mr. Cook.
6. Nanya July Revenue Soars 31% MoM As Micron Revises Current Quarter Guide Up >5%
- Nanya last week announced that revenues for the month of July amounted to NT$5.3 billion, an increase of 31.4% MoM, and an increase of 95% YoY,
- Micron this week revised upwards its guidance for the current quarter with a roughly $500 million increase in revenue, attributable primarily price increases for DDR5
- Customisation of Micron’s HBM4E base logic die is transforming their key customer relationships from commodity vendor to strategic ASIC design-like partner. That’s good for Micron…
7. AMAT Q325. Tanking On Tepid Leading Edge Outlook & China Woes
- AMAT reported FY Q325 revenues of $7.3 billion, up 3% QoQ, up 8% YoY and ~$100 million above the midpoint of the guided range
- Looking ahead, AMAT forecasted current quarter revenues of $6.7 billion at the midpoint, down 8.3% QoQ and down 4.9% YoY
- The China slump was not unexpected, but the leading edge logic drop was definitely a surprise
8. PC Monitor: ASUS’s Gaming & Commercial Strength Signal AI PC Cycle; Positive Read for Dell, HP
- ASUS experienced record 2Q25 revenue driven by 30–40% YoY growth in gaming and commercial PCs, supported by a new GPU sales strength and enterprise market expansion.
- AI servers held mid-teens revenue share for ASUS; margin pressure from tariffs and FX expected to ease after 3Q.
- Strong gaming and commercial PC momentum could signal PC upgrade activity in response to AI PCs, offering positive read-through for Dell and HPQ’s upcoming results end-August.
9. Taiwan Dual-Listings Monitor: TSMC ADR Premium Sees Small Breakdown; ASE Discount Long Opportunity
- TSMC: +21.5% Premium; Historically High Short Interest in the Local Begins to Drop?
- ASE: -0.4% Discount; Opportunity to Go Long the ADR Premium
- UMC: +0.2% Premium; Wait for More Extreme Levels Before Going Long or Short the Spread
10. Himax (HIMX US) – Share Drop: Near-Term Weakness Offset by Structural Automotive & AI Growth Drivers
- 2Q25 beat on margins, in-line on profit; automotive and non-driver ICs resilient despite macro headwinds; guidance points to weaker 3Q25 from seasonal bonus costs and softer demand.
- Automotive, OLED, WiseEye AI, and WLO/CPO remain multi-year growth drivers; CPO mass production targeted for 2026 with early-stage annualized revenue potential above US$100m.
- Shares likely fell on weak near-term outlook, but structural leadership in automotive display ICs, AI sensing, and optical technologies underpins long-term growth runway through 2028.
