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. TSMC (2330.TT; TSM.US): Holds Shareholders’ Meeting on June 3rd.
- There’s nothing TSMC can do about U.S. tariffs but keep working hard and ensure TSMC’s technology remains the best in the world.
- Recently, the NT dollar has strengthened by 8%, and our operating margin has dropped by over 3% due to exchange rate fluctuations.
- If our technology could be stolen so easily, TSMC wouldn’t be where it is today.
2. Taiwan Tech Weekly: Mediatek’s New Chip Could Outperform Apple’s; Samsung Beats TSMC, Wins Nintendo
- Rumors That Mediatek’s Upcoming Chips Could Outperform Apple’s Chips Used in the iPhone 17
- Samsung Beats TSMC to Win Key Nintendo Switch 2 Contract
- PC Monitor: Commercial PC Demand Resilient; AI PC Momentum Builds W/ NVDA Blackwell-Powered Launches
3. Intel @ BofA Securities 2025 Global Technology Conference
- Intel Products CEO Michelle Johnston Holthaus reveals that the company is now also including Samsung as a second foundry option
- The practice of Intel offering OEM incentives appears to be coming to the end of its unnatural life as LBT sets the tone. Great news for AMD I would think.
- Further investment in A14 capacity will now be contingent on having customers committing to taking up that capacity. No more build it and they will come a la Mr. Gelsinger.
4. Intel (INTC.US): Exploring a Tough Journey. (V)
- Intel Corp (INTC US) CEO Lip-Bu Tan was setting two guideline that “build the best products” and “satisfy customers.”
- Going forward, no new product development project will be approved—nor will engineering resources be allocated—unless it can demonstrate a projected gross margin of at least 50%.
- In the coming months, an internal tug-of-war is expected to unfold within the company—between engineers and senior executives
5. Semiconductor Memory Q125 Review, Tariff & Tech Transition Impacts, HBM Outlook Etc.
- DRAM revenues for Q125 amounted to $28.6 billion, up 1.5% QoQ and up 57.4% YoY.
- NAND Q125 revenues amounted to $13.3 billion, down 20.6% QoQ and down 5.5% YoY.
- Micron’s HBM revenues grew 50% QoQ. Sk Hynix will double HBM revenues YoY. HBM TAM on track to exceed entire DRAM industry 2024 revenues by 2030. Transformation incoming!
6. Micron Upcoming Earnings Vs.Hyperscaler CapEx Slowdown
- Micron is doing very well lately, mainly from its position in HBM, and this is likely to be a key positive factor in their upcoming June 25 earnings call
- Hyperscaler CapEx has slowed, but the CapEx share of revenues continues to rise, indicating speculation that AI growth will come
- Despite the above, Nvidia revenues have continued to grow, which is a positive indication for HBM sales
7. UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): Gloomy Outlook for 3Q25.
- United Microelectron Sp Adr (UMC US) is likely to exceed its 2Q25 guidance by 5–10%, while the outlook for 3Q25 appears somewhat gloomy, with a flat quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) performance likely.
- Qualcomm Inc (QCOM US) and NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US) are allocating a few thousand 12” wafers at UMC, but it appears to be the end of the product cycle.
- Samsung Electronics (005930 KS), for example, has been relatively aggressive in wafer procurement in 2Q25, which could lead to a pullback in 3Q25.
