This weekly newsletter pulls together summaries of the top ten most-read Insights across Tech Hardware and Semiconductor on Smartkarma.
Receive this weekly newsletter keeping 45k+ investors in the loop
1. NVIDIA. Burry’s Claims Miss The Forest For The Trees. The Real Issues Are Structural, Not Legal
- After taking short positions against Palantir & NVIDIA, Michael Burry has closed his hedge fund and taken to substack to continue his assault on the AI bubble
- While he makes some valid points, these are mainly things everybody already knows and in the end he’s missing the forest for the trees
- There are key structural issues surrounding the AI Infrastructure build out (grid, foundry, memory capacity to mention a few). These will drive course corrections, all by themselves.
2. TSMC (2330.TT; TSM.US): Retired Sr. VP Joins Intel; U.S. Fab Impact; Arizona Earnings Decline.
- TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) – ADR (TSM US)’s retired Senior Vice President Dr. Wei-Jen Lo has taken a position at Intel.
- Trump has been in power for less than a year, and the U.S.’s measures have fully revealed its purpose of confrontation between China and the United States.
- TSMC’s Arizona fab profit dropped from NT$4.32 billion in 2Q25 to NT$410 million in 3Q25.
3. Did The Elon & Jensen Clown Show Just Crater The AI Narrative?
- Maybe it’s 10, 20 years something like that. For me that’s long term. Um my prediction is that work will be optional.
- The evidence speaks for itself uh but but but AI and humanoid robots will actually eliminate poverty and Tesla won’t be the only one that makes them.
- There will still be constraints on power like electricity. The fundamental physics elements will still be constraints. Um but um I think at some point uh currency becomes irrelevant.
4. Taiwan Dual-Listings Monitor: TSMC Spread Back in Extreme Range, UMC Discount
- TSMC: +25.8% Premium; Rebounded to High End of Range, Good Level to Open a Short of the ADR Spread
- UMC: -2.2% Discount; Good Level to Open a Short of the ADR Spread
- ASE: +3.2% Premium; Wait for More Extreme Level Before Going Long or Short
5. PC Monitor: Dell/HP Results Support PC Up-Cycle Into 2026E
- AI PCs turning the PC refresh into a gradual, extended up-cycle
- Memory inflation is one of the major margin risks for PC makers in 2026
- Dell’s server business indicates AI factory build-outs becoming a multi-year investment cycle. Remain long Dell, Asustek, Acer.
6. Taiwan Tech Weekly: Rapidus Making Progress… TSMC Impact; Latest PC Results Support 2026E Up-Cycle
- Japan’s Rapidus Moves Ahead With 1.4nm Plans… TSMC Impact? — Latest and Past Analysis
- PC Monitor: Latest Dell/HP Results Support PC Up-Cycle Into 2026E
- TechChain Insights: Factory Visit with One of Taiwan’s Critical Battery Suppliers
7. TechChain Insights: Visit with Taiwan’s Critical Battery Supplier
- Factory visit to GUS Technology reveals Taiwan’s strategic position as a non-China battery supplier for defense and critical infrastructure applications.
- Proprietary pouch cell technology with patents in Taiwan and Japan addresses weight-sensitive applications including drones, underwater vehicles, and data center UPS systems.
- Dual product strategy (safety-focused Mettle Series and energy-dense Hyper Series) targets both commercial reliability and mission-critical performance markets.
8. Taiwan Dual-Listings Monitor: TSMC ADR Spread Deeper in Historically Rare Zone
- TSMC: +27.1% Premium; Increased to More Historically Extreme Level; Deeper in Short Range
- UMC: +2.3% Premium; Good Level to Open a Short of The Spread
- ASE: +2.3% Premium; Wait Better Long Opportunity Near Parity or Below
9. TSMC (2330.TT; TSM.US): Rapidus Plans to Build a Second Fab to Begin 1.4nm Volume Production in 2029
- Rapidus is currently moving in parallel with TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) – ADR (TSM US) in targeting the 2nm, and is regarded as Japan’s core force in the advanced-process arena.
- Rapidus plans to build a second fab in Hokkaido in FY2027. The facility is scheduled to begin 1.4nm volume production in 2029 to accelerate the catch-up with global leader TSMC.
- During its mid-October earnings briefing, TSMC stated that 2nm will enter volume production as scheduled in 4Q this year, and that it will begin 1.4nm mass production in 2028.
10. Silicon Motion (SIMO US): Multiple Growth Drivers Converging Into 2026E
- Four growth drivers ramping simultaneously: PCIe5 targeting 40% market share, NAND makers increased outsourcing of controller design, automotive segment approaching 10% of revenue, and datacenter products approaching 5-10% of revenue.
- Near-Term catalysts compelling as memory supply tightness drives controller outsourcing and gross margins approach 49-50%.
- 19x 2026E PER represents good value if company hits targets. While stock carries market pullback risk, we nevertheless maintain our Structural Long rating due to multi-year growth in view.
