Global TMT Analyst, Ex-PM, 30 years experience

Neil Campling

Equity Bottom-Up

SQUARE ENIX HOLDINGS CO., LTD. develops and sells entertainment software for home video game consoles including Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy series. The Company also publishes books such as informational guide books for its game software, and comic magazines and books.  Additionally, Square Enix sells character goods and stationery items from its software products.

<ul>
<li>Gaming Award nominations could spark sales lift into key holiday selling season   </li>
<li>Highly watched Industry Scores are moving higher for FF7 Rebirth. FF7 Rebirth moving higher up key US gaming charts</li>
<li>Five CQ4 release titles could drive revenues higher from recent lower reset. Big valuation discount and balance sheet opportunities exist</li>
</ul>


Gaming Award nominations could spark sales lift into key holiday selling season   
Highly watched Industry Scores are moving higher for FF7 Rebirth. FF7 Rebirth moving higher up key US gaming charts
Five CQ4 release titles could drive revenues higher from recent lower reset. Big valuation discount and balance sheet opportunities exist


Gaming. Square Enix (9684 JP). 3 NOTABLE POSITIVES SO FAR IN OCTOBER. BIG MONTH AHEAD

SK Hynix Inc. provides products and services for the electronic components industry. The Company manufactures semiconductors, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), NAND flash memory, and static random access memory (SRAM) chips.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd-cec874fc-ef78-403b-8658-7a7298f0a28d" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25241:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (SMSN LI)</a> Q3 preliminary Operating Profit results is 12% below consensus. Company issues rare apology, effectively admitting technology competitiveness falls short.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-hynix-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16955:1" rel="noopener">SK Hynix (000660 KS)</a> is powering ahead in HBM memory in our view, securing Nvidia 2025 allocations, and industry leading efficiencies.</li>
<li>A range of factors have created a great opportunity for SK Hynix investment given misunderstood industry dynamics and position at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nvidia-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5891:1" rel="noopener">NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US).</a>
</li>
</ul>



Samsung Electronics (SMSN LI) Q3 preliminary Operating Profit results is 12% below consensus. Company issues rare apology, effectively admitting technology competitiveness falls short.

SK Hynix (000660 KS) is powering ahead in HBM memory in our view, securing Nvidia 2025 allocations, and industry leading efficiencies.
A range of factors have created a great opportunity for SK Hynix investment given misunderstood industry dynamics and position at NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US).



SAMSUNG: Less About Preliminary Results, More About the Tech Missteps. Samsung Pain Is HYNIX’s Gain

Event-Driven

ASM Pacific Technology Limited manufactures semiconductor back end equipment. The Company produces assembly equipment, packaging equipment, surface mount technology equipment, and other equipment. ASM Pacific Technology supplies its products in microelectronics, semiconductor, optoelectronics, and other fields.

<ul>
<li>The second PE rumoured interest in ASMPT in 18 months, with KKR circling.</li>
<li>Semiconductor M&amp;A has surged in 2024 YTD with a 33% increase in deal activity compared to 2023.</li>
<li>ASM's leadership in TCB, potential growth within HBM, expansion at TSM and enabling the Nvidia Blackwell platform are all reasons for M&amp;A interest.</li>
</ul>


The second PE rumoured interest in ASMPT in 18 months, with KKR circling.
Semiconductor M&amp;A has surged in 2024 YTD with a 33% increase in deal activity compared to 2023.
ASM's leadership in TCB, potential growth within HBM, expansion at TSM and enabling the Nvidia Blackwell platform are all reasons for M&amp;A interest.


ASMPT (ASM Pacific). 522 HK. M&A. Takeover Target Talk. Déjà Vu ?

Kioxia Holdings Corporation manufactures semiconductor memory products. The Company develops, produces, and sells flash memory cards, solid state drives, secure digital memory cards, and other products. Kioxia Holdings also operates group management strategy formulation and management.

<ul>
<li>Significant peer price performance declines leaves IPO valuation stretched, the desired discount multiple to attract interest has suddenly become a premium</li>
<li>Investor interest in memory semiconductors, AI derivative stocks has cooled</li>
<li>Peer price sell-offs are extreme but could quickly change, reflecting the highly cyclical nature of the sector</li>
</ul>


Significant peer price performance declines leaves IPO valuation stretched, the desired discount multiple to attract interest has suddenly become a premium
Investor interest in memory semiconductors, AI derivative stocks has cooled
Peer price sell-offs are extreme but could quickly change, reflecting the highly cyclical nature of the sector


Tech: Japan's Biggest IPO in 6 Years, Kioxia, Is Off. Here Is the Likely Reason

Intel Corporation designs, manufactures, and sells computer components and related products.  The Company's major products include microprocessors, chipsets, embedded processors and microcontrollers, flash memory products, graphics products, network and communications products, systems management software, conferencing products, and digital imaging products.

<ul>
<li>SAMR would draw out review process for too long for a deal to be approved</li>
<li>Intel faces an existential crisis and even the new Foundry division has issues</li>
<li>A theoretical deal would have little financial synergy and destroy Qualcomm's gross margins</li>
</ul>


SAMR would draw out review process for too long for a deal to be approved
Intel faces an existential crisis and even the new Foundry division has issues
A theoretical deal would have little financial synergy and destroy Qualcomm's gross margins


Tech M&A: Qualcomm for Intel? No Chance. Here's Why.

30 years Global Equity experience with focus on Global TMT, Consumer and Health Care. Experience across Buy Side (Long only and Hedge Fund), Sell Side (Head of Research), and Industry (IT Services). Equities focused, thematic research, Fundamental bottom up. Special interest in growth, high cash generation. And Forensic accounting and spotting frauds: https://www.fnlondon.com/articles/meet-the-analyst-who-called-wirecard-a-zero-amid-a-sea-of-buy-ratings-20200701