Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

Equity Bottom-Up

United Microelectron Sp Adr / Equity Bottom-Up

United Microelectronics Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets integrated circuits (ICs) and related electronic products.  The Company's main products are consumer electronic ICs, memory ICs, personal computer peripheral ICs, and communication ICs.

<ul>
<li>2Q25 guidance: Wafer shipments: increase 5~7%, ASP in USD: flat, GM: About 30%.</li>
<li>The US tariffs affect customer outcome visibility in 2Q25 and 2H25 is limited. </li>
<li>UMC is seeking a strategic plan to enhance shareholder value, and there is no ongoing merger plan at the moment, which implies no merger plan with GF. </li>
</ul>


2Q25 guidance: Wafer shipments: increase 5~7%, ASP in USD: flat, GM: About 30%.
The US tariffs affect customer outcome visibility in 2Q25 and 2H25 is limited. 
UMC is seeking a strategic plan to enhance shareholder value, and there is no ongoing merger plan at the moment, which implies no merger plan with GF. 


UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): 2Q25 Guidance Beat; Tariff Affection Unknown; No GF Merger Plan Right Now.

Managing Director, Zero One, Zero One

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Managing Director, Zero One

Zero One

Founded in 2015, Zero One produces independent investment research and provides corporate finance advisory services with a focus on both listed and private technology companies. Founder Vincent Fernando has over 20 years of experience in US and Asia capital markets.

Independent Investment Research

Faraday Technology Corp. designs and manufactures application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and wafers.

<ul>
<li>Faraday Top-Line Soars on CoWoS Chip Packaging Services Support Ramp -- 78% of MP Revenue Came from AI/HPC Applications</li>
<li>TSMC-Aligned Execution Enables Asset-Light Business Scaling for Faraday -- New Fabless OSAT Service is Highly Differentiated; Competitive Advantage</li>
<li>Outlook: Continued Very Strong Momentum into 2Q25 -- 1H25 Revenue Will Be Higher Than All of 2024</li>
</ul>


Faraday Top-Line Soars on CoWoS Chip Packaging Services Support Ramp -- 78% of MP Revenue Came from AI/HPC Applications
TSMC-Aligned Execution Enables Asset-Light Business Scaling for Faraday -- New Fabless OSAT Service is Highly Differentiated; Competitive Advantage
Outlook: Continued Very Strong Momentum into 2Q25 -- 1H25 Revenue Will Be Higher Than All of 2024


Faraday Technology’s Breakout: AI Packaging Demand Defying the Global Semiconductor Slowdown

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) - ADR / Equity Bottom-Up

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. manufactures integrated circuits based on its proprietary designs.  The Company offers a comprehensive set of integrated circuit fabrication processes to manufacture CMOS logic, mixed-mode, volatile and non-volatile memory and BiCMOS chips.  Taiwan Semiconductor is an affiliate of Philips Electronics N.V.

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) - ADR (TSM US)

<ul>
<li>TSMC: 16.5% Premium; Short Interest Remains Near Historical Highs for ADR and Local</li>
<li>ASE: +2.2% Premium; Wait for Closer to Par Before Going Long; Short Interest in Local Shares at Highs</li>
<li>ChipMOS: +1.1% Premium; Short Interest in Local Shares Hits New Highs</li>
</ul>


TSMC: 16.5% Premium; Short Interest Remains Near Historical Highs for ADR and Local
ASE: +2.2% Premium; Wait for Closer to Par Before Going Long; Short Interest in Local Shares at Highs
ChipMOS: +1.1% Premium; Short Interest in Local Shares Hits New Highs


Taiwan Dual-Listings Monitor: TSMC Premium at Mid-Range; Short Interest Highs for ASE & IMOS

<ul>
<li>
TSMC’s Arizona fab hits Taiwan-level yields, easing replication concerns and reinforcing its global leadership across N2 and advanced packaging. </li>
<li>
AI demand offsets smartphone softness in 1Q25; TSMC guides +13% QoQ revenue for 2Q25 as margins hold firm despite tariff and earthquake headwinds. </li>
<li>
Faraday and UMC results ahead this week -- Key readouts on Taiwan’s ASIC, mature node, and design service momentum amid U.S.-China tech decoupling.</li>
</ul>



TSMC’s Arizona fab hits Taiwan-level yields, easing replication concerns and reinforcing its global leadership across N2 and advanced packaging. 

AI demand offsets smartphone softness in 1Q25; TSMC guides +13% QoQ revenue for 2Q25 as margins hold firm despite tariff and earthquake headwinds. 

Faraday and UMC results ahead this week -- Key readouts on Taiwan’s ASIC, mature node, and design service momentum amid U.S.-China tech decoupling.


Taiwan Tech Weekly: TSMC U.S. Bet Pays Off; UMC & Faraday Step Up Next; Latest Mobile Shipments Data

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>After the new CEO, Mr. Lip-Pu Tan, took office at the chip giant <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/intel-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16764:1" rel="noopener">Intel Corp (INTC US)</a>, he initiated a large-scale restructuring of the executive team and organization.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/intel-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16764:1" rel="noopener">Intel Corp (INTC US)</a> to sell 51% share of Altera to Silver Lake, a global leader in technology investing. This deal is further to deal with non-performing assets.</li>
<li>Now, the critical question is, who are the clients of Intel Corp (INTC US) IFS (Intel Foundry Service)?  </li>
</ul>


After the new CEO, Mr. Lip-Pu Tan, took office at the chip giant Intel Corp (INTC US), he initiated a large-scale restructuring of the executive team and organization.

Intel Corp (INTC US) to sell 51% share of Altera to Silver Lake, a global leader in technology investing. This deal is further to deal with non-performing assets.
Now, the critical question is, who are the clients of Intel Corp (INTC US) IFS (Intel Foundry Service)?  


Intel (INTC.US): Exploring a Tough Journey. (IV)

Insights on Tech Hardware and Semiconductors

Tech Hardware and Semiconductor Research
Insights on Tech Hardware and Semiconductors

UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): 2Q25 Guidance Beat; Tariff Affection Unknown; No GF Merger Plan Right Now.

UMC's 2Q25 guidance shows increased wafer shipments and flat ASP, with limited visibility due to US tariffs. Strategic plan in place to enhance...

Patrick Liao

Faraday Technology’s Breakout: AI Packaging Demand Defying the Global Semiconductor Slowdown

Faraday's top-line growth driven by CoWoS chip packaging services for AI/HPC applications, with very strong momentum expected to continue into 2Q25.

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Taiwan Dual-Listings Monitor: TSMC Premium at Mid-Range; Short Interest Highs for ASE & IMOS

We analyze the premium and discount levels of dual-listed Taiwan companies, suggesting potential spread trading levels based on historical trends.

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Taiwan Tech Weekly: TSMC U.S. Bet Pays Off; UMC & Faraday Step Up Next; Latest Mobile Shipments Data

TSMC's Arizona fab achieves Taiwan-level yields, reinforcing global leadership in N2 and advanced packaging, while AI demand offsets smartphone...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Intel (INTC.US): Exploring a Tough Journey. (IV)

New Intel CEO initiates restructuring, sells 51% of Altera to Silver Lake, raising questions about Intel Corp IFS clients.

Patrick Liao

UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): 2Q25 Guidance Beat; Tariff Affection Unknown; No GF Merger Plan Right Now.

​UMC's 2Q25 guidance shows increased wafer shipments and flat ASP, with limited visibility due to US tariffs. Strategic plan in place to enhance...

Patrick Liao

Faraday Technology’s Breakout: AI Packaging Demand Defying the Global Semiconductor Slowdown

​Faraday's top-line growth driven by CoWoS chip packaging services for AI/HPC applications, with very strong momentum expected to continue into 2Q25.

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Taiwan Dual-Listings Monitor: TSMC Premium at Mid-Range; Short Interest Highs for ASE & IMOS

We analyze the premium and discount levels of dual-listed Taiwan companies, suggesting potential spread trading levels based on historical trends.

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Taiwan Tech Weekly: TSMC U.S. Bet Pays Off; UMC & Faraday Step Up Next; Latest Mobile Shipments Data

​TSMC's Arizona fab achieves Taiwan-level yields, reinforcing global leadership in N2 and advanced packaging, while AI demand offsets smartphone...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Intel (INTC.US): Exploring a Tough Journey. (IV)

​New Intel CEO initiates restructuring, sells 51% of Altera to Silver Lake, raising questions about Intel Corp IFS clients.

Patrick Liao

UMC's 2Q25 guidance shows increased wafer shipments and flat ASP, with limited visibility due to US tariffs. Strategic plan in place to enhance...

Faraday's top-line growth driven by CoWoS chip packaging services for AI/HPC applications, with very strong momentum expected to continue into 2Q25.

TSMC's Arizona fab achieves Taiwan-level yields, reinforcing global leadership in N2 and advanced packaging, while AI demand offsets smartphone...

New Intel CEO initiates restructuring, sells 51% of Altera to Silver Lake, raising questions about Intel Corp IFS clients.