Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

Equity Bottom-Up

Novatek Microelectronics Corp / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The supply chain received good news that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/novatek-microelectronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10904:1" rel="noopener">Novatek Microelectronics Corp (3034 TT)</a> as successfully passed iPhone 16 OLED DRIVER IC (DDIC) qualification.</li>
<li>Novatek's recent alliance with ARM to develop Neoverse V2 is a noteworthy development.</li>
<li>Novatek's 1Q24F forecast remains unchanged, but the outlook for 2024F is likely to show positive growth.</li>
</ul>


The supply chain received good news that Novatek Microelectronics Corp (3034 TT) as successfully passed iPhone 16 OLED DRIVER IC (DDIC) qualification.
Novatek's recent alliance with ARM to develop Neoverse V2 is a noteworthy development.
Novatek's 1Q24F forecast remains unchanged, but the outlook for 2024F is likely to show positive growth.


Novatek (3034.TT): It Had Been Qualified by the IPhone 16 for OLED Driver IC.

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing, Clepsydra Capital

Sanghyun Park

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing

Clepsydra Capital

Investigate special situations, pairs, and index rebalancing trades in Korea.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Samsung Elec &amp; Hyundai Motor's high proportion of preferred stocks leads to their unusually high cost of capital, making themselves prime targets for the govt's Corporate Value Up policy.</li>
<li>Policy likely focuses on aggressive share buybacks, especially preferred stock repurchase, to improve PBR. Pension funds may invest heavily in ETFs, offsetting dilution effects.</li>
<li>Hyundai Motor may pursue more aggressive shareholder returns due to the India listing, possibly prioritizing preferred share repurchases as it introduces risks of value transfer controversies within Korea.</li>
</ul>


Samsung Elec &amp; Hyundai Motor's high proportion of preferred stocks leads to their unusually high cost of capital, making themselves prime targets for the govt's Corporate Value Up policy.
Policy likely focuses on aggressive share buybacks, especially preferred stock repurchase, to improve PBR. Pension funds may invest heavily in ETFs, offsetting dilution effects.
Hyundai Motor may pursue more aggressive shareholder returns due to the India listing, possibly prioritizing preferred share repurchases as it introduces risks of value transfer controversies within Korea.


Exploring Prioritized Buyback/Cancellation of Samsung Electronics & Hyundai Motor Prefs

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

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

<ul>
<li>UMC &amp; Mediatek Results Today in Taiwan, Samsung Also Reporting; Taiwan AI Names Flying; Himax &amp; Novatek Top Losers Ahead of Results.</li>
<li>Semiconductor Surge: Southeast Asia Taking Center Stage Amid Taiwan's Geopolitical Shift</li>
<li>First Run of Tech/Semis' Guidance Tells Us What Industries and Companies to Avoid</li>
</ul>


UMC &amp; Mediatek Results Today in Taiwan, Samsung Also Reporting; Taiwan AI Names Flying; Himax &amp; Novatek Top Losers Ahead of Results.
Semiconductor Surge: Southeast Asia Taking Center Stage Amid Taiwan's Geopolitical Shift
First Run of Tech/Semis' Guidance Tells Us What Industries and Companies to Avoid


Taiwan Tech Weekly: Semiconductors Surging in Southeast Asia; UMC & Mediatek Results Today

Asia and Global Semiconductor and Tech Research

Andrew Lu

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Continuous weaknesses to be seen in industrial and general non-AI server semi demand starting 3Q23 and lasting into 1Q24 and some weaknesses in digital consumer semi demand starting 4Q23.</li>
<li>Memory semiconductor vendors see strengths in 4Q23 and continuous improvement in DRAM/NAND price in 1Q24.</li>
<li>We see a healthy mid single digit q/q and y/y decline on 4Q23 MOI but suggest vendors to avoid in next 1-2 months before they guide down the market.</li>
</ul>


Continuous weaknesses to be seen in industrial and general non-AI server semi demand starting 3Q23 and lasting into 1Q24 and some weaknesses in digital consumer semi demand starting 4Q23.
Memory semiconductor vendors see strengths in 4Q23 and continuous improvement in DRAM/NAND price in 1Q24.
We see a healthy mid single digit q/q and y/y decline on 4Q23 MOI but suggest vendors to avoid in next 1-2 months before they guide down the market.


First Run of Tech/Semis' Guidance Tells Us What Industries and Companies to Avoid

<ul>
<li>Applied guided -1% q/q and Lam Research guided 8% q/q sales growth, below N.A. front end semi equipment billings' 12% q/q growth, room for analysts to raise their 4Q23E sales. </li>
<li>N.A. front end equipment sales reached US$3.775bn, up 1% m/m, down 5% y/y but back end equipment billings reached US$222mn in December, down 8% m/m and down 9% y/y.</li>
<li>Better than equipment vendors, WSTS/SIA reported November sales of US$48bn, up 3% m/m and up 5% y/y (the first month to turn positive after 14 months of consecutive y/y decline)</li>
</ul>


Applied guided -1% q/q and Lam Research guided 8% q/q sales growth, below N.A. front end semi equipment billings' 12% q/q growth, room for analysts to raise their 4Q23E sales. 
N.A. front end equipment sales reached US$3.775bn, up 1% m/m, down 5% y/y but back end equipment billings reached US$222mn in December, down 8% m/m and down 9% y/y.
Better than equipment vendors, WSTS/SIA reported November sales of US$48bn, up 3% m/m and up 5% y/y (the first month to turn positive after 14 months of consecutive y/y decline)


From Dec N.A. SEMI Equipment Billings to Expect a Sales Raise for Applied Materials and Lam Research

South Korea

COSMOAM&T Co., Ltd. manufactures, sells, and exports blank video & audio recording tapes including back-coated tapes, high speed recordable tapes, and video head cleaners.  The Company also produces recordable and rewritable optical discs, such as compact discs (CD), mini discs (MD), and digital video discs (DVD).

Hyundai IBT Co., Ltd. develops and manufactures various monitors. The Company'sproducts include thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), plasma display panel (PDP), and color display tubes (CDT) monitors. Imagequest also produces thin client (window based terminal) products and markets notebook computers.

E-Investment&Development Co., Ltd. develops and manufactures mobile modules. The Company produces slide hinge module of cellular phone and mock-up for cellular phone.

Sindoh Co., Ltd. manufactures office equipment such as copiers, facsimiles, printers, and copier related products.  The Company also offers financial services through its subsidiaries.

Kona I Co., Ltd. develops and provides electronic purse cards, called smartcards , which can be used for online and offline settlements and payments.  The Company also sells smart card readers, automatic teller machines, integrated transportation systems, and chips on board (COB) used in electronic cards.

Spigen Korea Co Ltd manufactures phone accessories.  The Company's main products include mobile phone cases, screen protectors and bags.

Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. specializes in developing Lithium Ion Battery (LIB) technology.  The Company also manufactures cathode ray tubes (CRTs) for televisions and computer monitors.  Samsung SDI also produces liquid crystal display (LCD) components and rechargeable batteries for cellular phones , personal digital assistants (PDAs), Energy Storage Systems and solar panels.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. manufactures a variety of electronic components used in computers, audio and video products, industrial electronics, and telecommunication equipment. The Company's products include multi-layer boards and capacitors, optical Pick Ups, deflection yokes (DY), keyboards, speakers, and light emitting diode (LED) products.

Samsung Electro Mechanics Co, Ltd. (009150 KS)

LG Display Co., Ltd. develops and manufactures digital display products.  The Company's products include thin film transistor-liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCD) for notebook and desktop computer monitors, TVs, mobile phones, and medical equipment.  LG Display provides its products mainly to overseas markets.

LG Innotek Co., Ltd. develops and produces cellular phone parts such as mini vibration motors, LCD modules, light emitting diode (LED), camera modules, protection circuit modules. The Company also manufactures liquid crystal displays (LCD) and plasma display panels (PDP) parts such as inverters, intelligent power modules, multi chip modules, and tuners.

Canon Inc. is a professional and consumer imaging solutions company and patent-holder of digital imaging technologies. The Company's products include networked multifunction devices, digital and analog copiers, computer peripherals, facsimile machines, image filing systems, camcorders, cameras and lenses, semiconductor, and broadcast and medical equipment.

Western Digital Corporation is a global provider of solutions for the collection, storage, management, protection and use of digital content, including audio and video. The Company's products include hard drives, solid-state drives, and home entertainment and networking products.

Quanta Computer Inc. manufactures and markets notebook computers and related peripheral equipment.

HP Inc. provides imaging and printing systems, computing systems, mobile devices, solutions, and services for business and home. The Company offers products which includes laser and inkjet printers, scanners, copiers and faxes, personal computers, workstations, storage solutions, and other computing and printing systems. HP sells its products worldwide.

Super Micro Computer, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and sells server solutions based on modular and open-standard x86 architecture. The Company's products include servers, motherboards, chassis, and accessories.

Seagate Technology Holdings Public Limited Company offers computer hardware products. The Company designs, manufactures, and markets hard disk drives for enterprise applications, client compute applications, client non-compute applications, personal data backup systems, portable external storage systems and digital media systems.

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation develops, sells and services Imaging, Information, and Document Solutions.  Its products include color films, digital cameras, photofinishing products and equipment.  The Group also manufactures medical and graphic art use equipment and materials, FPD materials, and optical devices, and provides services on office copy machines, printers, and related equipment.

NEC Corporation manufactures and markets computers, telecommunication equipment, electronic devices, semiconductors, and software.  The Company's products include printers, modems, cellular phones, plasma display panels (PDP), network systems, memory, integrated circuits (IC), thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), and printed circuit boards (PCB). NEC operates worldwide.

NetApp, Inc. provides storage and data management solutions. The Company's storage solutions include specialized hardware, software, and services that provide storage management for open network environments. NetApp  serves enterprises, government agencies, and universities worldwide.

BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. manufactures display products. The Company produces display panels, sensor devices, and other products. BOE Technology Group supplies its products in mobile phones, tablets, notebooks, monitors, and other fields.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. manufactures a wide range of consumer and industrial electronic equipment and products such as semiconductors, personal computers, peripherals, monitors, televisions, and home appliances including air conditioners and microwave ovens. The Company also produces Internet access network systems and telecommunications equipment including mobile phones.

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Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)

Novatek (3034.TT): It Had Been Qualified by the IPhone 16 for OLED Driver IC.

Novatek's successful qualification for iPhone 16 OLED DDIC and partnership with ARM for Neoverse V2 development signal positive growth in 2024.

Patrick Liao

Exploring Prioritized Buyback/Cancellation of Samsung Electronics & Hyundai Motor Prefs

This post intends to flag the imminent likelihood of prioritized buyback and cancellation of preferred shares by Samsung Electronics and Hyundai...

Sanghyun Park

Taiwan Tech Weekly: Semiconductors Surging in Southeast Asia; UMC & Mediatek Results Today

Key Taiwan results ahead include Mediatek, UMC, Realtek, Novatek, and Himax. Taiwan AI names have been flying lately while Novatek and Himax have...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

First Run of Tech/Semis' Guidance Tells Us What Industries and Companies to Avoid

First Run of Tech/Semis' Guidance Tells Us What Industries and Companies to Avoid; Weaknesses to be seen in industrial, general non-AI server semi,...

Andrew Lu

From Dec N.A. SEMI Equipment Billings to Expect a Sales Raise for Applied Materials and Lam Research

From Dec N.A. SEMI Equipment Billings to Expect a Sales Raise for Applied Materials and Lam Research; Applied and Lam guided below 4Q23 N.A. front...

Andrew Lu

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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Dividend (Yield)

Novatek (3034.TT): It Had Been Qualified by the IPhone 16 for OLED Driver IC.

​Novatek's successful qualification for iPhone 16 OLED DDIC and partnership with ARM for Neoverse V2 development signal positive growth in 2024.

Patrick Liao

Exploring Prioritized Buyback/Cancellation of Samsung Electronics & Hyundai Motor Prefs

This post intends to flag the imminent likelihood of prioritized buyback and cancellation of preferred shares by Samsung Electronics and Hyundai...

Sanghyun Park

Taiwan Tech Weekly: Semiconductors Surging in Southeast Asia; UMC & Mediatek Results Today

Key Taiwan results ahead include Mediatek, UMC, Realtek, Novatek, and Himax. Taiwan AI names have been flying lately while Novatek and Himax have...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

First Run of Tech/Semis' Guidance Tells Us What Industries and Companies to Avoid

First Run of Tech/Semis' Guidance Tells Us What Industries and Companies to Avoid; Weaknesses to be seen in industrial, general non-AI server semi,...

Andrew Lu

From Dec N.A. SEMI Equipment Billings to Expect a Sales Raise for Applied Materials and Lam Research

From Dec N.A. SEMI Equipment Billings to Expect a Sales Raise for Applied Materials and Lam Research; Applied and Lam guided below 4Q23 N.A. front...

Andrew Lu

Novatek's successful qualification for iPhone 16 OLED DDIC and partnership with ARM for Neoverse V2 development signal positive growth in 2024.