Semiconductors, Memory and SSDs Specialist, Objective Analysis

Jim Handy

Semiconductors, Memory and SSDs Specialist

Objective Analysis

Objective Analysis offers third-party independent market research and data for the semiconductor industry and investors in the semiconductor industry.

Semiconductors, Memory and SSDs

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Nvidia announced another sharp sales increase to $26 billion in quarterly revenues</li>
<li>The company's growth is far greater than hyperscaler CapEx growth, as standard servers yield to AI servers: Bad news for Intel &amp; AMD</li>
<li>Some of this may stem from an inventory build at the hyperscaler, which may lead to another Boom/Bust cycle similar to 2018 and 2022</li>
</ul>


Nvidia announced another sharp sales increase to $26 billion in quarterly revenues
The company's growth is far greater than hyperscaler CapEx growth, as standard servers yield to AI servers: Bad news for Intel &amp; AMD
Some of this may stem from an inventory build at the hyperscaler, which may lead to another Boom/Bust cycle similar to 2018 and 2022


Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

Advanced Micro Devices / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>3Q24 results inline with Consensus. 4Q guidance slightly below. 2025 Consensus is in the ballpark: 28% revenue growth, 59% EPS growth. The stock trades at average forward PEx 31x.</li>
<li>2024 GPU revenue guidance has increased from US$2bn a year ago to “exceed $5bn”. The concern is that AMD is lagging Nvidia. But AMD’s 1st competitive GPU is available 1Q25.</li>
<li>Other concern is that GPU growth is eating at the CPU market. AMD unit share is ~24% in 2024 (revenue share 33%). AMD can reach 35% unit share by 2026.</li>
</ul>


3Q24 results inline with Consensus. 4Q guidance slightly below. 2025 Consensus is in the ballpark: 28% revenue growth, 59% EPS growth. The stock trades at average forward PEx 31x.
2024 GPU revenue guidance has increased from US$2bn a year ago to “exceed $5bn”. The concern is that AMD is lagging Nvidia. But AMD’s 1st competitive GPU is available 1Q25.
Other concern is that GPU growth is eating at the CPU market. AMD unit share is ~24% in 2024 (revenue share 33%). AMD can reach 35% unit share by 2026.


AMD 3Q24: The Stock Is Down 8% Afterhours. We See Concerns in the Wrong Place, a Buying Opportunity

Asia and Global Semiconductor and Tech Research

Andrew Lu

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>TSMC reiterates 2024 sales y/y growth of 20-25% but revises down 2024 global semiconductor y/y sales from over 10% to 10% and global foundry sales growth from 20% to 15-19%.</li>
<li>
<strong>No more Moore's Law</strong>: After 3 years ramp up gap between N5-N3, TSMC confirms 10-11 quarters of ramp up gap between N3 and N2 due to longer production cycle.</li>
<li>Driven by stronger digital consumer (33% q/q), HPC (3% q/q), IoT (5% q/q) sales but weaker smartphone IC (-16% q/q), TSMC reports 1Q24 sales decline of only 5% q/q.</li>
</ul>


TSMC reiterates 2024 sales y/y growth of 20-25% but revises down 2024 global semiconductor y/y sales from over 10% to 10% and global foundry sales growth from 20% to 15-19%.

No more Moore's Law: After 3 years ramp up gap between N5-N3, TSMC confirms 10-11 quarters of ramp up gap between N3 and N2 due to longer production cycle.
Driven by stronger digital consumer (33% q/q), HPC (3% q/q), IoT (5% q/q) sales but weaker smartphone IC (-16% q/q), TSMC reports 1Q24 sales decline of only 5% q/q.


What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference?

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Taiwan Dell said "AI GPU shortage issue has been resolved. The lead time has been cut from 40 weeks by the end of 2023 to 8-12 weeks or less now.</li>
<li>We see this news short term positive but medium term negative to AI GPU supply chain vendors but need more information to confirm if this is an inflection point.</li>
<li>1. Taiwan Dell got priority supply? 2. Earlier overbooking over? 3. Lead time cut by supply upside? 4. Cooling company said the same; 5. Will lead time continue to shrink?</li>
</ul>


Taiwan Dell said "AI GPU shortage issue has been resolved. The lead time has been cut from 40 weeks by the end of 2023 to 8-12 weeks or less now.
We see this news short term positive but medium term negative to AI GPU supply chain vendors but need more information to confirm if this is an inflection point.
1. Taiwan Dell got priority supply? 2. Earlier overbooking over? 3. Lead time cut by supply upside? 4. Cooling company said the same; 5. Will lead time continue to shrink?


Early Sign of AI GPU Market Inflection Point?

<ul>
<li>Earlier expectation on Micron will have rooms to raise becoming a reality, largely driven by over 30% q/q NAND bit price jump for storage business in 1Q24.</li>
<li>10ppts stronger 2Q24 sales guidance and 3-6ppts higher gross margin guidance are driving free cash flow improvement.</li>
<li>AI server, PC, and smartphone driving DRAM bit demand and HBM3e/HBM4 and 1-gamma EUV DRAM slowing bit supply growth both are positive except MOI remains 15% above 5 years average. </li>
</ul>


Earlier expectation on Micron will have rooms to raise becoming a reality, largely driven by over 30% q/q NAND bit price jump for storage business in 1Q24.
10ppts stronger 2Q24 sales guidance and 3-6ppts higher gross margin guidance are driving free cash flow improvement.
AI server, PC, and smartphone driving DRAM bit demand and HBM3e/HBM4 and 1-gamma EUV DRAM slowing bit supply growth both are positive except MOI remains 15% above 5 years average. 


The First Semi-Micron to Guide 2Q24; All Good News Except MOI

United States

NVIDIA Corporation designs, develops, and markets three dimensional (3D) graphics processors and related software.  The Company's products provide interactive 3D graphics to the mainstream personal computer market.

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NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US)

Nvidia Up Sharply Again - Can This Last?

Nvidia's quarterly sales of $26 billion, driven by AI server demand, poses a threat to Intel and AMD, but hyperscalers may be building up...

Jim Handy

AMD 3Q24: The Stock Is Down 8% Afterhours. We See Concerns in the Wrong Place, a Buying Opportunity

The stock is down sharply after hours but concerns are misplaced in our view. AMD competitive GPU is only available from 1Q25. We expect AMD to...

Nicolas Baratte

What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference?

What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference? TSMC revises down 2024 global semi y/y sales from over 10% to...

Andrew Lu

Early Sign of AI GPU Market Inflection Point?

Early Sign of AI GPU Market Inflection Point? We see this lead time cut news short term positive but long term negative to AI GPU supply chain...

Andrew Lu

The First Semi-Micron to Guide 2Q24; All Good News Except MOI

The First Semi-Micron to Guide 2Q24; All Good News Except MOI; AI server, PC, and smartphone driving DRAM bit demand and HBM3e/HBM4 and 1-gamma EUV...

Andrew Lu

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Nvidia Up Sharply Again - Can This Last?

​Nvidia's quarterly sales of $26 billion, driven by AI server demand, poses a threat to Intel and AMD, but hyperscalers may be building up...

Jim Handy

AMD 3Q24: The Stock Is Down 8% Afterhours. We See Concerns in the Wrong Place, a Buying Opportunity

The stock is down sharply after hours but concerns are misplaced in our view. AMD competitive GPU is only available from 1Q25. We expect AMD to...

Nicolas Baratte

What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference?

What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference? TSMC revises down 2024 global semi y/y sales from over 10% to...

Andrew Lu

Early Sign of AI GPU Market Inflection Point?

Early Sign of AI GPU Market Inflection Point? We see this lead time cut news short term positive but long term negative to AI GPU supply chain...

Andrew Lu

The First Semi-Micron to Guide 2Q24; All Good News Except MOI

The First Semi-Micron to Guide 2Q24; All Good News Except MOI; AI server, PC, and smartphone driving DRAM bit demand and HBM3e/HBM4 and 1-gamma EUV...

Andrew Lu

Nvidia's quarterly sales of $26 billion, driven by AI server demand, poses a threat to Intel and AMD, but hyperscalers may be building up...