Managing Director, Zero One, Zero One

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Managing Director, Zero One

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Acer shares slumped 7% in a day after the company missed analyst expectations. Acer has now underperformed Asustek since our March 21st Long Asustek vs. Short Acer recommendation.</li>
<li>Despite the earnings miss, Acer management said it believed 1Q23 will be the trough for the business and metrics should be improving going forward.</li>
<li>We believe one can consider reversing our Long Asustek vs. Short Acer Trade to become Long ACER vs. Short Asustek, and hold this trade through Asustek's upcoming earnings results.</li>
</ul>


Acer shares slumped 7% in a day after the company missed analyst expectations. Acer has now underperformed Asustek since our March 21st Long Asustek vs. Short Acer recommendation.
Despite the earnings miss, Acer management said it believed 1Q23 will be the trough for the business and metrics should be improving going forward.
We believe one can consider reversing our Long Asustek vs. Short Acer Trade to become Long ACER vs. Short Asustek, and hold this trade through Asustek's upcoming earnings results.


PC Industry Monitor: Close Long Asus, Short Acer; Now Reverse the Trade and Long ACER Vs. Short Asus

Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

<ul>
<li>IDC reported 3Q24 PC shipments declining -2% YoY, Canalys an increase of +1%. Let’s call this flat. If 4Q24 is “average seasonal”, 2024 will reach ~265m, or the pre-Covid range. </li>
<li>No AI fever, no accelerated replacement cycle, for now. If it happens, it will take time, ie compelling AI apps that only run locally and need a new PC.</li>
<li>In Asia, PC vendors: Lenovo, Acer, Asus. Taiwan ODM: Compal, Quanta, Wistron. Semi with high exposure: Novatek, Realtek. </li>
</ul>


IDC reported 3Q24 PC shipments declining -2% YoY, Canalys an increase of +1%. Let’s call this flat. If 4Q24 is “average seasonal”, 2024 will reach ~265m, or the pre-Covid range. 
No AI fever, no accelerated replacement cycle, for now. If it happens, it will take time, ie compelling AI apps that only run locally and need a new PC.
In Asia, PC vendors: Lenovo, Acer, Asus. Taiwan ODM: Compal, Quanta, Wistron. Semi with high exposure: Novatek, Realtek. 


3Q24 PC Shipments Are Flat YoY. Lenovo, Acer, Asus. Compal, Quanta, Wistron.

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

<ul>
<li>PC &amp; Server solutions names have fallen moderately from highs in June, however enterprise server company HPE soared 20% on AI strength.</li>
<li>Despite the market pullback from highs, we note that 2025E forward growth expectations have generally increased for the universe over the last month.</li>
<li>Latest Taiwan PC company revenues indicate healthy growth and HPE's management guided for Enterprise AI orders to accelerate.</li>
</ul>


PC &amp; Server solutions names have fallen moderately from highs in June, however enterprise server company HPE soared 20% on AI strength.
Despite the market pullback from highs, we note that 2025E forward growth expectations have generally increased for the universe over the last month.
Latest Taiwan PC company revenues indicate healthy growth and HPE's management guided for Enterprise AI orders to accelerate.


PC Monitor: Growth Expectations Have Increased Recently; HPE Signals Enterprise AI Acceleration

<ul>
<li>Asus's 1Q24 earnings beat consensus by 46% thanks to major increase in operating margin driven by costs optimization. Adjusted Asus brand Op profit rose 227% YoY and 98% QoQ.</li>
<li>Asus will host a major AI PC launch event May 21st, with additional AI PCs launched at Computex in Taiwan June 4th. Will feature <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/qualcomm-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:969:1" rel="noopener">Qualcomm Inc (QCOM US)</a> Snapdragon processors.</li>
<li>Asus confident in an PC upgrade cycle and has guided for sales to rise and margins to expand in the coming quarters. We maintain our Structural Long rating for Asus.</li>
</ul>


Asus's 1Q24 earnings beat consensus by 46% thanks to major increase in operating margin driven by costs optimization. Adjusted Asus brand Op profit rose 227% YoY and 98% QoQ.
Asus will host a major AI PC launch event May 21st, with additional AI PCs launched at Computex in Taiwan June 4th. Will feature Qualcomm Inc (QCOM US) Snapdragon processors.
Asus confident in an PC upgrade cycle and has guided for sales to rise and margins to expand in the coming quarters. We maintain our Structural Long rating for Asus.


Asustek: Margin Beat, Guides More Upside; Qualcomm for AI PCs; Why Asus Confident in AI PC Up-Cycle

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

<ul>
<li>SK Reports Massive Margin Rebound; Nanya Tech's Financial Performance Appears Relatively Weak in Perspective</li>
<li>AI Applications Now Translating Into Rising Solid-State Memory (SSD) Demand</li>
<li>SK Povided Positive Color for Taiwan PC Names; New TSMC Collaboration Highlights TSMC Strength vs. Samsung</li>
</ul>


SK Reports Massive Margin Rebound; Nanya Tech's Financial Performance Appears Relatively Weak in Perspective
AI Applications Now Translating Into Rising Solid-State Memory (SSD) Demand
SK Povided Positive Color for Taiwan PC Names; New TSMC Collaboration Highlights TSMC Strength vs. Samsung


Memory Monitor: What SK Hynix Sees For PC and Server Markets Ahead; TSMC's Strength Vs. Samsung

Taiwan

Acer Inc. manufactures and distributes semiconductor products, personal computers, computer peripherals, multimedia products, and computer software. The Company also provides maintenance and repair services to customers.  In addition, Acer Inc. operates real estate business. The Company markets its products under the Acer brand name.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Acer Inc (2353 TT)

PC Industry Monitor: Close Long Asus, Short Acer; Now Reverse the Trade and Long ACER Vs. Short Asus

Despite an earnings miss, Acer management said it believed 1Q23 will be the trough for the business and metrics should be improving going forward.

Vincent Fernando, CFA

3Q24 PC Shipments Are Flat YoY. Lenovo, Acer, Asus. Compal, Quanta, Wistron.

3Q24 PC shipments are flat YoY. The great recovery or AI replacement cycle aren’t happening (for now). IDC reported 3Q24 PC shipments declining -2%...

Nicolas Baratte

PC Monitor: Growth Expectations Have Increased Recently; HPE Signals Enterprise AI Acceleration

PC & Server Solution share prices have dipped from recent highs, however forward growth expectations have increased over the last month and...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Asustek: Margin Beat, Guides More Upside; Qualcomm for AI PCs; Why Asus Confident in AI PC Up-Cycle

Asus beats earnings expectations by 46% in 1Q24, plans major AI PC launch event with Qualcomm processors, confident in PC upgrade cycle and future...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Memory Monitor: What SK Hynix Sees For PC and Server Markets Ahead; TSMC's Strength Vs. Samsung

Major take-aways from SK Hynix's latest industry visibility. The memory industry is likely to achieve a new all-time revenue level in 2025E.

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

PC Industry Monitor: Close Long Asus, Short Acer; Now Reverse the Trade and Long ACER Vs. Short Asus

Despite an earnings miss, Acer management said it believed 1Q23 will be the trough for the business and metrics should be improving going forward.

Vincent Fernando, CFA

3Q24 PC Shipments Are Flat YoY. Lenovo, Acer, Asus. Compal, Quanta, Wistron.

3Q24 PC shipments are flat YoY. The great recovery or AI replacement cycle aren’t happening (for now). IDC reported 3Q24 PC shipments declining -2%...

Nicolas Baratte

PC Monitor: Growth Expectations Have Increased Recently; HPE Signals Enterprise AI Acceleration

​PC & Server Solution share prices have dipped from recent highs, however forward growth expectations have increased over the last month and...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Asustek: Margin Beat, Guides More Upside; Qualcomm for AI PCs; Why Asus Confident in AI PC Up-Cycle

​Asus beats earnings expectations by 46% in 1Q24, plans major AI PC launch event with Qualcomm processors, confident in PC upgrade cycle and future...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Memory Monitor: What SK Hynix Sees For PC and Server Markets Ahead; TSMC's Strength Vs. Samsung

Major take-aways from SK Hynix's latest industry visibility. The memory industry is likely to achieve a new all-time revenue level in 2025E.

Vincent Fernando, CFA

PC & Server Solution share prices have dipped from recent highs, however forward growth expectations have increased over the last month and...

Asus beats earnings expectations by 46% in 1Q24, plans major AI PC launch event with Qualcomm processors, confident in PC upgrade cycle and future...