Asia and Global Semiconductor and Tech Research

Andrew Lu

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Both TSMC and UMC saw about 20% cut in automotive industry wafer sales in 3Q23, which was 20% worse than customers' guidance.</li>
<li>Reasons for discrepancies: 1. IDMs cut foundry orders but keep in house utilization higher; 2. Worse than expected US auto factories strike; 3. Rate hike results in worse car sales.</li>
<li>We suggest clients to be cautious on the investment of automotive supply chain for the next 3-6 months</li>
</ul>


Both TSMC and UMC saw about 20% cut in automotive industry wafer sales in 3Q23, which was 20% worse than customers' guidance.
Reasons for discrepancies: 1. IDMs cut foundry orders but keep in house utilization higher; 2. Worse than expected US auto factories strike; 3. Rate hike results in worse car sales.
We suggest clients to be cautious on the investment of automotive supply chain for the next 3-6 months


Top Foundries See Cut in Automotive Industry Wafer Sales, Implications

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

<ul>
<li>There are signs of a recovery in the chip sector</li>
<li>Memory spot prices are up, and revenues have risen for six consecutive months</li>
<li>Growth is higher than average, indicating the start of another super-cycle</li>
</ul>


There are signs of a recovery in the chip sector
Memory spot prices are up, and revenues have risen for six consecutive months
Growth is higher than average, indicating the start of another super-cycle


Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>A bit over a year ago <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/renesas-electronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15933:1" rel="noopener">Renesas Electronics (6723 JP)</a> announced its transaction to buy <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dialog-semiconductor-plc-664a1f83-2a21-4690-a91f-fb971832e7ad" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21607:1" rel="noopener">Dialog Semiconductor (DLG GR)</a> for €4.8bn (roughly ¥624bn) and the transaction closed end-August 2021.</li>
<li>In September, Renesas announced a "Progress Update" covering various business segments, expectations for supply in the sector, and eventual "shareholder return" policy.</li>
<li>This past week the Nikkei carried an article talking about a possible stock buyback later this year. I explore.</li>
</ul>


A bit over a year ago Renesas Electronics (6723 JP) announced its transaction to buy Dialog Semiconductor (DLG GR) for €4.8bn (roughly ¥624bn) and the transaction closed end-August 2021.
In September, Renesas announced a "Progress Update" covering various business segments, expectations for supply in the sector, and eventual "shareholder return" policy.
This past week the Nikkei carried an article talking about a possible stock buyback later this year. I explore.


Renesas (6723 JP) - On Top of Peer-Beating Growth, and Valuation... Watch for Buybacks

Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

Equity Bottom-Up

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) / Equity Bottom-Up

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC)

<ul>
<li>Chinese Foundries (HuaHong, SMIC) have outgrown ex-China (GlobalFoundries, UMC, Vanguard) very significantly. Reacting to US sanctions, Chinese Chip Designers have shifted to domestic Foundries. China / ex-China supply-chains have decoupled.</li>
<li>End-Demand diverged up to 2Q24. Chinese Foundries were mentioning end-demand recovering, customers restocking, tight capacity. Ex-China Foundries mentioning the opposite: weak end-demand, customers destocking, low utilization. </li>
<li>Change of direction in 3Q24. Chinese Foundries become cautious, we see an obvious inventory problem on overblown end-demand growth expectations. Ex-China end-demand is stabilizing, destocking coming to an end.</li>
</ul>


Chinese Foundries (HuaHong, SMIC) have outgrown ex-China (GlobalFoundries, UMC, Vanguard) very significantly. Reacting to US sanctions, Chinese Chip Designers have shifted to domestic Foundries. China / ex-China supply-chains have decoupled.
End-Demand diverged up to 2Q24. Chinese Foundries were mentioning end-demand recovering, customers restocking, tight capacity. Ex-China Foundries mentioning the opposite: weak end-demand, customers destocking, low utilization. 
Change of direction in 3Q24. Chinese Foundries become cautious, we see an obvious inventory problem on overblown end-demand growth expectations. Ex-China end-demand is stabilizing, destocking coming to an end.


Foundries. China (Hua Hong, SMIC) Has Outperformed but on Poor Margins & Inventory Risk.

Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

Vanguard Intl Semiconductor / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Vanguard’s 4Q24 revenue is expected to drop by mid-to-high single digits, with GM at about 27-28%.</li>
<li>For the products segment wise, the PMIC (power management IC) remains stable, while the Display Driver IC may decline by mid-teens QoQ.  </li>
<li>The Chinese government seems to be subsidizing local fabless orders, raising concerns about the sustainability of the current prosperity and the possibility of excess inventory in the near future.</li>
</ul>


Vanguard’s 4Q24 revenue is expected to drop by mid-to-high single digits, with GM at about 27-28%.
For the products segment wise, the PMIC (power management IC) remains stable, while the Display Driver IC may decline by mid-teens QoQ.  
The Chinese government seems to be subsidizing local fabless orders, raising concerns about the sustainability of the current prosperity and the possibility of excess inventory in the near future.


Vanguard (5347.TT): 4Q24 Outlook Is Lower than Consensus; DDIC Is Declining.

Netherlands

NXP Semiconductors NV operates as a global semiconductor company. The Company designs semiconductors and software for mobile communications, consumer electronics, security applications, in-car entertainment, and networking.  NXP offers its products to the automotive, identification, wireless infrastructure, lighting, mobile, and computing applications.

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Nxp Semiconductors Nv (NXPI US)

Top Foundries See Cut in Automotive Industry Wafer Sales, Implications

Top foundries see worse than expected automotive wafer sales, implying more automotive supply chain members are going to miss earnings expectation...

Andrew Lu

Are Semiconductors Finally Recovering?

The chip sector is beginning to recover with rising memory prices and six consecutive months of above-average revenue growth, suggesting the onset...

Jim Handy

Renesas (6723 JP) - On Top of Peer-Beating Growth, and Valuation... Watch for Buybacks

Renesas (6723) saw INCJ sell down last year. Absorption has been OK not great. The company has hinted at being able to start buybacks, and recent...

Travis Lundy

Foundries. China (Hua Hong, SMIC) Has Outperformed but on Poor Margins & Inventory Risk.

Chinese foundries have overgrown ex-China counterparts, but now face inventory issues. Ex-China foundries are stabilizing, destocking coming to an...

Nicolas Baratte

Vanguard (5347.TT): 4Q24 Outlook Is Lower than Consensus; DDIC Is Declining.

Vanguard's 4Q24 revenue expected to drop, Chinese government subsidies raise concerns about sustainability and excess inventory.

Patrick Liao

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Top Foundries See Cut in Automotive Industry Wafer Sales, Implications

Top foundries see worse than expected automotive wafer sales, implying more automotive supply chain members are going to miss earnings expectation...

Andrew Lu

Are Semiconductors Finally Recovering?

​The chip sector is beginning to recover with rising memory prices and six consecutive months of above-average revenue growth, suggesting the onset...

Jim Handy

Renesas (6723 JP) - On Top of Peer-Beating Growth, and Valuation... Watch for Buybacks

Renesas (6723) saw INCJ sell down last year. Absorption has been OK not great. The company has hinted at being able to start buybacks, and recent...

Travis Lundy

Foundries. China (Hua Hong, SMIC) Has Outperformed but on Poor Margins & Inventory Risk.

​Chinese foundries have overgrown ex-China counterparts, but now face inventory issues. Ex-China foundries are stabilizing, destocking coming to an...

Nicolas Baratte

Vanguard (5347.TT): 4Q24 Outlook Is Lower than Consensus; DDIC Is Declining.

​Vanguard's 4Q24 revenue expected to drop, Chinese government subsidies raise concerns about sustainability and excess inventory.

Patrick Liao

The chip sector is beginning to recover with rising memory prices and six consecutive months of above-average revenue growth, suggesting the onset...

Chinese foundries have overgrown ex-China counterparts, but now face inventory issues. Ex-China foundries are stabilizing, destocking coming to an...

Vanguard's 4Q24 revenue expected to drop, Chinese government subsidies raise concerns about sustainability and excess inventory.