Blue Lotus China New Economy Research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Eric Wen

Blue Lotus China New Economy Research

China growth and global non-US Internet equities

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Blue Lotus Research is a Hong Kong Type 4 Licensed investment advisory firm focusing on Chinese growth equities and global non-US Internet equities

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>LKNCY US:Weak sales of Starbucks China reflects lingering fierce competition (-)</li>
<li>300274 CH/300750 CH/1211 HK: New energy export data in September are generally weak, and the phenomenon of tariff-related advanced exporting has not yet appeared(/////)</li>
<li>AAPL US/JD US/1810 HK: iPhone achieves close to 27% market share in China during prior week (+/+/+)</li>
</ul>


LKNCY US:Weak sales of Starbucks China reflects lingering fierce competition (-)
300274 CH/300750 CH/1211 HK: New energy export data in September are generally weak, and the phenomenon of tariff-related advanced exporting has not yet appeared(/////)
AAPL US/JD US/1810 HK: iPhone achieves close to 27% market share in China during prior week (+/+/+)


[Blue Lotus Daily]:LKNCY/300274 CH/300750 CH/1211 HK/AAPL/JD /1810 HK/QCOM/2454 TT/NIO/LI/XPEV/ATAT

Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

Equity Bottom-Up

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Main positive surprise in 3Q24 is a sharp margins expansion, reflecting Utilization increase. OP 9% above Consensus.</li>
<li>Main positive surprise in 4Q24 guidance: high QoQ revenue growth at 13%, which suggests further Utilization increase and TSMC could beat its margins guidance again.  </li>
<li>Net Income growth is accelerating in 2H24 to ~55% YoY. The stock is not that expensive, we estimate trading at 17.2x 2025 and 13.8x 2026 EPS.</li>
</ul>


Main positive surprise in 3Q24 is a sharp margins expansion, reflecting Utilization increase. OP 9% above Consensus.
Main positive surprise in 4Q24 guidance: high QoQ revenue growth at 13%, which suggests further Utilization increase and TSMC could beat its margins guidance again.  
Net Income growth is accelerating in 2H24 to ~55% YoY. The stock is not that expensive, we estimate trading at 17.2x 2025 and 13.8x 2026 EPS.


TSMC: 3Q24 Large Beat, Guidance Better, the Stock Is Not Expensive

Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

United Microelectron Sp Adr / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-microelectron-sp-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11540:1" rel="noopener">United Microelectron Sp Adr (UMC US)'s </a>outlook for 4Q24 is expected to show a decrease of around -5% QoQ, with a minimum gross margin of 30%.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/qualcomm-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:969:1" rel="noopener">Qualcomm Inc (QCOM US)</a> moving out of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/semiconductor-manufacturing-international-corp-smic" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14231:1" rel="noopener">Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) (981 HK)</a> and has opened up opportunities for UMC.  </li>
<li>UMC is considering selling its 8" Fab, known as 8S, due to its consistently poor performance.  </li>
</ul>



United Microelectron Sp Adr (UMC US)'s outlook for 4Q24 is expected to show a decrease of around -5% QoQ, with a minimum gross margin of 30%.

Qualcomm Inc (QCOM US) moving out of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) (981 HK) and has opened up opportunities for UMC.  
UMC is considering selling its 8" Fab, known as 8S, due to its consistently poor performance.  


UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): 4Q24 Outlook Blurred; QCOM Opens up a New Chance; Considering Selling Fab 8S.

Independent research on the U.S. markets, Baptista Research

Baptista Research

Independent research on the U.S. markets

Baptista Research is an independent financial research house focused on the U.S. markets. We provide equity research as well as credit research reports on the top-listed U.S. companies with most of our focus on technology, consumer goods and services, automobiles, industrials, oil and gas, pharma, and healthcare. Our research has served more than 3000 institutional investors including mutual funds, hedge funds, banks, family offices, and various buy-side firms. We operate a research subscription service where institutions, as well as retail investors, can have priority access to all our research. We also have a wide distribution of our research reports across some of the top global financial platforms. Apart from equity research and credit research, we also provide advisory services with respect to mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity/ venture capital fundraising, valuation reports, and investment management services for corporates.
Baptista Research is owned and managed by Ishan Majumdar, an ex-Venture Capitalist/ Investment Banker, a Chartered Accountant, and a Masters’ degree holder in Management from HEC Paris. Ishan has nearly a decade of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), Venture Capital Investing, Corporate Strategy, and Valuation in front-office roles at the likes of BNP Paribas CIB, Credit Agricole CIB, Groupe Danone, and TIW Private Equity. He has worked on and closed multiple acquisition deals, leveraged buyouts, and start-up investment transactions.

<ul><li>The semiconductor industry is buzzing with news that Qualcomm, the world leader in smartphone chipsets and wireless technology patents, has approached Intel about a potential acquisition.</li><li>The Wall Street Journal recently reported on this development, signaling Qualcomm’s ambition to expand beyond its mobile chipset dominance and deepen its reach into the PC and server markets.</li><li>While the deal remains uncertain and could face significant regulatory hurdles, this move could be transformative for Qualcomm.</li></ul>

The semiconductor industry is buzzing with news that Qualcomm, the world leader in smartphone chipsets and wireless technology patents, has approached Intel about a potential acquisition.The Wall Street Journal recently reported on this development, signaling Qualcomm’s ambition to expand beyond its mobile chipset dominance and deepen its reach into the PC and server markets.While the deal remains uncertain and could face significant regulatory hurdles, this move could be transformative for Qualcomm.

Qualcomm’s Game-Changing Play: What Intel’s Acquisition Could Mean for the Future of Tech!

Global TMT Analyst, Ex-PM, 30 years experience

Neil Campling

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>SAMR would draw out review process for too long for a deal to be approved</li>
<li>Intel faces an existential crisis and even the new Foundry division has issues</li>
<li>A theoretical deal would have little financial synergy and destroy Qualcomm's gross margins</li>
</ul>


SAMR would draw out review process for too long for a deal to be approved
Intel faces an existential crisis and even the new Foundry division has issues
A theoretical deal would have little financial synergy and destroy Qualcomm's gross margins


Tech M&A: Qualcomm for Intel? No Chance. Here's Why.

United States

QUALCOMM, Inc . manufactures digital wireless communications equipment.  The Company licenses its code division multiple access (CDMA) and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing access intellectual property to other companies, and produces CDMA-based integrated circuits; and produces equipment and software used to track workers and assets; and software for wireless content enablement.

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Qualcomm Inc (QCOM US)

[Blue Lotus Daily]:LKNCY/300274 CH/300750 CH/1211 HK/AAPL/JD /1810 HK/QCOM/2454 TT/NIO/LI/XPEV/ATAT

Starbucks China sales struggle amid intense competition, new energy export data weak, iPhone gains 27% market share in China.

Blue Lotus Research Institute

TSMC: 3Q24 Large Beat, Guidance Better, the Stock Is Not Expensive

Margins expansion from 3Q24 reflects Utilization finally picking up, driving gross margins up. Yet, utilization is only at ~80% in 3Q24 when 10...

Nicolas Baratte

UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): 4Q24 Outlook Blurred; QCOM Opens up a New Chance; Considering Selling Fab 8S.

UMC's 4Q24 outlook expects -5% QoQ decrease with 30% gross margin, Qualcomm moving out of SMIC opens opportunities for UMC, considering selling...

Patrick Liao

Qualcomm’s Game-Changing Play: What Intel’s Acquisition Could Mean for the Future of Tech!

The semiconductor industry is buzzing with news that Qualcomm, the world leader in smartphone chipsets and wireless technology patents, has...

Baptista Research

Tech M&A: Qualcomm for Intel? No Chance. Here's Why.

China SAMR's lengthy review process would hinder deal approval, Intel's existential crisis includes issues in new Foundry division, theoretical...

Neil Campling

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[Blue Lotus Daily]:LKNCY/300274 CH/300750 CH/1211 HK/AAPL/JD /1810 HK/QCOM/2454 TT/NIO/LI/XPEV/ATAT

​Starbucks China sales struggle amid intense competition, new energy export data weak, iPhone gains 27% market share in China.

Blue Lotus Research Institute

TSMC: 3Q24 Large Beat, Guidance Better, the Stock Is Not Expensive

Margins expansion from 3Q24 reflects Utilization finally picking up, driving gross margins up. Yet, utilization is only at ~80% in 3Q24 when 10...

Nicolas Baratte

UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): 4Q24 Outlook Blurred; QCOM Opens up a New Chance; Considering Selling Fab 8S.

​UMC's 4Q24 outlook expects -5% QoQ decrease with 30% gross margin, Qualcomm moving out of SMIC opens opportunities for UMC, considering selling...

Patrick Liao

Qualcomm’s Game-Changing Play: What Intel’s Acquisition Could Mean for the Future of Tech!

The semiconductor industry is buzzing with news that Qualcomm, the world leader in smartphone chipsets and wireless technology patents, has...

Baptista Research

Tech M&A: Qualcomm for Intel? No Chance. Here's Why.

​China SAMR's lengthy review process would hinder deal approval, Intel's existential crisis includes issues in new Foundry division, theoretical...

Neil Campling

Starbucks China sales struggle amid intense competition, new energy export data weak, iPhone gains 27% market share in China.

UMC's 4Q24 outlook expects -5% QoQ decrease with 30% gross margin, Qualcomm moving out of SMIC opens opportunities for UMC, considering selling...

China SAMR's lengthy review process would hinder deal approval, Intel's existential crisis includes issues in new Foundry division, theoretical...