Independent Insight Provider, Japanese equities, LightStream Research

Scott Foster

Independent Insight Provider, Japanese equities

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Equity Bottom-Up

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

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC)

<ul>
<li>Reports emphasizing that SMIC fell short of 3Q expectations don't make much sense. The real test starts this quarter with 7nm smart phone processors for Huawei in mass production.</li>
<li>Profits are under pressure from low capacity utilization, rising depreciation and continued high investment. Cash flow is adequate. The balance sheet is sound.</li>
<li>The share price dropped 6.8% on Friday after rising 44% from late August to early November. 4Q guidance points to near-zero operating and net profit. Recovery will take time.</li>
</ul>


Reports emphasizing that SMIC fell short of 3Q expectations don't make much sense. The real test starts this quarter with 7nm smart phone processors for Huawei in mass production.
Profits are under pressure from low capacity utilization, rising depreciation and continued high investment. Cash flow is adequate. The balance sheet is sound.
The share price dropped 6.8% on Friday after rising 44% from late August to early November. 4Q guidance points to near-zero operating and net profit. Recovery will take time.


SMIC (SEHK: 00981; SSE Star Market: 688981): Back to Reality

Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

<ul>
<li>Based on the some judgments, SMIC consider it will be relatively flat demand in 2024F.</li>
<li>SMIC took into consideration geopolitical instability and allowed equipment vendors to submit orders in advance. </li>
<li>Currently, only a few manufacturers are stockpiling smartphones in response to this wave. The overall industry remains relatively stable.</li>
</ul>


Based on the some judgments, SMIC consider it will be relatively flat demand in 2024F.
SMIC took into consideration geopolitical instability and allowed equipment vendors to submit orders in advance. 
Currently, only a few manufacturers are stockpiling smartphones in response to this wave. The overall industry remains relatively stable.


SMIC (981.HK): Probably A Double U-Shape Correction for Around 2 Years Until the End of 2024F.

Semiconductor & Technology Specialist, Ingenuity

William Keating

Semiconductor & Technology Specialist

Ingenuity

Our focus is exclusively on in-depth research & consulting in the broader semiconductor industry. We focus on the key players, namely Intel, Micron, Qualcomm, Apple, Samsung, NVIDIA, AMD, TSMC & Global Foundries - as well as some of the lesser known, but nonetheless critical, companies such as ASML (for EUV), Mellanox, Cavium, Xilinx etc. We specialise in their products, roadmaps, process technologies, competitive advantages & threats etc. We also help our clients understand the implications of new and emerging technologies, e.g. 3D X-Point, 3D NAND, Carbon Nanotubes, Autonomous Driving, Graphene, Silicon Photonics, Wafer-Level Optics, Artificial Intelligence, FPGA, GPU, ASIC etc. 

Semiconductor Analysis & Research

<ul>
<li>The latest Mate 60 Kirin SOC is a major accomplishment for the Huawei, SMIC combo</li>
<li>SMIC will likely continue to refine their N+2 node and develop a 5nm-like process within 2-3 years, even without the use of EUV</li>
<li>SMIC's accomplishment is not reflected in its share price which lies midways between 52 week highs &amp; lows</li>
</ul>


The latest Mate 60 Kirin SOC is a major accomplishment for the Huawei, SMIC combo
SMIC will likely continue to refine their N+2 node and develop a 5nm-like process within 2-3 years, even without the use of EUV
SMIC's accomplishment is not reflected in its share price which lies midways between 52 week highs &amp; lows


China/Asia TMT

Shawn Yang

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

<ul>
<li>SMIC reported C2Q23 top-line, EBIT, and non-IFRS net profit in-line, (10%), and (20%) vs. our est., and in-line, (35%), and (8%) vs. cons., respectively.</li>
<li>SMIC guided 3Q revenues up 3-5% QoQ, but gross profit flattish QoQ. This suggests SMIC is shipping 8” wafers with low, or negative profit per wafer.</li>
<li>We maintain BUY on Huawei exposure but cut our TP to HK$ 24 to reflect the low profitability of 8” wafer orders that could persist given weak demand.</li>
</ul>


SMIC reported C2Q23 top-line, EBIT, and non-IFRS net profit in-line, (10%), and (20%) vs. our est., and in-line, (35%), and (8%) vs. cons., respectively.
SMIC guided 3Q revenues up 3-5% QoQ, but gross profit flattish QoQ. This suggests SMIC is shipping 8” wafers with low, or negative profit per wafer.
We maintain BUY on Huawei exposure but cut our TP to HK$ 24 to reflect the low profitability of 8” wafer orders that could persist given weak demand.


[SMIC (981 HK, BUY, TP HK$24) TP Change]: Margins Will Decline on No-Profit 8” Wafers Orders

<ul>
<li>We expect SMIC to report C1Q23 top-line and non-IFRS net income 2% and 16% vs. consensus, respectively.</li>
<li>We suggest SMIC’s ability to supply sanctioned firms with 14/7nm nodes provides it with significant pricing power. We expect the decline in SMIC’s wafer ASP to slow.</li>
<li>We expect overall 2H demand to improve due to (1) normalizing fabless inventory levels, and (2) stabilized smartphone demand. We maintain BUY rating and raise our TP to HK$ 26.</li>
</ul>


We expect SMIC to report C1Q23 top-line and non-IFRS net income 2% and 16% vs. consensus, respectively.
We suggest SMIC’s ability to supply sanctioned firms with 14/7nm nodes provides it with significant pricing power. We expect the decline in SMIC’s wafer ASP to slow.
We expect overall 2H demand to improve due to (1) normalizing fabless inventory levels, and (2) stabilized smartphone demand. We maintain BUY rating and raise our TP to HK$ 26.


[SMIC (0981 HK, BUY, TP HK$26) Target Price Change]: Pricing Power Courtesy of Export Restrictions

China

Sanan Optoelectronics Co., Ltd. operates in the business of researching, producing and selling of LED epitaxial wafers and wafers.

JCET Group Co., Ltd. operates in the semiconductor industry.  The Company's products include discrete devices and integrated circuits.  Through its subsidiaries, Jiangsu Changjiang also manufactures signal lamps used in industrial equipment and anti-theft door systems for consumer use.

LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. develops, manufactures and sells silicon rods and silicon wafers. The Company's main products include 6 inch, 6.5 inch and 8 inch monocrystalline silicon rods and wafers.

LONGi Green Energy Technology (601012 CH)

GigaDevice Semiconductor Inc. manufactures and distributes non volatile memory devices. The Company produces and sells memory cards, controllers, flash chips, integrated circuits, and other products. GigaDevice Semiconductor also operates goods and technology import and export, import and export agency, and other businesses.

Montage Technology Co., Ltd. manufactures electronic components. The Company produces memory interface chips, consumer electronics cores, and other products. Montage Technology supplies its products in memory, server, cloud computing, and other fields.

Will Semiconductor Co.,Ltd. Shanghai manufactures image sensor products and semiconductor products. The Company produces and sells complementary metal oxide semiconductors, protecting devices, power devices, power management integrated circuits, radio frequency devices, microphone sensors, and more. Will Semiconductor Shanghai markets its products worldwide.

Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor Co., Ltd. manufactures discrete semiconductor devices. The Company's main products are High Voltage Diode, Silicon Rectifier Diode, Silicon Bridge Rectifier, MWO High Voltage Silicon Diode and special High Voltage Silicon Diode .

Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor (002129 CH)

Hua Hong Semiconductor Limited manufactures semiconductors on 200mm wafers for specialty applications. The Company's products are used in the consumer electronic, communication, computing and industrial, and automotive industries.

TongFu Microelectronics Co., Ltd. manufactures integrated chips. The Company provides assembling and testing service for memory, microprocessor, micro-controller, hybrid circuit, analog circuit, and other related services throughout China.

Hangzhou Silan Microelectronics Co., Ltd develops, researches, tests, and sells integrated circuits.

Hangzhou Silan Microelectronics Co., Ltd (600460 CH)

ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. offers assembly and testing services. The Company provides outsourced assembly, semiconductor testing, semiconductor packaging, and other related services. ASE Technology Holding operates in Taiwan.

Lasertec Corporation develops, designs, manufactures and markets photomask inspection systems to make semiconductor devices, confocal scanning laser microscopes and liquid crystal display (LCD) inspection systems.

SCREEN Holdings Co Ltd.  manufactures and sell semiconductors, FPD devices, commercial printing and printed circuit boards(PCB). The company also provides additional services for its products.

MKS Instruments, Inc. develops, manufactures, and supplies instruments and components used to control and analyze gases in semiconductor manufacturing and similar industrial manufacturing processes. The Company's products are used to manufacture flat panel displays, magnetic and optical storage devices and media, solar cells, fiber optic cables, and diamond thin films.

Skyworks Solutions, Inc., a wireless semiconductor company, designs and manufactures radio frequency and complete semiconductor system solutions for mobile communications applications.  The Company provides front-end modules, radio frequency subsystems, and system solutions to wireless handset and infrastructure customers worldwide.

United Microelectronics Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets integrated circuits (ICs) and related electronic products.  The Company's main products are consumer electronic ICs, memory ICs, personal computer peripheral ICs, and communication ICs.

Realtek Semiconductor Corp. designs, tests, and distributes integrated circuits which are used in consumer electronics, computer systems and peripherals, and communication network hardware.  The Company also provides technical counseling and systems software services.

Onto Innovation Inc. provides process control solutions and inspection systems. The Company offers solutions which primarily used in the fabrication of semiconductors and other solid-state devices, as well as industrial and scientific applications. Onto Innovation serves customers in the United States.

Novatek Microelectronics Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets integrated circuits (ICs).  The Company's products are used in telecommunication, computer peripherals, and LCD (liquid crystal display) drivers.

Amkor Technology, Inc. provides semiconductor packaging and test services.  The Company offers deep submicron wafer fabrication, wafer probe testing, integrated circuit packaging assembly and design, final testing, reliability testing, burn-in, and electrical characterization.

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation operates a semiconductor foundry. The Company provides integrated circuit foundry and technology services including the testing, development, design, manufacturing, packaging, and sale of integrated circuits. Semiconductor Manufacturing International offers its products and services around the world.

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) (981 HK)

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

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) (981 HK)

SMIC (SEHK: 00981; SSE Star Market: 688981): Back to Reality

3Q results should not have been a negative surprise. Sales and profits down sharply on low capacity utilization, intro of 7nm, high depreciation...

Scott Foster

SMIC (981.HK): Probably A Double U-Shape Correction for Around 2 Years Until the End of 2024F.

Based on the some judgments, SMIC consider it will be relatively flat demand in 2024F. SMIC took into consideration geopolitical instability and...

Patrick Liao

SMIC's Semi Shocker

SMIC will likely continue to refine their N+2 node and develop a 5nm-like process within 2-3 years, even without the use of EUV. The implications...

William Keating

[SMIC (981 HK, BUY, TP HK$24) TP Change]: Margins Will Decline on No-Profit 8” Wafers Orders

We maintain BUY on Huawei exposure but cut our TP to HK$ 24 to reflect the low profitability of 8” wafer orders that could persist given weak demand.

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[SMIC (0981 HK, BUY, TP HK$26) Target Price Change]: Pricing Power Courtesy of Export Restrictions

We expect overall 2H demand to improve due to (1) normalizing fabless inventory levels, and (2) stabilized smartphone demand, per peer guidance. We...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)