Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

Equity Bottom-Up

United Microelectron Sp Adr / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>4Q24 Sales forecast: Shipment: flat QoQ; ASP: Remains flat in USD; NTD appreciation may lead to decline for 4Q24 sales.</li>
<li>Higher depreciation costs and NTD appreciation will negatively impact GM in 4Q24 and going forward.</li>
<li>UMC is the OLED DDI market leader, and believes this position will remain. 22nm OLED DDI is still the mainstream in the next 2-3 years.</li>
</ul>


4Q24 Sales forecast: Shipment: flat QoQ; ASP: Remains flat in USD; NTD appreciation may lead to decline for 4Q24 sales.
Higher depreciation costs and NTD appreciation will negatively impact GM in 4Q24 and going forward.
UMC is the OLED DDI market leader, and believes this position will remain. 22nm OLED DDI is still the mainstream in the next 2-3 years.


UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): 4Q24 Sales Might Reduce; GM Is Down Due to Inflation and Electricity Costs.

Managing Director, Zero One, Zero One

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Managing Director, Zero One

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>Given UMC's partnership with Intel to produce chips using Intel's 12nm fab capacity, we believe latest Intel developments increase the opportunity for Intel Foundry to take a stake in UMC.</li>
<li>Intel's Foundry business makes a strong partner for UMC who has deep foundry experience and talent, but doesn't have leading edge fabs nor the balance sheet to build them.</li>
<li>If Intel Foundry Services spins out or Intel strengthens its balance sheet through a deal with Qualcomm/Apollo, the potential for a deeper UMC-Intel Foundry partnership becomes even more compelling.</li>
</ul>


Given UMC's partnership with Intel to produce chips using Intel's 12nm fab capacity, we believe latest Intel developments increase the opportunity for Intel Foundry to take a stake in UMC.
Intel's Foundry business makes a strong partner for UMC who has deep foundry experience and talent, but doesn't have leading edge fabs nor the balance sheet to build them.
If Intel Foundry Services spins out or Intel strengthens its balance sheet through a deal with Qualcomm/Apollo, the potential for a deeper UMC-Intel Foundry partnership becomes even more compelling.


United Microelectronics: Intel Foundry Should Take a Stake; Latest News Makes This More Likely

<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.

United Microelectronics Corp / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The outlook for 4Q24 appears somewhat bearish at the moment, though it has not been fully defined before the end of October.</li>
<li>Taiwanese companies such as MediaTek Inc (2454 TT), Novatek Microelectronics Corp (3034 TT) and Realtek Semiconductor (2379 TT) continue to be the main drivers of demand for UMC.</li>
<li>On a positive note, there are warnings against overly relying on chips from Chinese manufacturers due to US sanctions.</li>
</ul>


The outlook for 4Q24 appears somewhat bearish at the moment, though it has not been fully defined before the end of October.
Taiwanese companies such as MediaTek Inc (2454 TT), Novatek Microelectronics Corp (3034 TT) and Realtek Semiconductor (2379 TT) continue to be the main drivers of demand for UMC.
On a positive note, there are warnings against overly relying on chips from Chinese manufacturers due to US sanctions.


UMC (2303.TT; UMC US): The Outlook for 4Q24 Is Somewhat Bearish.

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in short interest of TWSE Stocks as of Dec 20th which has an aggregated short interest worth USD22.2bn.</li>
<li>We tabulate league table for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight short interest changes in Yang Ming Marine, Wiwynn, Quanta Computer, Evergreen Marine, TSMC, Elite Material, Mitac, Bizlink.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in short interest of TWSE Stocks as of Dec 20th which has an aggregated short interest worth USD22.2bn.
We tabulate league table for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.
We highlight short interest changes in Yang Ming Marine, Wiwynn, Quanta Computer, Evergreen Marine, TSMC, Elite Material, Mitac, Bizlink.


TWSE Short Interest Weekly (Dec 20th): Yang Ming Marine, Wiwynn, Quanta Computer, Evergreen Marine

Taiwan

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.

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United Microelectronics Corp (2303 TT)

UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): 4Q24 Sales Might Reduce; GM Is Down Due to Inflation and Electricity Costs.

4Q24 sales forecast for UMC predicts flat shipment and ASP, with potential decline due to NTD appreciation. Higher depreciation costs and NTD...

Patrick Liao

United Microelectronics: Intel Foundry Should Take a Stake; Latest News Makes This More Likely

UMC's partnership with Intel could lead to Intel Foundry taking a stake in UMC due to Intel's latest developments and UMC's foundry experience.

Vincent Fernando, CFA

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

UMC (2303.TT; UMC US): The Outlook for 4Q24 Is Somewhat Bearish.

4Q24 outlook is bearish, MediaTek, Novatek and Realtek continue to be the main drivers of demand for UMC, caution against Chinese chips due to US...

Patrick Liao

TWSE Short Interest Weekly (Dec 20th): Yang Ming Marine, Wiwynn, Quanta Computer, Evergreen Marine

We analyzed TWSE short interest report for the past week and highlighted short interest changes in Yang Ming Marine, Wiwynn, Quanta Computer,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): 4Q24 Sales Might Reduce; GM Is Down Due to Inflation and Electricity Costs.

​4Q24 sales forecast for UMC predicts flat shipment and ASP, with potential decline due to NTD appreciation. Higher depreciation costs and NTD...

Patrick Liao

United Microelectronics: Intel Foundry Should Take a Stake; Latest News Makes This More Likely

​UMC's partnership with Intel could lead to Intel Foundry taking a stake in UMC due to Intel's latest developments and UMC's foundry experience.

Vincent Fernando, CFA

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

UMC (2303.TT; UMC US): The Outlook for 4Q24 Is Somewhat Bearish.

​4Q24 outlook is bearish, MediaTek, Novatek and Realtek continue to be the main drivers of demand for UMC, caution against Chinese chips due to US...

Patrick Liao

TWSE Short Interest Weekly (Dec 20th): Yang Ming Marine, Wiwynn, Quanta Computer, Evergreen Marine

We analyzed TWSE short interest report for the past week and highlighted short interest changes in Yang Ming Marine, Wiwynn, Quanta Computer,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

4Q24 sales forecast for UMC predicts flat shipment and ASP, with potential decline due to NTD appreciation. Higher depreciation costs and NTD...

UMC's partnership with Intel could lead to Intel Foundry taking a stake in UMC due to Intel's latest developments and UMC's foundry experience.

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

4Q24 outlook is bearish, MediaTek, Novatek and Realtek continue to be the main drivers of demand for UMC, caution against Chinese chips due to US...