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

Equity Bottom-Up

United Microelectron Sp Adr / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>UMC delivered full-year net income roughly in line with consensus forecasts, though reported a capacity utilization drop sequentially.</li>
<li>Capacity utilization fell during the latest quarter despite strength from UMC's 22nm &amp; 28nm offerings due to older capacity weighing down performance.</li>
<li>UMC's latest US$3.3bn capex budget contrasted with the rising cost of advanced fabs shows how Intel's Foundry business will be increasingly needed by the industry.</li>
</ul>


UMC delivered full-year net income roughly in line with consensus forecasts, though reported a capacity utilization drop sequentially.
Capacity utilization fell during the latest quarter despite strength from UMC's 22nm &amp; 28nm offerings due to older capacity weighing down performance.
UMC's latest US$3.3bn capex budget contrasted with the rising cost of advanced fabs shows how Intel's Foundry business will be increasingly needed by the industry.


UMC's Results Show How Intel's New Foundry Business Is Poised to Become More Valuable

Asia and Global Semiconductor and Tech Research

Andrew Lu

United Microelectronics Corp / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
 What production fabs and capacity? Intel's Arizona 10nm Fab 12, 22, 32, which are mostly depreciated. Intel will provide nearly 30k/m 12" capacity for UMC at the first stage.</li>
<li>
 Who's 12nm node and design rule? UMC's tsmc-like 12nm design rule for customers to produce WiFi 7, TV controller, and other products.</li>
<li>
Other discussions include: "Who will operate the fabs?", "How to share sales/profits?", "Mass production time?", "Why benefits to Intel?", "Why benefits to UMC?", "Will TSMC get hurt?"</li>
</ul>



 What production fabs and capacity? Intel's Arizona 10nm Fab 12, 22, 32, which are mostly depreciated. Intel will provide nearly 30k/m 12" capacity for UMC at the first stage.

 Who's 12nm node and design rule? UMC's tsmc-like 12nm design rule for customers to produce WiFi 7, TV controller, and other products.

Other discussions include: "Who will operate the fabs?", "How to share sales/profits?", "Mass production time?", "Why benefits to Intel?", "Why benefits to UMC?", "Will TSMC get hurt?"


Are You Confused About What Intel and UMC Are Working Together?

Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

<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)</a> 3Q24 outlook could be showing a slightly upside quarter over quarter and the gross margin is approaching to ~30%.</li>
<li>We estimate that UMC's overall utilization in 3Q24 will be around 65-70%, with 12” at 70-75% and 8” at 60%.</li>
<li>UMC is benefiting from Novatek shipping OLED DDIC to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/apple-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:666:1" rel="noopener">Apple (AAPL US)</a> in 3Q24.</li>
</ul>



United Microelectron Sp Adr (UMC US) 3Q24 outlook could be showing a slightly upside quarter over quarter and the gross margin is approaching to ~30%.
We estimate that UMC's overall utilization in 3Q24 will be around 65-70%, with 12” at 70-75% and 8” at 60%.
UMC is benefiting from Novatek shipping OLED DDIC to Apple (AAPL US) in 3Q24.


UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): The Outlook for 3Q24 Has Reached a Slightly Upside QoQ.

<ul>
<li>UMC is currently forecasting a flat to low single digit growth QoQ for 3Q24, which is slight lower than consensus.</li>
<li>UMC has received orders from domestic and international clients. However, we believe it couldn't be able to compensate for the loss of Samsung's 28nm orders so far this year.</li>
<li>With accelerated construction in Singapore in 2024, the full-year capital expenditure has slightly risen to $3.3 billion.</li>
</ul>


UMC is currently forecasting a flat to low single digit growth QoQ for 3Q24, which is slight lower than consensus.
UMC has received orders from domestic and international clients. However, we believe it couldn't be able to compensate for the loss of Samsung's 28nm orders so far this year.
With accelerated construction in Singapore in 2024, the full-year capital expenditure has slightly risen to $3.3 billion.


UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): The Outlook for 2024 Could Show Flat to Low Single-Digit Growth.

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>TSMC reiterates 2024 sales y/y growth of 20-25% but revises down 2024 global semiconductor y/y sales from over 10% to 10% and global foundry sales growth from 20% to 15-19%.</li>
<li>
No more Moore's Law: After 3 years ramp up gap between N5-N3, TSMC confirms 10-11 quarters of ramp up gap between N3 and N2 due to longer production cycle.</li>
<li>Driven by stronger digital consumer (33% q/q), HPC (3% q/q), IoT (5% q/q) sales but weaker smartphone IC (-16% q/q), TSMC reports 1Q24 sales decline of only 5% q/q.</li>
</ul>


TSMC reiterates 2024 sales y/y growth of 20-25% but revises down 2024 global semiconductor y/y sales from over 10% to 10% and global foundry sales growth from 20% to 15-19%.

No more Moore's Law: After 3 years ramp up gap between N5-N3, TSMC confirms 10-11 quarters of ramp up gap between N3 and N2 due to longer production cycle.
Driven by stronger digital consumer (33% q/q), HPC (3% q/q), IoT (5% q/q) sales but weaker smartphone IC (-16% q/q), TSMC reports 1Q24 sales decline of only 5% q/q.


What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference?

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's Results Show How Intel's New Foundry Business Is Poised to Become More Valuable

UMC's net income met expectations, but capacity utilization fell due to older capacity. UMC's capex budget shows the challenges in keeping pace...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Are You Confused About What Intel and UMC Are Working Together?

Are You Confused About What Intel and UMC Are working Together? Customers will use UMC's tsmc-like 12nm design rule to produce WiFi 7, TV...

Andrew Lu

UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): The Outlook for 3Q24 Has Reached a Slightly Upside QoQ.

UMC's 3rd quarter outlook shows a slight upside, with estimated overall utilization at 65-70% and benefits from Novatek shipping OLED DDIC to Apple.

Patrick Liao

UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): The Outlook for 2024 Could Show Flat to Low Single-Digit Growth.

UMC forecasts flat to low single digit growth for 3Q24, receiving orders but unable to fully compensate for loss of Samsung's 28nm orders.

Patrick Liao

What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference?

What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference? TSMC revises down 2024 global semi y/y sales from over 10% to...

Andrew Lu

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UMC's Results Show How Intel's New Foundry Business Is Poised to Become More Valuable

​UMC's net income met expectations, but capacity utilization fell due to older capacity. UMC's capex budget shows the challenges in keeping pace...

Vincent Fernando, CFA

Are You Confused About What Intel and UMC Are Working Together?

Are You Confused About What Intel and UMC Are working Together? Customers will use UMC's tsmc-like 12nm design rule to produce WiFi 7, TV...

Andrew Lu

UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): The Outlook for 3Q24 Has Reached a Slightly Upside QoQ.

​UMC's 3rd quarter outlook shows a slight upside, with estimated overall utilization at 65-70% and benefits from Novatek shipping OLED DDIC to Apple.

Patrick Liao

UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): The Outlook for 2024 Could Show Flat to Low Single-Digit Growth.

​UMC forecasts flat to low single digit growth for 3Q24, receiving orders but unable to fully compensate for loss of Samsung's 28nm orders.

Patrick Liao

What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference?

What Is TSMC Telling Us About Semi Supply Chain Stories at Its Investor Conference? TSMC revises down 2024 global semi y/y sales from over 10% to...

Andrew Lu

UMC's net income met expectations, but capacity utilization fell due to older capacity. UMC's capex budget shows the challenges in keeping pace...

UMC's 3rd quarter outlook shows a slight upside, with estimated overall utilization at 65-70% and benefits from Novatek shipping OLED DDIC to Apple.

UMC forecasts flat to low single digit growth for 3Q24, receiving orders but unable to fully compensate for loss of Samsung's 28nm orders.