Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

Equity Bottom-Up

United Microelectron Sp Adr / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Although it is still early to determine the extent of the utilization rate that could be reached in UMC for 2Q24F, there is a greater chance for a rebound.</li>
<li>UMC's high-end technology, specifically 28nm, has a utilization rate of over 80% in 4Q23F. </li>
<li>MediaTek is UMC's largest client, dominating in WiFi, TV SoC, Bluetooth, and other areas.</li>
</ul>


Although it is still early to determine the extent of the utilization rate that could be reached in UMC for 2Q24F, there is a greater chance for a rebound.
UMC's high-end technology, specifically 28nm, has a utilization rate of over 80% in 4Q23F. 
MediaTek is UMC's largest client, dominating in WiFi, TV SoC, Bluetooth, and other areas.


UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): There Is a Greater Chance for a Rebound in 2Q24F.

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

United Microelectronics Corp / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Q323 revenues of NT$57 billion, up 1.4% QoQ but down 24.3% YoY. For 2023 YTD, revenues have amounted to NT$167,575 billion, down 20.5% YoY.</li>
<li>Net income was NT$15.97, essentially flat QoQ. Gross margin came in at 35.9%, also flat QoQ. Utilisation for the quarter was 67%, down from 71% in the prior quarter.</li>
<li>Utilization set to further decline to low 60% levels in Q423, the lowest since the downturn began.</li>
</ul>


Q323 revenues of NT$57 billion, up 1.4% QoQ but down 24.3% YoY. For 2023 YTD, revenues have amounted to NT$167,575 billion, down 20.5% YoY.
Net income was NT$15.97, essentially flat QoQ. Gross margin came in at 35.9%, also flat QoQ. Utilisation for the quarter was 67%, down from 71% in the prior quarter.
Utilization set to further decline to low 60% levels in Q423, the lowest since the downturn began.


UMC. Automotive Weakness Prolongs Downturn

<ul>
<li>UMC believes that the early signs indicate the end of inventory correction for smartphones and PCs. </li>
<li>The total wafer loading continues to decrease, but pricing for 12" wafers remains firm. As a result, the average selling price (ASP) continues to increase slightly. </li>
<li>The demand for strength lies in computing, thanks to the LCD controller, codec, Wi-Fi, touch IC controller, and communication applications driven by RFFE and networking IC.</li>
</ul>


UMC believes that the early signs indicate the end of inventory correction for smartphones and PCs. 
The total wafer loading continues to decrease, but pricing for 12" wafers remains firm. As a result, the average selling price (ASP) continues to increase slightly. 
The demand for strength lies in computing, thanks to the LCD controller, codec, Wi-Fi, touch IC controller, and communication applications driven by RFFE and networking IC.


UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): The Early Signs Indicate the End of Inventory Correction.

<ul>
<li>The 4Q23F outlook is still coming down, but it’s not as worse as we originally expected.</li>
<li>Samsung is staying a very stable demand for 28nm capacity in UMC.</li>
<li>Based on our estimates, the wafer ASP is clearly increasing from 2Q22 to 4Q23F, despite a decline in demand from 4Q22 until now.</li>
</ul>


The 4Q23F outlook is still coming down, but it’s not as worse as we originally expected.
Samsung is staying a very stable demand for 28nm capacity in UMC.
Based on our estimates, the wafer ASP is clearly increasing from 2Q22 to 4Q23F, despite a decline in demand from 4Q22 until now.


UMC (2303.TT): We Estimate The Outlook Is Down a Bit to Lower QoQ in 4Q23F

<ul>
<li>The upcoming demand is expected to reduce in 4Q23F, with the most obvious decline in 40nm and 8" demand.</li>
<li>Wafer ASP is expected to remain relatively stable until 4Q22F, even though revenue is not anticipated to pick up in 1H24F.</li>
<li>We expect the market to reach its lowest point in the first half of 2024F. The most likely scenario indicates a potential recovery around the third quarter of 2024F.</li>
</ul>


The upcoming demand is expected to reduce in 4Q23F, with the most obvious decline in 40nm and 8" demand.
Wafer ASP is expected to remain relatively stable until 4Q22F, even though revenue is not anticipated to pick up in 1H24F.
We expect the market to reach its lowest point in the first half of 2024F. The most likely scenario indicates a potential recovery around the third quarter of 2024F.


UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): The Revenue Can Be Downward a Bit in 4Q23F.

Taiwan

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.

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.

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.

eMemory Technology, Inc. develops and provides logic non-volatile memory (LogicNVM) technology. The company licenses its intellectual property to semiconductor foundries, integrated devices manufacturers (IDMs), and fabless design houses around the world.

Nanya Technology Corp. manufactures and markets dynamic random access memories (DRAMs).  The Company sells its products in Taiwan and exports worldwide.

King Yuan Electronics Co., Ltd. provides integrated circuit (IC) testing services to semiconductor manufacturers.  The Company tests the logic, memory, and burn-in functions of ICs.  King Yuan also specializes in IC reeling, packaging, and wafer grinding.

Global Unichip Corporation designs and produces a wide variety of silicon chips.

ASPEED Technology Inc. is a fabless IC-design house that specializes in server management, PC/AV extensions solution, desktop virtualization and security enhancement. The Company's products range from silicon chips, IPs to software products that enable sophisticated SOC- centric multimedia, praphics and new work applications.

Powertech Technology Inc. tests, packages, and assembles integrated circuits (ICS).  The Company's products and services include memory product test and various kinds of IC package services, such as thin small-outline package (TSOP) services.

ON Semiconductor Corporation supplies analog, standard logic, and discrete semiconductors for data and power management. The Company's products include integrated circuits, and analog ICs. ON also offers discrete semiconductors in a variety of surface mount and standard packages.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Qorvo Inc, designs, develops, manufactures, and markets a variety of high performance analog and mixed signal integrated circuits for the communications markets. The Company's products are used for wireless communications applications such as cellular and PCS, cordless telephony, wireless LANs, industrial radios, wireless security and remote meter reading.

Entegris Inc. provides materials management products and services to the microelectronics industry on a worldwide basis.  The Company provides products such as wafer shippers, wafer transport and process carriers, pods, and work-in-process boxes.  Entegris also provides chemical delivery products such as valves, fittings, tubing, pipe, and containers.

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): There Is a Greater Chance for a Rebound in 2Q24F.

UMC's 28nm has a utilization rate of over 80% in 4Q23F. It is early to determine the utilization rate could be reached in 2Q24F, there is a greater...

Patrick Liao

UMC. Automotive Weakness Prolongs Downturn

Q323 revenues of NT$57 billion, up 1.4% QoQ but down 24.3% YoY. Net income was NT$15.97, essentially flat QoQ. Utilization to decline to low 60%...

William Keating

UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): The Early Signs Indicate the End of Inventory Correction.

The early signs indicate the end of inventory correction for smartphones and PCs. The demand for strength lies in computing, codec, Wi-Fi, touch IC...

Patrick Liao

UMC (2303.TT): We Estimate The Outlook Is Down a Bit to Lower QoQ in 4Q23F

The 4Q23F outlook is coming down, but it’s not as worse as we originally expected. Samsung stays a very stable demand for 28nm capacity in UMC....

Patrick Liao

UMC (2303.TT; UMC.US): The Revenue Can Be Downward a Bit in 4Q23F.

The upcoming demand is expected to drop in 4Q23, with the most significant decline in 40nm and 8" demand. We expect the market to reach its lowest...

Patrick Liao

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