Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

Equity Bottom-Up

United Microelectron Sp Adr / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>To our understanding, UMC and Samsung have dealt the 28nm wafer demand and have lifted 28nm wafer price in 2Q22.</li>
<li>We think it’s possible to lift the wafer price again in 2H22 if TSMC decides to further lift wafer price recently.</li>
<li>Entering the 5G era, there could be more demand in several aspects, like data storage, data transmission and processing, smartphone, and PC/NB upgrade and etc.</li>
</ul>


To our understanding, UMC and Samsung have dealt the 28nm wafer demand and have lifted 28nm wafer price in 2Q22.
We think it’s possible to lift the wafer price again in 2H22 if TSMC decides to further lift wafer price recently.
Entering the 5G era, there could be more demand in several aspects, like data storage, data transmission and processing, smartphone, and PC/NB upgrade and etc.


UMC (UMC.US; 2303.TT): Although It Could Be ~1% ASP Changed Only, but the Price Is Lifted in 2Q22.

<ul>
<li>Transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Intel’s non-GAAP EPS. The stock market reacted exciting for Tower raised 42% to reach $47.07 and Intel raised with ~1.8% respectively.</li>
<li>Tower Semiconductor is emphasized on analog semiconductor specialty foundries. Namely, it’s different from TSMC, UMC and GlobalFoundries, which are focusing on digital products original, and expand into analog afterward. </li>
<li>Intel wants to march into foundry business and have to count on Tower to bring in such operation know-hows, but Intel has to tolerate a completely different system.</li>
</ul>


Transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Intel’s non-GAAP EPS. The stock market reacted exciting for Tower raised 42% to reach $47.07 and Intel raised with ~1.8% respectively.
Tower Semiconductor is emphasized on analog semiconductor specialty foundries. Namely, it’s different from TSMC, UMC and GlobalFoundries, which are focusing on digital products original, and expand into analog afterward. 
Intel wants to march into foundry business and have to count on Tower to bring in such operation know-hows, but Intel has to tolerate a completely different system.


Tower Semiconductor (TSME.US): To Be Merged by Intel- A Fastest Way, but a Patience Test, Too.

Novatek Microelectronics Corp / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Novatek had reported a flattish sales outlook in 1Q22, and all of revenue, GM and OPM were expected to NT$35.8~36.8bn, 48~51% and 34~37% respectively, while revenue was at -1.92~+0.82% QoQ. </li>
<li>We think the high inventory days of supply chain is giving a good chance to expand into China foundry for production, especially SMIC.</li>
<li>We think Novatek would maintain its solid dividend policy for EPS NT$63.87 in 2021, and it’s pay-out ratio is 80% in the past.</li>
</ul>


Novatek had reported a flattish sales outlook in 1Q22, and all of revenue, GM and OPM were expected to NT$35.8~36.8bn, 48~51% and 34~37% respectively, while revenue was at -1.92~+0.82% QoQ. 
We think the high inventory days of supply chain is giving a good chance to expand into China foundry for production, especially SMIC.
We think Novatek would maintain its solid dividend policy for EPS NT$63.87 in 2021, and it’s pay-out ratio is 80% in the past.


Novatek (3034.TT): A Good Year Ahead, and Likely to Expand to SMIC for Wafer Foundry

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

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC)

<ul>
<li>SMIC had reported a very exciting outlook in 1Q22, and both of revenue and GM are rising up to US$1,817~1,848.7mn and 36~38% respectively, which is growing at 15~17% QoQ.</li>
<li>SMIC plans to expand capacity in Shenzhen, Tianjin and Beijing in 2022 because of the unprecedently foundry demands. The Capex plan is ~US$5bn in 2022, which's lager than UMC’s US$3bn.</li>
<li>China is still 3-4 generations behind TSMC, which is a big gap to catch up with.</li>
</ul>


SMIC had reported a very exciting outlook in 1Q22, and both of revenue and GM are rising up to US$1,817~1,848.7mn and 36~38% respectively, which is growing at 15~17% QoQ.
SMIC plans to expand capacity in Shenzhen, Tianjin and Beijing in 2022 because of the unprecedently foundry demands. The Capex plan is ~US$5bn in 2022, which's lager than UMC’s US$3bn.
China is still 3-4 generations behind TSMC, which is a big gap to catch up with.


SMIC (0981.HK): Raising CapEx to $5bn in 2022. Exciting News, or Fierce Competition Ahead?

Vanguard Intl Semiconductor / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>In our estimate, Vanguard’s 4Q21 revenue/GM is NT$12.6bn/46.3%, and 1Q22 revenue/GM is NT$12.3bn/46.1% respectively.</li>
<li>Vanguard has about 30% capacity utilized by TSMC’s foundry products. In technology deliverables, Vanguard also competes with TSMC for manufacturing excellence, which creates an internal competition.</li>
<li>Vanguard has dealt with their clients to share the expansion cost. Certainly, there is almost no such trust-worthy partnership, except Vanguard who has TSMC to back up.</li>
</ul>


In our estimate, Vanguard’s 4Q21 revenue/GM is NT$12.6bn/46.3%, and 1Q22 revenue/GM is NT$12.3bn/46.1% respectively.
Vanguard has about 30% capacity utilized by TSMC’s foundry products. In technology deliverables, Vanguard also competes with TSMC for manufacturing excellence, which creates an internal competition.
Vanguard has dealt with their clients to share the expansion cost. Certainly, there is almost no such trust-worthy partnership, except Vanguard who has TSMC to back up.


Vanguard (5347.TT): 8" Capacity Tightness with TSMC Standing Behind as Actionable

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 (UMC.US; 2303.TT): Although It Could Be ~1% ASP Changed Only, but the Price Is Lifted in 2Q22.

Considering Samsung 28nm demand fraction to UMC’s total revenue, we estimate UMC's price should be lifted for ~1% and GM might increase to be ~41%...

Patrick Liao

Tower Semiconductor (TSME.US): To Be Merged by Intel- A Fastest Way, but a Patience Test, Too.

Intel wants to march into foundry business and have to count on Tower to bring in such operation and know-hows, but Intel has to tolerate a...

Patrick Liao

Novatek (3034.TT): A Good Year Ahead, and Likely to Expand to SMIC for Wafer Foundry

In 1Q22, Novatek reported revenue, GM and OPM expected to NT$35.8~36.8bn, 48~51% and 34~37% respectively, which revenue was at -1.92~+0.82% QoQ. We...

Patrick Liao

SMIC (0981.HK): Raising CapEx to $5bn in 2022. Exciting News, or Fierce Competition Ahead?

SMIC plans to expand capacity in Shenzhen, Tianjin and Beijing in 2022 because the unprecedently foundry demands. The Capex plan is ~US$5bn in...

Patrick Liao

Vanguard (5347.TT): 8" Capacity Tightness with TSMC Standing Behind as Actionable

In our estimate, Vanguard’s 4Q21 revenue/GM is NT$12.6bn/46.3%, and 1Q22 revenue/GM is NT$12.3bn/46.1% respectively. Vanguard dealt with clients to...

Patrick Liao

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