Taiwan Tech Focused Senior Analyst

Patrick Liao

Equity Bottom-Up

MediaTek Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions. The company provides SOC system solutions for wireless communications, high-definition TV, optical storage, DVD and Blu-ray products.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mediatek-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:772:1" rel="noopener">Mediatek Inc (2454 TT)</a> is forecasted to experience slight growth in 3Q24 compared to 2Q24.  </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> is expected to introduce AI PCs in 2024, while Mediatek Inc (2454 TT) scheduled for this product is anticipated to delivered in 2H25.  </li>
<li>The shipment forecast for the Dimensity 9400 is approximately 5 million sets in 2H24.</li>
</ul>



Mediatek Inc (2454 TT) is forecasted to experience slight growth in 3Q24 compared to 2Q24.  

Qualcomm Inc (QCOM US) is expected to introduce AI PCs in 2024, while Mediatek Inc (2454 TT) scheduled for this product is anticipated to delivered in 2H25.  
The shipment forecast for the Dimensity 9400 is approximately 5 million sets in 2H24.


MediaTek (2454.TT): 3Q24 Might Grow Slightly QoQ, While AI PCs Could Be Delivered in 2H25.

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) - ADR / Equity Bottom-Up

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. manufactures integrated circuits based on its proprietary designs.  The Company offers a comprehensive set of integrated circuit fabrication processes to manufacture CMOS logic, mixed-mode, volatile and non-volatile memory and BiCMOS chips.  Taiwan Semiconductor is an affiliate of Philips Electronics N.V.

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) - ADR (TSM US)

<ul>
<li>TSMC expects sales to grow by mid-20% YoY in USD in 2024, compared to low to mid-20% previously.</li>
<li>The N3/N5 capacity is very tight, and they are even working with customers for 2026 capacity requirements, while N2 is on track to enter MP in 4Q25.</li>
<li>A16 will enter MP in 2H26, and it's first process starts adopting backside power.</li>
</ul>


TSMC expects sales to grow by mid-20% YoY in USD in 2024, compared to low to mid-20% previously.
The N3/N5 capacity is very tight, and they are even working with customers for 2026 capacity requirements, while N2 is on track to enter MP in 4Q25.
A16 will enter MP in 2H26, and it's first process starts adopting backside power.


TSMC (2330.TT; TSM.US): The Outlook of 3Q24 Is Pretty Much In-Line, and GM Could Be Better.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiwan-semiconductor-sp-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8587:1" rel="noopener">Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) - ADR (TSM US)</a> could reach a growth rate of 25% YoY this year, with a very promising outlook for 2025.</li>
<li>Artificial Intelligence (AI) remains the primary focus, with plans to continue expanding capacity in 2H24 and 2025.</li>
<li>The demand from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/apple-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:666:1" rel="noopener">Apple (AAPL US)</a> is expected to drive higher growth in 2H24.  </li>
</ul>



Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) - ADR (TSM US) could reach a growth rate of 25% YoY this year, with a very promising outlook for 2025.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) remains the primary focus, with plans to continue expanding capacity in 2H24 and 2025.
The demand from Apple (AAPL US) is expected to drive higher growth in 2H24.  


TSMC (2330.TT; TSM.US): The 25% YoY Growth Rate Will Be Expected in 2024.

Vanguard Intl Semiconductor / Equity Bottom-Up

Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation offers integrated circuit foundry services.  The Company manufactures 0.18um logic, mixed-signal, analog, high voltage, low power, CMOS RF, flash, embedded memory, and bipolar CMOS DMOS semiconductors.

<ul>
<li>We expect Vanguard's utilization to improve from around 65% in 2Q24 to over 70% in 3Q24.  </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> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/monolithic-power-systems-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2088:1" rel="noopener">Monolithic Power Systems, Inc (MPWR US)</a> are gradually increasing demand volume in 2Q24 and 3Q24.  </li>
<li>Currently, Vanguard is experiencing a correction from above NTD$142 on July 2nd.  </li>
</ul>


We expect Vanguard's utilization to improve from around 65% in 2Q24 to over 70% in 3Q24.  

Qualcomm Inc (QCOM US) and Monolithic Power Systems, Inc (MPWR US) are gradually increasing demand volume in 2Q24 and 3Q24.  
Currently, Vanguard is experiencing a correction from above NTD$142 on July 2nd.  


Vanguard (5347.TT): The Utilization to Improve over 70% in 3Q24.

Silergy Corp designs and manufactures a broad range of high performance analog integrated circuits.  The Company's products include single output step down regulators, dual output regulators, single output step by step regulators, power management ICs, step up LED backlight regulator, AC-DC LED lighting controller, DC input LED lighting drivers, LDO regulators, and protection switch

<ul>
<li>We are surprised that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/silergy-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13998:1" rel="noopener">Silergy Corp (6415 TT)</a> is using <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vanguard-international-semi" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16011:1" rel="noopener">Vanguard Intl Semiconductor (5347 TT)</a> to trial-run products.</li>
<li>The outlook for 2024 remains unchanged at over 20% YoY, and we still see a path to recovery ahead.</li>
<li>We consider the recent drop from NTD$526 on June 14th to NTD$429 on July 5th as an opportunity to consider entering the stock.</li>
</ul>


We are surprised that Silergy Corp (6415 TT) is using Vanguard Intl Semiconductor (5347 TT) to trial-run products.
The outlook for 2024 remains unchanged at over 20% YoY, and we still see a path to recovery ahead.
We consider the recent drop from NTD$526 on June 14th to NTD$429 on July 5th as an opportunity to consider entering the stock.


Silergy (6415.TT): Trial-Run with Vanguard, and Recent Stock Drops Represent an Entry Opportunity.

Being invited, I joined Sellside, i.e. JPMorgan, Nomura and Macquarie, totally around 9-10 years. Before that, I joined International Data Corp (https://www.idc.com/) to be the Asia Semiconductor analyst for nearly 2 years, and being invited to do personal lectures in TSMC, UMC, Samsung and etc. In my working experiences, I also had the chance to join Taiwanese panel company, AUO (2409.TT) and the buyside, Chinalife (2823.TT), totally for over 1 year.
I obtained MS degree from the Tsing-Hua University. Then I worked in the Taiwan Semiconductor companies for around 11 years. I had several US patents during my stay in the Semiconductor industry.

Being worked in the sellside and buyside, I deeply dived in the Greater China Semiconductor industry and directly covered some companies, like TSMC (2330.TT, TSM.US), UMC (2303.TT, UMC.US), Vanguard (5347.TT), ASE (3711.TT, ASX.US), SPIL (merged with ASE and delisted), KYEC ( 2449.TT), JCET (600584.CH), ASMPT (522.HK), GWC (6488.TT), WinSemi (3105.TT), Mediatek (2454.TT), Silergy (6415.TT), Novatek (3034.TT), Guoxin Micro (002049.CH) etc.