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

ASE Technology Holding   / Equity Bottom-Up

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.

<ul>
<li>A TALE OF TWO SEMI INDUSTRIES: ASE's latest earnings commentary indicates that the performance gap between "leading-edge" technologies and "traditional/mature" semiconductor technologies may be widening.</li>
<li>CAPITAL REQUIREMENT TO KEEP PACE IS RISING: Capacity utilization is starkly different for traditional vs. leading-edge capacity; and capital requirements to keep up in terms of advanced capacity is rising.</li>
<li>ENTRY BARRIERS RISING: We suspect that smaller players could face significant challenges in keeping up with the investments necessary for leading-edge packaging and testing capacity. ASE needs to invest heavily.</li>
</ul>


A TALE OF TWO SEMI INDUSTRIES: ASE's latest earnings commentary indicates that the performance gap between "leading-edge" technologies and "traditional/mature" semiconductor technologies may be widening.
CAPITAL REQUIREMENT TO KEEP PACE IS RISING: Capacity utilization is starkly different for traditional vs. leading-edge capacity; and capital requirements to keep up in terms of advanced capacity is rising.
ENTRY BARRIERS RISING: We suspect that smaller players could face significant challenges in keeping up with the investments necessary for leading-edge packaging and testing capacity. ASE needs to invest heavily.


ASE Color Suggests Widening Performance Gap Between Leading-Edge and Mature Semiconductor Players

Silicon Motion Technology / Equity Bottom-Up

Silicon Motion Technology Corporation is a semiconductor company that designs, develops, and markets semiconductor products for the multimedia consumer electronics market. The Company's products include controllers used in mobile storage media and multimedia systems on a chip.

<ul>
<li>We had a conference call with Silicon Motion; the leading global provider of NAND flash controllers and solid-state storage solutions for the consumer, enterprise, and industrial markets.</li>
<li>We focus on how Silicon Motion is leveraging advantages of QLC NAND flash memory, which is becoming a critical memory solution for new AI servers, AI PCs, and AI mobiles</li>
<li>Maintain Structural Long rating for Silicon Motion and $102 valuation. The company is in a leading position to benefit from the rising importance of advanced memory controllers for AI applications.</li>
</ul>


We had a conference call with Silicon Motion; the leading global provider of NAND flash controllers and solid-state storage solutions for the consumer, enterprise, and industrial markets.
We focus on how Silicon Motion is leveraging advantages of QLC NAND flash memory, which is becoming a critical memory solution for new AI servers, AI PCs, and AI mobiles
Maintain Structural Long rating for Silicon Motion and $102 valuation. The company is in a leading position to benefit from the rising importance of advanced memory controllers for AI applications.


TechChain Insights: Call with Silicon Motion; QLC NAND Emerging as Key Enabler for AI Devices

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>Taiwan Stocks Fall On Potential New U.S. Tech Restrictions for China &amp; Potential Policy Shift from a Trump White House... Strong TSMC &amp; ASML Results Fail to Rally the Sector</li>
<li>Even Tighter Technology Restrictions for China?  -- US Could Use Special Rule to Restrict Selling of Products Made by Foreign Companies</li>
<li>We See TSMC's Margins Increasing Much Higher Than Guidance in Long-Term; 2Q24 Shows Apple Ramping Up </li>
</ul>


Taiwan Stocks Fall On Potential New U.S. Tech Restrictions for China &amp; Potential Policy Shift from a Trump White House... Strong TSMC &amp; ASML Results Fail to Rally the Sector
Even Tighter Technology Restrictions for China?  -- US Could Use Special Rule to Restrict Selling of Products Made by Foreign Companies
We See TSMC's Margins Increasing Much Higher Than Guidance in Long-Term; 2Q24 Shows Apple Ramping Up 


Taiwan Tech Weekly: Strong TSMC & ASML Data Fails to Rally the Semiconductor Sector

ASML Holding N.V. develops, produces, and markets semiconductor manufacturing equipment, specifically machines for the production of chips through lithography. The Company services clients worldwide.

<ul>
<li>ASML's results last week indicated continued strength in the semiconductor industry. We analyze the results to identify any potential signs of weakening or pauses in global industry momentum for Taiwan.</li>
<li>Net system bookings surged 54% QoQ and ASML reported rising utilization levels of its clients' equipment. Inventory days rose significantly, but this is due to upcoming 2025 orderbook deliveries.</li>
<li>New US, Europe, and Japan fabs bolster strong revenue outlook into 2026E. Overall, robust industry demand persists according to ASML's latest data, with no major signs of softness.</li>
</ul>


ASML's results last week indicated continued strength in the semiconductor industry. We analyze the results to identify any potential signs of weakening or pauses in global industry momentum for Taiwan.
Net system bookings surged 54% QoQ and ASML reported rising utilization levels of its clients' equipment. Inventory days rose significantly, but this is due to upcoming 2025 orderbook deliveries.
New US, Europe, and Japan fabs bolster strong revenue outlook into 2026E. Overall, robust industry demand persists according to ASML's latest data, with no major signs of softness.


ASML Readthrough: Are There Signs of an Industry Slow Down?

<ul>
<li>Significant revenue guidance hike -- TSMC reported 2Q24 results, increasing 2024E revenue growth guidance to exceed 'mid-20's' percent, a significant hike from previous guidance.</li>
<li>Management is low-balling LT margins -- Latest figures and long-term margin color makes us believe that TSMC will be able to increase GM much higher than current official LT guidance.</li>
<li>Signs of Apple expecting strong iPhone 16 sales -- TSMC reported strength in smartphone end-applications and we believe this is reflective of Apple ramping up re: stronger iPhone volume expectations.</li>
</ul>


Significant revenue guidance hike -- TSMC reported 2Q24 results, increasing 2024E revenue growth guidance to exceed 'mid-20's' percent, a significant hike from previous guidance.
Management is low-balling LT margins -- Latest figures and long-term margin color makes us believe that TSMC will be able to increase GM much higher than current official LT guidance.
Signs of Apple expecting strong iPhone 16 sales -- TSMC reported strength in smartphone end-applications and we believe this is reflective of Apple ramping up re: stronger iPhone volume expectations.


We See TSMC's Margins Increasing Much Higher Than Guidance in Long-Term; 2Q24 Shows Apple Ramping Up

20 years of experience researching capital markets in Asia and the USA.