Waterworld Capital
Public Markets Commentary
TSMC is the side to back thanks to its enormous scale, capex and process advantages. It is also building a large amount of capacity in the US even though the supply chain is largely in Asia. By contrast, the rival's recent run looks senseless, with its valuation at all-time highs while business conditions are near all-time lows. x.com x.comÂ
TSMC's record quarter shows chip demand is accelerating, not peaking. Q3 revenue was about $46.7 billion (NT$1.49 trillion), up 51% year over year and above both the top of TSMC's guidance and Street estimates of NT$1.46 trillion. Quarterly revenue is up about 2.4x in three years. Despite bubble fears, the AI buildout still looks early and TSMC can go much higher than people realize. x.comÂ
TSMC's growth looks compelling against its valuation. Diluted GAAP EPS rose about 70% year over year and US-dollar revenue 41%; at roughly 22 times annualized earnings, guidance implies accelerating growth. TSMC expects continued demand for leading-edge processes, including its 2-nanometer ramp. x.comÂ
TSMC may lose pricing power as performance gains shift from shrinking transistors to stacking, interconnects and optics, while logic folding could make older processes competitive. Despite strong leading-edge demand, investors may overestimate the profit share its node leadership can retain. Its cautious expansion and past reluctance toward advanced packaging suggest a risk-averse culture that protects returns but could leave it late to disruptive technologies and key customers. x.comÂ
TSMC's AI-era growth opportunity makes it an incredibly bullish investment. CEO C.C. Wei said its annualized growth opportunity is probably higher than a high-50% CAGR. x.comÂ
TSMC's earnings set the stage for a strong reporting season. Hold the line on TSMC despite its shares being caught in SOXX's algorithmic sell-off; StockMKTNewz reported that TSMC beat quarterly revenue and EPS estimates. x.comÂ
TSMC's shifting cost structure is pressuring gross margin despite revenue and EPS beats. TSMC reported Q3 gross margin of 66.4%, down from 67.7% in Q2, and another decline is guided next quarter; Arizona is expected to drag gross margin by 2-4%. TSMC is checking AI data-center progress as it plans wafer capacity, while reiterating long-term AI demand strength. Price hikes may be next, given management's commitment to protect shareholder interests. x.com x.comÂ
TSMC keeps delivering massive growth at a $1.9T market cap. Its latest quarter showed revenue up 41%, net income up 58% and 66% margins. x.comÂ
Taiwan Semiconductor's above-average inflows and potential capitulation at the recent low add to its bullish setup. The stock has moved cleanly off the STL and out of the pink zone. x.comÂ
TSMC's growth is constrained by capacity, so its growth rate is already known and priced in. x.comÂ
Taiwan Semiconductor looks set to rise because three key technical edges are showing together. The stock held and bounced off its STL line, has a bullish MACD divergence, and carries a 99 Composite score in MarketSurge. Most of the best trades tend to show these three edges at once. x.comÂ