Apple chip maker TSMC’s profit bigger than expected
- TSMC has forecast revenue of US$10.2 billion to US$10.3 billion in the March quarter
- Taiwan’s largest company reported better-than-expected net income of US$3.9 billion in the December quarter
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) projected quarterly revenue well above analysts’ estimates, brushing aside concerns that tighter US sanctions on No 2 customer Huawei Technologies could dampen its business.
Shares in the world’s largest contract chip maker have slid two straight days on worries that Washington will tighten existing restrictions on exports to Huawei, potentially curtailing shipments from TSMC and other non-American firms.
If the US does move ahead, any disruption would be short-term because TSMC could replace some of the lost Huawei business with orders from other customers thanks to the 5G boom, chairman Mark Liu said during a post-earnings conference with analysts.
TSMC has recruited Intel Corp’s former chief lobbyist to gauge the temperature in Washington and lessen any fallout from US-Chinese tensions, including policies involving Huawei.
TSMC’s US$15 billion splurge galvanises hope of a 5G-led rebound
“We are prepared to deal with this export control regulation,” said Liu, adding that if any new controls were introduced, TSMC would carefully “evaluate product by product eligibility of export”.
But some analysts judged Liu’s assessment too rosy. TSMC may be overestimating the ability of other customers to pick up the slack were its Huawei business to be curtailed, Bernstein analyst Mark Li said.
“The forecast, according to TSMC, assumes ‘business as usual’,” Li said. “The company sees any disruption will be short-lived and for example, commented that smaller telco infrastructure suppliers can quickly pick up the shortfall if Huawei can’t deploy 5G as planned. We find that too optimistic.”
TSMC reported better-than-expected net income of NT$116 billion (US$3.9 billion) in the December quarter. Gross margins came in at 50.2 per cent, also exceeding estimates. It forecast revenue of US$10.2 billion to US$10.3 billion in the March quarter, surpassing estimates for US$9.6 billion.
Apple’s main chip maker is banking that the roll-out of 5G-enabled smartphones in 2020 will galvanise growth. Semiconductor orders from Huawei account for 10 per cent of its revenue, according to Bloomberg data.
TSMC’s robust results demonstrate how the world’s largest contract chip maker is investing in technology to safeguard its market lead over Samsung Electronics and Intel. TSMC spent almost US$15 billion on technology and capacity in 2019, and is prepared to shell out as much as US$16 billion this year, anticipating growth in demand for 5G smartphones.
The company – a barometer for the broader technology industry, thanks to its heft and place in the supply chain – has said the advent of 5G mobile services will result in more chips in devices than before.
Capital expenditure growth this year will mainly come from an increase in specialty technology including CMOS sensors – which turn light into digital signals for smartphone cameras – and power management chips, and packaging technology, according to chief financial officer Wendell Huang.
TSMC previously reported record fourth-quarter revenue of NT$317.2 billion. Chief executive C.C. Wei has expressed hopes that the emergence of 5G, the foundation of future technologies from automated factories and smart homes to faster consumer electronics, will underpin its business in coming years.
In addition to 5G, TSMC’s counting on growing demand for high-performance computing. Positive comments from Micron Technologies and Samsung suggest the global semiconductor market is poised for a gradual recovery on the back of demand related to 5G, artificial intelligence and automotive applications.
