Goldman Sachs analyst Bruce Lu maintained a Buy rating on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co TSM with a price target of $254, up from $248.Taiwan Semiconductor will host its fourth-quarter analyst meeting on Jan. 16. Lu expected another year of solid revenue growth in 2025E by 26.8% for Taiwan Semiconductor, following 29.4% revenue growth in 2024E (all in USD terms), driven by strong demand in leading-edge nodes mainly supported by continuous strong momentum from AI.Also Read: AI Chip Stocks Nvidia, Broa ...

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Core Viewpoint - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is experiencing a significant revenue growth driven by the demand for AI chips, with projections indicating that AI revenue will triple in 2024, contributing to a mid-teens percentage of total revenue [3][8]. Group 1: Revenue Growth and Projections - TSMC's AI chip sales are expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 50% over the next five years, with AI chips projected to account for a low teens percentage of revenue by the end of that period [8]. - The company's operating revenue has shown impressive growth, with a quarterly year-over-year growth rate of 36.40% [5]. - Management has indicated that there are no signs of growth slowing down as TSMC heads into 2025, suggesting that the favorable trends observed in 2020 are likely to continue [3][11]. Group 2: Market Position and Valuation - TSMC is the world's largest third-party chip manufacturer, supplying chips to major clients like Nvidia and Apple, which positions the company favorably in the semiconductor industry [13]. - The current valuation of TSMC is slightly above where it was at the beginning of 2020, but it remains in a range that suggests potential for significant growth, similar to the conditions that led to a doubling of the stock in the past [4][10][15]. - The stock was trading at around 19 times earnings at the start of 2024, indicating that it was undervalued compared to other businesses, which may have contributed to its price increase [9]. Group 3: Technological Advancements - TSMC is advancing its technology with the rollout of 2nm chips expected later in 2025, following the successful implementation of the 3nm process node, which enhances chip density and processing power [2][7]. - The company has a history of launching advanced chips, having previously introduced its 5nm chips during a period of significant demand, which parallels the current market conditions [14].

Core Viewpoint - TSMC's stock has surged 82% in 2024, driven by strong investor interest in AI-related investments [1] Financial Performance - TSMC is expected to report a 36% sales growth for the December quarter, with a gross profit margin of 58.3%, the highest since 2022 [2] - The stock's price/book ratio is 8.63X, compared to the industry average of 8.20X, and the price/cash flow ratio is 24.30X versus 23.11X for the industry [5] - TSMC's trailing P/E ratio is 33.23X, higher than the industry average of 28.09X [10] Market Position - TSMC has high-profile clients including Apple, NVIDIA, and AMD, making it a significant beneficiary of the AI spending boom [2] - The company is ranked in the top 2% of the Zacks Semiconductor - Circuit Foundry Industry and top 6% of the Zacks Computer and Technology sector [7] Analyst Recommendations - TSMC has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.35, indicating a strong buy sentiment from analysts [4] - Of the 10 recommendations, 70% are Strong Buy and 20% are Buy, consistent with previous month's recommendations [13] Price Targets - The average price target for TSMC is $226.14, representing a 9.6% increase from the closing price of $206.33 on December 24, 2024 [9] Investment Vehicles - Investors can gain exposure to TSMC through ETFs, with significant weights in SPWO (15.75%), SPTE (15.50%), MEMX (14.41%), and SMH (12.65%) [11]

Group 1: Core Investment Opportunity - Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) is positioned as a unique investment opportunity in the AI sector, with a robust long-term outlook [2][11] - TSMC specializes in the fabrication processes for GPUs, which are essential for generative AI applications, while companies like Nvidia and AMD focus on chip design [3][9] Group 2: Market Growth and Valuation - The global total addressable market (TAM) for GPUs is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 33%, reaching $274 billion by 2029 [4] - TSMC shares have gained nearly 90% in 2024, outperforming major indexes like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite, yet the stock may still be undervalued [5][12] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - TSMC collaborates with major semiconductor companies and cloud computing hyperscalers, including Amazon, Broadcom, Qualcomm, Sony, AMD, and Nvidia [3] - Upcoming product launches from Nvidia, AMD, and other tech giants present TSMC with opportunities to capture additional market share as GPU demand rises [11] Group 4: Valuation Metrics - TSMC currently trades at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 22.2, comparable to the S&P 500, suggesting that investors may not fully appreciate TSMC's growth potential [12][13] - The current valuation of TSMC indicates it may be an attractive investment for those with a long-term perspective [14]

Company Overview - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is a critical player in the global semiconductor industry, serving as the foundation for advanced electronic devices ranging from premium smartphones to AI accelerators [1] - TSMC holds a dominant position in the global foundry market with a market share of approximately 64% [1] Market Position - TSMC is described as the "underappreciated engine" driving the world's most advanced electronic devices, highlighting its pivotal role in the tech ecosystem [1] - The company's technology and manufacturing capabilities are essential for a wide range of applications, including high-end consumer electronics and AI-driven hardware [1]

Core Insights - TSMC is set to launch its advanced 2-nanometer chip technology in 2025, with full-scale production expected in 2026, indicating a strong future growth trajectory for the company [9] - The semiconductor market is projected to generate over $2 trillion in revenues by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 15%, which will benefit TSMC significantly [6] - TSMC's stock has surged 99.3% this year, marking its strongest annual performance since 1999, driven by the booming generative AI market [8] Company Performance - TSMC's shares have reached a record high, with analysts raising the average short-term price target to $226.14 from $197.21, indicating a potential upside of 26.8% [4] - Earnings per share are projected to increase by 19.8% year-over-year, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.95 [7] - TSMC's diversified partnerships with companies like Marvell Technology and Broadcom reduce dependence on NVIDIA, providing various growth prospects [2] Market Position - TSMC holds a dominant 62% market share in the semiconductor foundry sector, positioning it favorably against struggling competitors like Intel [13] - The company is also benefiting from increased demand for smartphone chips from major clients such as Apple and Qualcomm, which have seen a rise in smartphone sales [15] - The upcoming 2nm chips are designed to consume 25-30% less energy, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs, which will further support TSMC's stock performance [5]

Group 1 - TSMC is set to report its Q4 and FY 2024 results next month, indicating a significant upcoming event for the company [1] - The article highlights the author's long-term investment position in TSMC, suggesting confidence in the company's future performance [1] Group 2 - The article serves as a prelude to TSMC's earnings report, aiming to provide insights before the holiday season [1]

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Group 1: Taiwan Semiconductor - Taiwan Semiconductor is positioned at the forefront of major technological shifts, providing essential chips for smartphones and AI models [2] - The company is set to launch its next-generation 2nm chips in late 2025, with pre-order demand exceeding that of previous generations [3] - The 2nm chips will consume 25% to 30% less energy than 3nm chips, enhancing battery life and reducing energy costs [4] - Analyst projections indicate a 25% revenue growth for Taiwan Semiconductor in 2025, reflecting strong market potential [5] - The stock trades at 22 times 2025 earnings, which is considered a high valuation but still lower than some competitors [6] - Overall, Taiwan Semiconductor is expected to perform well in 2025, making it a strong buy opportunity [7] Group 2: Amazon - Amazon's growth in 2025 will primarily stem from its cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services (AWS), which is the largest in the market [8] - AWS allows clients to run workloads cost-effectively, enabling them to avoid expensive computing equipment [9] - The cloud computing service is also crucial for training AI models, providing on-demand access to powerful servers [10] - Although AWS accounted for only 17% of Amazon's Q3 total revenue, it contributed 60% of the operating profit, highlighting its financial significance [11] - AWS has been growing at 19% year over year, outpacing Amazon's e-commerce growth and positively influencing investor sentiment [11] - Amazon's gross profit margin has been rising as AWS profits increase, leading to a higher valuation compared to traditional commerce companies [11] - The stock trades at 37 times 2025 earnings, reflecting its tech stock status, but may still be considered a reasonable investment for long-term holders [13]