Group 1 - The A-share market showed mixed performance on January 19, with the Shanghai Composite Index rising by 0.11%, driven by gains in sectors such as electric equipment, public utilities, and automobiles, while the comprehensive and computer sectors faced declines [1] - The chip technology sector demonstrated strength, with the chip ETF (159995.SZ) increasing by 0.15%, and notable gains in constituent stocks such as Haiguang Information (+3.83%), Chipone Technology (+2.53%), and Zhaoyi Innovation (+2.33%) [1] Group 2 - TSMC held a conference on January 15, providing guidance for capital expenditures in 2026, projected to be between $52 billion and $56 billion, a significant increase of up to 36.9% from the previous year's $40.9 billion [3] - The proportion of capital expenditure allocated to advanced packaging, testing, and mask manufacturing has been revised to 10-20%, up from approximately 10% previously [3] - According to Open Source Securities, TSMC's increased capital expenditure is expected to boost expectations for advanced process capacity expansion, with high-end advanced packaging being essential for AI chips, likely leading to significant demand growth [3]

Summary of JCET Group Co Ltd Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: JCET Group Co Ltd (600584.SS) - **Industry**: Semiconductor, specifically Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) - **Region**: Asia Pacific, Greater China Key Points and Arguments Market Outlook - **OSAT Market Growth**: The OSAT market is expected to benefit from strong semiconductor sales growth, projected to accelerate from 25% in 2025 to 45% in 2026, driven by AI demand [2][9] - **Revenue Projections**: JCET's revenue is expected to grow by 16% in 2026, up from 8% in 2025, reflecting the overall semiconductor cycle [2][9] Advanced Packaging - **2.5D Packaging**: JCET has launched its XDFOI™ platform, with 2.5D packaging entering volume production in Q3 2025. This segment is expected to contribute approximately US$714 million in revenue, accounting for 10% of total revenue by 2027 [3][11] - **Long-term Profitability**: While near-term profitability is uncertain due to high depreciation and R&D investments, the advanced packaging business is anticipated to be margin-accretive in the long run [3][11] Consumer Business Challenges - **Memory Price Hikes**: The consumer segment, which accounts for 60% of JCET's revenue, is expected to face challenges due to memory price hikes impacting unit growth in the PC and smartphone markets in 2026 [4][17] - **Outsourcing Opportunities**: Despite challenges, increased demand for memory is likely to boost back-end demand, with JCET benefiting from Chinese memory IDMs outsourcing their back-end packaging business [4][17] Financial Performance and Valuation - **Stock Rating Change**: The stock rating has been adjusted from Underweight to Equal-weight, with a price target raised from Rmb23.50 to Rmb48.50 [1][5] - **Current Stock Performance**: JCET's stock has increased by 26% year-to-date, outperforming the Shanghai Composite Index, which rose by 2% during the same period [5] - **Valuation Comparison**: JCET trades at a 2026 P/E of 32x, higher than ASE's 21x, indicating that current prices may reflect the positives of advanced packaging [5][19] Risks and Considerations - **Profitability Uncertainty**: There are concerns regarding the profitability of 2.5D/3D packaging due to high depreciation and R&D costs, which may weigh on near-term earnings [19] - **Policy Risks**: JCET has significant exposure to overseas markets (81% in 2024) and has been affected by US OSAT regulations, creating uncertainty regarding future operations [19] Earnings Estimates - **Revised Estimates**: The 2025 EPS estimate has been lowered by 12%, while 2026 and 2027 EPS estimates have been raised by 7% and 19%, respectively, reflecting expectations of improved margins and revenue from advanced packaging and memory outsourcing [23][24] Conclusion - **Investment Thesis**: The outlook for JCET is cautiously optimistic, with expected revenue growth driven by advanced packaging and AI demand, despite challenges in the consumer segment and potential risks from policy changes and profitability uncertainties [37][19]

Summary of Conference Call on Advanced Packaging in the Semiconductor Industry Industry Overview - The global advanced packaging market is projected to exceed $79.4 billion by 2029, with significant contributions from leading companies like TSMC, which is expected to increase its revenue share to around 10% [3][1] - The advanced packaging sector is experiencing a shift from traditional processes to high-performance engines, driven by technological upgrades [1][5] Key Insights and Arguments - **Technological Advancements**: New technologies such as multi-chip integration are enhancing AI chip performance, with the value of a single COS L chip reaching $15,000 to $17,000, significantly higher than traditional packaging [1][5] - **Price Increases**: The packaging industry has seen substantial price hikes, with companies like ASE announcing a 5% to 20% increase in backend wafer packaging service prices starting Q1 2026, driven by high-end demand and rising raw material costs [1][6] - **Domestic Chip Development**: The domestic computing chip market is expected to see a surge in shipments in 2026-2027, which will accelerate the development of the localized supply chain and create significant investment opportunities in the new packaging sector [1][7] Company-Specific Developments - **Changdian Technology**: The company has achieved mass production of its XDFOI product line, covering advanced fields such as 2.5D/3D heterogeneous integration. Its FOY technology supports multi-chip integration at the 4nm node, with a monthly production capacity expected to reach nearly 3,000 units this year [1][9] - **Tongfu Microelectronics**: The company is deepening its collaboration with AMD and expanding its production lines in various locations to drive technological upgrades and capacity expansion [4][10] - **Yongxi Electronics**: The company has made early investments in 2.5D packaging technology and is actively advancing its projects in Ningbo and Malaysia [11][1] Market Trends and Opportunities - **Testing Equipment Market**: The demand for testing equipment is rapidly increasing due to the AI era, with potential for domestic companies to emerge as billion-dollar enterprises in this sector [4][19] - **Third-Party Testing Companies**: Companies like Weicai Technology are gaining traction as high-end chip testing needs rise, indicating a significant growth potential for third-party testing firms [12][1] - **Investment Recommendations**: Companies such as Huicheng Co. and Changdian Technology are highlighted for their strong positions in the AI chip, storage chip, and automotive electronics sectors, making them attractive investment opportunities [8][1] Additional Insights - The advanced packaging equipment market is still in its early stages but is expected to grow rapidly, with significant opportunities for differentiation from traditional equipment [15][16] - The packaging materials market is evolving, with companies traditionally focused on wafer materials now entering the packaging materials space, indicating a trend towards diversification and growth potential in this area [17][1]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the report highlights the significant price increases in semiconductor packaging services driven by strong demand for AI chips and rising raw material costs, with price hikes expected to range from 5% to 30% across various companies [1][4] - TSMC has raised its capital expenditure guidance for 2026 to between $52 billion and $56 billion, a substantial increase of up to 36.9% from 2025, with 10-20% of this investment allocated to advanced packaging and testing [2] - Major companies are actively expanding capacity to meet the growing demand for advanced packaging, with significant investments announced by firms such as Changdian Technology and Tongfu Microelectronics for new facilities and production lines [3] Group 2 - The semiconductor packaging industry is experiencing structural demand growth, particularly for AI and storage chips, leading to a tightening of standard storage chip packaging capacity as resources shift towards advanced packaging [4] - The increase in prices for raw materials such as gold, silver, and copper is contributing to higher packaging costs, prompting packaging companies to raise prices to maintain profitability [4] - Investment recommendations focus on domestic companies actively engaging in high-end advanced packaging, such as Changdian Technology and Tongfu Microelectronics, as well as potential beneficiaries in the sector [5]

Group 1 - As of January 16, the margin trading balance in A-shares reached 27,315.37 billion yuan, an increase of 127.86 billion yuan from the previous trading day, accounting for 1.65% of the A-share circulating market value [1] - The trading volume for margin transactions on the same day was 3,364.9 billion yuan, which is an increase of 184.47 billion yuan from the previous trading day, representing 10.99% of the total A-share trading volume [1] - Among the 31 primary industries, 20 experienced net financing inflows, with the electronics sector leading at a net inflow of 10.279 billion yuan [1] Group 2 - The top individual stocks with net financing inflows exceeding 1 billion yuan included China Ping An, which had a net inflow of 1.332 billion yuan, followed by TBEA, Kweichow Moutai, and others [1] - The report from Huawei indicates that by 2035, the total computing power in society is expected to grow by up to 100,000 times, suggesting a significant upward trend in the semiconductor cycle driven by artificial intelligence [2] - The research from Huajin Securities recommends focusing on the entire semiconductor industry chain, from design and manufacturing to packaging testing and upstream equipment materials [2]

Core Viewpoint - The market experienced fluctuations last week, but the overall trend remains positive with a low probability of systemic risks in 2026, driven by favorable macro policies and industry factors [1][4]. Market Performance - The China National Brand Index rose by 0.60% to 2059.78 points last week, while the Shanghai Composite Index fell by 0.45% and the Shenzhen Component Index increased by 1.14% [2]. - Notable performers included Changdian Technology, which surged by 17.51%, and Huazhong Microelectronics, which rose by 17.36% [2]. Year-to-Date Performance - Year-to-date, Anji Technology has increased by 38.85%, leading the gains, followed by Zhongwei Company at 38.29% and Changdian Technology at over 30% [3]. - Other significant gainers include Huazhong Microelectronics and Keda Xunfei, which rose by 29.02% and 26.67%, respectively [3]. Investment Strategy - Market sentiment has shown considerable volatility, but the impact on liquidity is minimal, primarily affecting short-term emotions [4]. - As annual performance forecasts begin to be disclosed, sectors with strong earnings support are expected to attract more attention from investors [4]. - The investment strategy emphasizes structural selection as key, with expectations of more industries entering a performance realization phase due to domestic policy support [4].

Group 1 - The core index of the National Brand Engineering Index rose by 0.60% last week, closing at 2059.78 points, with strong performances from stocks like Changdian Technology, China Resources Microelectronics, and Glodon [1][2] - The market experienced fluctuations, with the Shanghai Composite Index down by 0.45%, while the Shenzhen Component Index and the ChiNext Index rose by 1.14% and 1.00% respectively [1] - Year-to-date, stocks such as Anji Technology and Zhongwei Company have shown significant gains, with Anji Technology up by 38.85% and Zhongwei Company up by 38.29% [2] Group 2 - Market sentiment has been volatile, with regulatory policies leading to a decrease in speculative trading, but the actual impact on market liquidity is minimal [2] - Starstone Investment indicates that there are still many opportunities in the market, particularly as domestic policies drive supply-demand balance and price recovery, leading to more industries entering the performance realization phase [3] - Looking ahead to 2026, the overall market is expected to trend upwards due to positive macroeconomic policies and industry factors, although increased volatility and operational challenges are anticipated [3]

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Overweight" [1] Core Insights - The semiconductor industry is expected to experience significant growth driven by advancements in AI and high-end packaging technologies. TSMC has raised its capital expenditure guidance for 2026 to between $52 billion and $56 billion, a substantial increase of up to 36.9% from 2025, with a focus on advanced packaging and testing [3][4] - Major companies are actively expanding capacity to meet the rising demand for advanced packaging, with investments in new facilities and technologies across various sectors, including automotive and AI [4] - Price increases in packaging services are anticipated due to strong structural demand and rising raw material costs, with some companies already implementing price hikes of up to 30% [5] Summary by Sections Capital Expenditure and Growth - TSMC's capital expenditure for 2026 is projected to be between $52 billion and $56 billion, with advanced packaging investments expected to contribute over 10% of revenue by 2026 [3] - The revenue contribution from advanced packaging is expected to grow from approximately 8% in 2025 to slightly above 10% in 2026, indicating a higher growth rate than the overall company growth [3] Capacity Expansion - Major players like Changdian Technology and Jinglong Technology are investing heavily in new facilities to enhance their testing capabilities for high-end semiconductors, with investments reaching billions [4] - Companies such as Tongfu Microelectronics and Nexperia are also planning significant investments to boost their packaging capacities, indicating a trend of expansion in response to market demand [4] Price Trends in Packaging - The packaging industry is experiencing price increases driven by high demand for AI and memory chips, with companies like ASE and others in Taiwan raising prices by 5-20% and up to 30% respectively [5] - The increase in raw material costs, including metals like gold and copper, is contributing to the overall rise in packaging costs, which may lead to improved profitability for packaging companies [5] Investment Recommendations - Investors are advised to focus on domestic companies actively engaged in high-end advanced packaging, such as Changdian Technology and Tongfu Microelectronics, as well as those benefiting from the sector's growth like Yongxi Electronics and Huada Technology [6]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the significant investment and strategic shifts in the semiconductor packaging industry, particularly focusing on advanced packaging technologies driven by the AI wave and the structural changes in the storage industry [1][2]. Group 1: Investment and Market Trends - SK Hynix announced a 19 trillion KRW (approximately 12.9 billion USD) investment to build an advanced chip packaging factory in Cheongju, South Korea, reflecting the structural changes in the storage industry due to AI [1]. - The global advanced chip packaging market is projected to grow from 50.38 billion USD in 2025 to 79.85 billion USD by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% [2]. - By early 2026, leading packaging and testing companies are expected to ramp up advanced packaging capacity, indicating a competitive landscape focused on advanced packaging capabilities [2]. Group 2: TSMC's Dominance - TSMC is recognized as the leader in advanced packaging, holding over 60% market share in semiconductor manufacturing and establishing significant competitive barriers in advanced packaging technologies [2][3]. - TSMC has developed three branches of CoWoS technology: CoWoS-S for medium-sized chips, CoWoS-R for greater design flexibility, and CoWoS-L for large AI chips [3]. - TSMC's SoIC technology, based on CoWoS and wafer-on-wafer stacking, offers higher interconnect density and improved performance compared to traditional 2.5D packaging [3]. Group 3: Capacity Expansion and Technological Advancements - TSMC's CoWoS capacity is projected to increase 6-8 times from 2023 to 2026, with a CAGR exceeding 60% [5]. - TSMC's new advanced packaging facilities, including the flagship AP6 plant in Zhunan, are designed for full automation and are expected to handle significant orders from major clients like NVIDIA and AMD [5][6]. - TSMC is also expanding its advanced packaging capabilities in the U.S. with plans for two new facilities in Arizona, focusing on SoIC and CoPoS technologies [6]. Group 4: Competitors' Strategies - ASE, as the largest packaging and testing foundry, is benefiting from the advanced packaging trend, with over 60% of its ATM business expected to come from advanced packaging by 2025 [9]. - ASE is developing its own 2.5D packaging platform, FOCoS, and is expanding its production capacity across multiple sites, including a new K28 plant aimed at meeting the demand for AI and GPU chips [10][11]. - Amkor is enhancing its market position through partnerships, such as its collaboration with Intel on EMIB technology, and expanding its facilities in the U.S. to meet advanced packaging demands [15][16]. Group 5: Mainland China's Participation - Mainland Chinese companies are actively investing in advanced packaging technologies and capacity, with firms like Yongxi Electronics and Changjiang Electronics focusing on high-density packaging and automotive electronics [20][22]. - Yongxi Electronics is establishing a new production base in Malaysia to enhance its overseas strategy, while Changjiang Electronics is expanding its automotive electronics packaging capabilities [21][22]. - Tongfu Microelectronics is also increasing its advanced packaging capacity, particularly in automotive and high-performance computing sectors, to meet growing market demands [23][24]. Group 6: Future Outlook - The article concludes that while TSMC's dominance in advanced packaging is unlikely to be challenged in the short term, other specialized packaging firms are seeking to differentiate themselves through flexible capacity and innovative technologies [25][27]. - The collective expansion of packaging firms represents a significant industry bet on the demand for AI-driven computing power, with the potential for winners to emerge as the market stabilizes and technology paths clarify [27].

Core Insights - The article discusses the critical role of advanced packaging and SiC technology in addressing the surging demand for AI computing power, highlighting the industry's shift towards these innovations as a solution to existing limitations in traditional chip packaging [5][7][24]. Industry Overview - The demand for computing power is expected to grow exponentially, with China's intelligent computing scale projected to reach 1037.3 EFLOPS by 2025, increasing by 40% in 2026 [7]. - Traditional packaging methods are unable to cope with the power limits, as chip performance improvements lead to a threefold increase in power consumption for every doubling of performance [7][9]. Advanced Packaging Technology - Advanced packaging techniques, including 2.5D/3D stacking and the use of SiC as an intermediary layer, are essential for overcoming thermal management challenges and enhancing chip interconnect density by over 10 times [9][11]. - The global advanced packaging market is forecasted to exceed $79 billion by 2030, with 2.5D/3D packaging experiencing a growth rate of 37% [9]. SiC Technology - SiC is identified as the optimal solution for intermediary layers due to its superior thermal conductivity (490 W/m·K), hardness (Mohs hardness of 9.5), and ability to support high aspect ratio through-hole designs, improving wiring density and transmission speed by 20% [11][13]. - By 2027, SiC intermediary layer mass production is anticipated, with a projected need for over 2.3 million 12-inch SiC substrates by 2030, indicating a significant supply gap [14]. Market Dynamics - The advanced packaging boom is characterized by a collective resonance across the entire supply chain, including equipment, materials, and OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test) sectors [16]. - Key players in the OSAT space include Changdian Technology and Tongfu Microelectronics, both of which are positioned to benefit from the domestic substitution trend and the growing demand for advanced packaging solutions [16][21]. Investment Opportunities - Four key investment directions are highlighted: SiC materials and equipment, advanced packaging OSAT, critical materials, and mixed bonding/3D packaging technologies [19][20][21][22]. - Companies such as Tianyue Advanced and Sanan Optoelectronics are noted for their advancements in 12-inch SiC substrate production, while equipment manufacturers like Jing Sheng and Huahai Qingke are breaking through overseas monopolies [20][18]. Conclusion - The advanced packaging industry is evolving from a semiconductor backend process to a core component of computing power, essential for AI, data centers, and smart driving applications [24]. - The industry is on the brink of a significant growth phase, driven by the upcoming mass production of SiC intermediary layers and breakthroughs in domestic supply chains [24].