Core Viewpoint - After a 16-week period of adjustment, Huahong Semiconductor (01347) has seen a strong rebound in its stock price, reversing the downward trend in the wafer foundry sector [1] Industry Overview - The wafer foundry sector has performed well this year, with major players Huahong Semiconductor and SMIC both experiencing significant increases, with Huahong's stock rising over 60% [1] - The valuation increase in the sector is attributed to strong performance, with Huahong reporting Q1 2025 revenue of $541 million, a year-on-year increase of 17.6% [1][2] - SMIC's revenue for the same period was $2.247 billion, up 28.4% year-on-year, with a net profit of $188 million, reflecting a staggering 162% increase [1][2] Company Performance - Huahong Semiconductor has achieved double-digit revenue growth for two consecutive quarters, with Q2 guidance indicating a growth rate of 15-20% [1] - The company has a total wafer capacity of 413,000 pieces, with an 8-inch wafer revenue of $231 million and a 12-inch wafer revenue of $310 million, the latter showing a significant year-on-year growth of 40.9% [2][4] - The company has maintained a high capacity utilization rate of 102.7% for 8-inch equivalent wafers, exceeding 100% for three consecutive quarters [4] Financial Metrics - Huahong's gross margin for Q1 2025 was 9.24%, while SMIC's was significantly higher at 22.52%, indicating a substantial gap in profitability [5] - Despite lower profitability, Huahong's strong cash flow performance is notable, with a net cash inflow of $50 million in Q1, contrasting with SMIC's net cash outflow of $160 million [6] - As of March 2025, Huahong had cash equivalents of $4.08 billion, while SMIC had $4.587 billion [6] Valuation and Market Sentiment - The market has assigned a price-to-book (PB) ratio of 2.19 to SMIC, while Huahong's PB ratio is only 1.25, indicating a 75% discount in valuation [7] - Analysts have mixed views on Huahong, with some downgrading its rating due to weak return on equity projections, while others have raised target prices based on expected product price improvements [9] - Overall, the wafer foundry sector is entering a new phase of upward trends, with Huahong's low valuation and improving quarterly performance presenting significant investment opportunities [9]
华虹半导体（01347）：连续三个季度业绩改善，低估迎来投资机遇