TSMC(US:TSM) Benzingaยท2025-07-18 17:04Core Viewpoint - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) is focusing on cautious spending while expanding globally to meet the rising demand for AI chips, despite facing macroeconomic and currency risks [1][2]. Financial Performance - TSMC reported a quarterly revenue of $30.07 billion, representing a 44% year-over-year increase in USD and a 38.6% increase in New Taiwanese dollars, driven by advanced 3nm and 5nm chip technologies [3]. - Net income rose 61% year-over-year to $2.47 per share, with gross margin expanding to 58.6% and operating margin reaching 49.6% [3]. - For the third quarter, TSMC expects revenue between $31.8 billion and $33 billion, with gross margins of 55.5% to 57.5% [4]. Market Dynamics - High-performance computing and smartphone chips accounted for 87% of TSMC's revenue, with North America contributing 75% of total sales [4]. - The company is fast-tracking its Arizona projects to meet customer demand, aiming to begin production at a second plant by 2027 [2]. Analyst Insights - Needham analyst Charles Shi maintained a Buy rating on TSMC, raising the fiscal 2025 revenue growth outlook from 24-26% to approximately 30% [5]. - Shi projected third-quarter revenue of $32.4 billion and earnings per share of $2.65, indicating a positive outlook for the company [8]. - TSMC is working on pricing increases for 2026 to potentially offset foreign exchange impacts on gross margins [7].