news flash·2025-07-23 05:29Core Viewpoint - DBS has raised the target price for SMIC to HKD 57, benefiting from the recovery in end-market demand and the acceleration of chip localization trends [1] Company Summary - SMIC is the only foundry in China capable of 7nm process technology, positioning it well to capitalize on the recovering demand in the terminal market and the trend towards domestic chip production [1] - The electric vehicle market is thriving, and the increasing application of automotive chips is becoming a new growth engine for SMIC [1] - The company is expected to see a 71% increase in earnings for the fiscal year 2025, reaching USD 945 million, driven by improved capacity utilization and gross margin [1] Industry Summary - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for SMIC, with the target price increased from HKD 53.2 to HKD 57, reflecting a projected price-to-book ratio of 2.7 times for this year [1] - Improved demand for consumer electronics and smartphones, along with the launch of new products such as AI, system-on-chip (SoC), and automotive chips, is expected to offset the negative impacts from declining average wafer prices and rising depreciation costs [1] - The valuation of SMIC is anticipated to be supported during the industry's upward cycle [1]