1 Surprising Way Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) Makes Money

Core Insights - The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly impacted the technological landscape, with major companies increasingly tied to this technology [1] - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has emerged as a key player, producing approximately 90% of the world's advanced semiconductors, particularly for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) [2] - TSMC's market capitalization has increased by over $1 trillion since early 2023 due to unprecedented demand for high-end processors [3] Revenue Breakdown - TSMC's primary revenue source is from high-performance computing (HPC), which accounted for 57% of its third-quarter sales [4] - The smartphone segment, previously TSMC's largest revenue generator, has seen a resurgence, contributing 30% to third-quarter sales, aided by the success of Apple's iPhone 17 [5][7] Financial Performance - In the third quarter, TSMC reported revenue of $33.1 billion, reflecting a 41% year-over-year increase and a 10% sequential growth, with earnings per American depositary receipt (ADR) rising 39% to $2.92 [8] - TSMC's stock is currently priced at 30 times trailing-12-month earnings, which is a discount compared to the S&P 500's multiple of 31 [8]