3 6 Ke·2025-11-11 10:39Core Insights - TSMC reported record-high sales of $33.1 billion and operating profit of $16.75 billion for Q3 2025, with an operating margin recovering to over 50% [1][3] - TSMC's wafer shipments reached a record 4.09 million in Q3 2025, indicating a V-shaped recovery from a low of 2.9 million in Q3 2023 [5][7] Financial Performance - TSMC's Q3 2025 sales of $33.1 billion positioned it as the second-largest semiconductor company, following NVIDIA's $46.7 billion [3][5] - The operating profit margin has rebounded from a previous low of around 40% to over 50% [1] Wafer Shipments - TSMC's wafer shipments peaked at 3.97 million in Q3 2022, fell to 2.9 million in Q3 2023, and then rose to 4.09 million in Q3 2025 [5][7] - The increase in wafer shipments is attributed to strong demand for advanced 3nm and 5nm nodes, while the 7nm process remains underutilized [7][19] Technology and Market Dynamics - TSMC's strong performance is driven by rapid growth in wafer input for 3nm and 5nm nodes, as Chinese semiconductor manufacturers shift focus to mature nodes due to U.S. restrictions [7][14] - The company has transitioned its core business from smartphone chips to artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) [21][24] Customer Base Evolution - TSMC's top customers have shifted from smartphone manufacturers to AI semiconductor companies, with NVIDIA expected to account for 22-25% of revenue by 2025, surpassing Apple [26][27] - The share of smartphone-related companies in TSMC's revenue has decreased significantly, indicating a structural shift in the customer base [27][28] Competitive Position - TSMC maintains a dominant position in the semiconductor industry, with over 157 EUV lithography machines, far exceeding competitors like Samsung and Intel [30][31] - The ability to supply advanced nodes has become a critical asset, likened to a new form of currency in the semiconductor market [33]