ASMPT：Near-term results not precluding positive AP development-20250227

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "BUY" rating for the company with a target price (TP) revised to HK$98.00 from the previous HK$107.00, reflecting a 53% upside potential based on the current price of HK$64.05 [1][4][7]. Core Insights - The company reported 4Q24 revenue at the upper range of guidance, driven by strong Advanced Packaging (AP) growth, although weak margins in both Semiconductor (SEMI) and Surface Mount Technology (SMT) segments led to net income missing estimates. The report emphasizes a positive outlook on structural demand for TCB and other AP tools, particularly in AI applications, despite challenges in mainstream and non-AI sectors [4][10][11]. - The earnings forecasts for 2025 and 2026 have been cut by 28$14,934 million - 2026E: HK$17,908 million - 2027E: HK$20,458 million - Reported net profit estimates are: - 2025E: HK$1,286 million - 2026E: HK$1,771 million - 2027E: HK$2,265 million - Core EPS estimates are: - 2025E: HK$3.088 - 2026E: HK$4.253 - 2027E: HK$5.439 [8][31]. Financial Performance - The company reported a flat revenue of HK$3.4 billion in 4Q24, with gross profit margins decreasing to 37.2$4 million, a drastic decline of 94% year-over-year, primarily due to weak demand in automotive and industrial sectors, along with a one-time restructuring cost of HK$95 million [10][20]. Market Position and Growth Potential - The report highlights that AP revenues are expected to exceed 30% of total revenues and contribute over 50% to net income from 2025 onwards, indicating a strong growth trajectory driven by AI demand [4][11]. - The company aims to capture 35-40% of the global TCB market share by 2027, with significant investments planned for R&D in AP tools [10][11]. Valuation Metrics - The report uses a valuation multiple of 23x the 2026E EPS to assess the company's value, reflecting a competitive landscape in the mainstream packaging business [7][26]. - Key financial metrics include: - Core P/E for 2025E: 20.7x - EV/EBITDA for 2025E: 14.1x - P/B ratio for 2025E: 1.7x [8][31].