Apple(US:AAPL) Tianfeng Securities·2025-08-15 05:06Investment Rating - The industry rating is "Outperform the Market" (maintained) [8][6]. Core Insights - The report is optimistic about the exemption of Section 232 tariffs for Apple, which is expected to boost the valuation of Apple's supply chain [9][11]. - Apple's recent financial performance exceeded expectations, with a revenue of $94 billion for the third fiscal quarter of 2025, marking a 10% year-over-year increase [15][19]. - The AI sector is experiencing significant advancements, highlighted by the release of OpenAI's GPT-5 model, which showcases revolutionary breakthroughs in programming, creative writing, and healthcare [21][22]. - The PCB industry is set to benefit from the CoWoP packaging technology, which is anticipated to reduce costs by 30%-50% and shorten delivery times [30][35]. - The panel industry is facing a slowdown in demand, with prices slightly declining, yet leading companies are showing resilience [38][43]. Summary by Sections Section 1: Apple and Tariff Exemption - The exemption from Section 232 tariffs is expected to lower production costs and enhance market competitiveness for Apple [12][14]. - Apple's commitment to invest an additional $100 billion in the U.S. and its new American Manufacturing Plan (AMP) are key developments [11][13]. - The Chinese market is showing signs of recovery, aided by government subsidies, with Apple's revenue in Greater China reaching $15.37 billion, a 4% increase year-over-year [19][20]. Section 2: AI Developments - OpenAI's GPT-5 model represents a significant leap in AI technology, integrating efficient foundational models with deep reasoning capabilities [21][25]. - The AI application market is rapidly evolving, with mobile AI applications reaching 680 million monthly active users, surpassing native apps [28][27]. Section 3: PCB and CoWoP Technology - CoWoP technology is expected to drive high-end PCB demand, offering low-cost and high-efficiency characteristics [35][30]. - The transition from traditional packaging methods to CoWoP presents challenges in terms of technical precision and yield rates [32][37]. Section 4: Panel Industry Trends - The demand for panels is slowing, with price adjustments observed in various sizes, but leading companies like BOE and TCL are maintaining strong performance [38][43]. - BOE has surpassed Samsung in the supply of foldable screens, indicating a competitive edge in the OLED panel market [43][44].