Shenwan Hongyuan Securities·2025-09-26 13:28Investment Rating - The report indicates a positive investment outlook for the ASIC industry, highlighting significant growth potential driven by increasing demand for AI applications and specialized chip designs [2]. Core Insights - The report emphasizes the distinct business models of ASIC and GPU, noting that ASICs are specialized chips tightly coupled with specific downstream applications, while GPUs are general-purpose chips [3][10]. - ASICs demonstrate superior cost-effectiveness and efficiency, with notable examples such as Google's TPU v5 achieving 1.46 times the energy efficiency of NVIDIA's H200, and Amazon's Trainium2 reducing training costs by 40% compared to GPU solutions [3][15]. - The report forecasts that the global AI ASIC market could reach $125 billion by 2028, with significant contributions from major players like Broadcom and Marvell [30]. Summary by Sections 1. AI Model Inference Driving ASIC Demand - The global AI chip market is projected to reach $500 billion by 2028-2030, with AI infrastructure spending expected to hit $3-4 trillion by 2030 [8]. - ASICs are recognized for their strong specialization, offering cost and efficiency advantages over GPUs, particularly in AI applications [9][14]. 2. High Complexity of ASIC Design and Value of Service Providers - ASIC design involves complex processes requiring specialized service providers, with Broadcom and Marvell being the leading companies in this space [41][42]. - The report highlights the importance of design service providers in optimizing performance and reducing time-to-market for ASIC products [55][60]. 3. Domestic Developments: Not Just Following Trends - Domestic cloud giants like Alibaba and Baidu have made significant strides in ASIC self-research, establishing independent ecosystems rather than merely following international trends [4][30]. - The report identifies key domestic design service providers such as Chipone, Aojie Technology, and Zhaoxin, which are well-positioned to benefit from the growing demand for ASICs [41]. 4. Key Trends in Domestic ASIC Development - The report identifies PD separation and supernode architectures as two core trends in domestic ASIC development, with companies like Huawei and Haiguang leading the way [4][30]. - These trends reflect a shift towards more flexible and efficient chip designs that cater to diverse industry needs [4]. 5. Valuation of Key Companies - The report includes a valuation table for key companies in the ASIC sector, indicating strong growth prospects and market positioning for firms like Broadcom and Marvell [5].