SINOLINK SECURITIES·2025-12-14 11:04Investment Rating - The report maintains a positive outlook on the semiconductor equipment industry, particularly benefiting from the AI-driven demand surge in storage solutions [1][27]. Core Insights - The AI technology evolution is significantly increasing storage demand, leading to a supply-demand gap that is pushing prices higher. DRAM prices are expected to rise by approximately 58% year-on-year in 2026, with industry revenue projected to grow by about 85%, surpassing $300 billion for the first time [1]. - The NAND Flash market is also anticipated to see a 21% year-on-year increase in supply volume by 2026, with revenue reaching $110.5 billion, reflecting a 58% increase [1]. - Domestic semiconductor equipment manufacturers are expected to experience a new wave of rapid growth due to the advancements in storage technology and the expansion projects of local firms [1][27]. - Companies like Broadcom and Google are showing strong performance and optimistic forecasts regarding AI-related revenues, indicating robust growth in the semiconductor sector [1][27]. Summary by Sections Semiconductor Equipment - The semiconductor equipment market is projected to grow significantly, with key equipment such as etching and thin film deposition expected to see growth rates of 1.7x and 1.8x, respectively [1]. - The report highlights the importance of domestic manufacturers in the semiconductor equipment supply chain, especially in light of international supply chain constraints [1][24]. AI-PCB and Core Computing Hardware - The demand for AI-PCB is strong, with many companies reporting full production and sales, indicating a sustained high growth trajectory into the next year [4][27]. - The report emphasizes the potential of AI-driven products, particularly in the consumer electronics sector, with Apple expected to benefit significantly from AI integration in its devices [5][27]. Storage Market - The storage market is entering a clear upward trend, driven by increased demand from cloud service providers and consumer electronics, with significant price increases expected for DRAM and NAND Flash products [21][23]. - The report suggests that the storage sector will see a resurgence in capital expenditures as companies prepare for increased demand [23][27]. Passive Components and Display Panels - The passive components market is expected to benefit from the rising demand for AI applications, with significant growth in MLCC and other components [19][21]. - The display panel market is stabilizing, with effective production control measures in place, ensuring steady pricing and supply [20][21]. IC Design and Semiconductor Materials - The IC design sector is projected to see continued growth, particularly in the memory segment, as demand from cloud service providers increases [21][23]. - The semiconductor materials market is also expected to improve as production capacity increases and domestic suppliers gain market share [26][27].