TSMC(US:TSM) HTSC·2026-01-16 06:10Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company with a target price raised to $440 from $370 [7]. Core Insights - The management expressed strong confidence in AI demand, stating it is "real" and that silicon supply remains a bottleneck [1][29]. - The company has raised its long-term revenue growth target from a CAGR of 15%-20% to 25% [1]. - Capital expenditures (CapEx) for 2026 are projected to surge to $52-56 billion, significantly higher than the previous year's $41 billion, indicating a robust response to structural AI demand growth [3][14]. - The company expects revenue growth of nearly 30% year-over-year in 2026, with a long-term revenue CAGR for AI server processors adjusted to mid-to-high 50% for 2024-2029 [1][2]. Summary by Relevant Sections Investment Rating - The investment rating is maintained as "Buy" with a target price of $440 [7]. AI Demand - AI server processor revenue growth guidance has been raised to a CAGR of mid-to-high 50% for 2024-2029, reflecting strong growth confidence [2]. - Customer feedback indicates positive ROI from investments in AI infrastructure, with demand remaining strong due to insatiable computational needs [2][29]. Capital Expenditures and Expansion - The company forecasts 2026 CapEx at $52-56 billion, with 70-80% allocated to advanced processes, particularly 2nm and A16 technologies [3][14]. - Global expansion includes the ramp-up of facilities in Arizona, Japan, and Germany, with significant capacity increases planned [3][30]. Profitability - The gross margin for Q4 2025 reached 62.3%, exceeding guidance, driven by high capacity utilization and cost improvements [4][28]. - The company anticipates further gross margin improvement to 64% in Q1 2026, despite potential short-term dilution from new technologies [4][28]. Earnings Forecast and Valuation - Revenue forecasts for 2026-2027 have been increased by 9.8% and 19.7%, respectively, with net profit estimates raised by 22.8% and 29.2% [5][25]. - The company is expected to achieve a net profit of $2.412 billion in 2026, with a projected PE ratio of 30x based on 2026 EPS of 93 New Taiwan Dollars [5][25].