傅里叶的猫·2025-05-04 15:32Core Viewpoint - The article provides an in-depth analysis of SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation), focusing on its financial model and growth prospects, particularly in the context of China's semiconductor policies and market dynamics [1]. Financial Indicators - Revenue is projected to grow from $2.07 billion in 2017 to $23.04 billion in 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.8%, driven by the expansion of 28nm and above mature process capacities, especially post-2020 due to global chip shortages and domestic semiconductor policies [2]. - Gross margin is expected to increase from 21.2% in 2017 to 26.1% in 2028, benefiting from scale effects in mature processes, although it remains significantly lower than TSMC's 55% during the same period [2]. - EBITDA is forecasted to rise from $730 million to $12.17 billion, with EBITDA margin improving from 35.5% to 48.5%, indicating enhanced operational efficiency [2]. Capital Expenditure - Capital expenditures (Capex) are set to reach $7.326 billion in 2024, increasing to $8.69 billion in 2025 and peaking at $9.622 billion in 2026, reflecting a CAGR of 18.4% from 2017 to 2028, which is higher than the revenue growth rate [3]. - 90% of Capex is allocated to equipment procurement, primarily for mature process technologies, with 10% for wafer fab infrastructure [4]. - High Capex leads to significant depreciation costs, projected to reach $3.742 billion in 2024, which will pressure profit margins [4]. Business Structure - The wafer business is the core revenue driver for SMIC, contributing approximately 93.2% of total revenue in 2018, expected to rise to 95% by 2024 [7]. - Revenue from the 12/14nm nodes has shown rapid growth, from nearly negligible in 2019 to an estimated $838 million in 2024, driven by increasing market demand [8]. - The 28nm node remains a significant revenue contributor, with expected revenue of approximately $1.145 billion in 2024, despite facing competitive pressures [9]. Capacity and Market Competitiveness - Total capacity is projected to reach 884,000 wafers per month in 2024, increasing to 941,000 in 2025, with major production bases in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Tianjin [13]. - The Shanghai facility focuses on advanced processes, while the Beijing plant targets mature processes, with a significant portion of Capex directed towards expanding capacity in response to rising automotive electronics demand [13]. - Risks include potential impacts from U.S. sanctions on equipment maintenance and over-reliance on policy subsidies, which could lead to price competition [13]. R&D Investment and Technological Innovation - R&D expenditures are expected to rise to $1.031 billion in 2024, accounting for 9.4% of revenue, with a focus on optimizing 14nm FinFET processes and developing IoT chips [16]. - Despite increased R&D spending, challenges remain due to U.S. sanctions limiting access to advanced equipment, resulting in lower yield rates for 14nm processes [16]. - The company aims to balance high R&D intensity with policy requirements, although the return on investment in R&D is projected to be below the cost of capital, indicating diminishing marginal returns [17][18].