光刻机大变局：中国、日本、荷兰三国杀

Core Viewpoint - ASML's stock performance in 2024 has been poor, with its market value remaining around $280 billion despite significant fluctuations throughout the year, primarily due to disappointing order volumes and external market pressures [1][4]. Group 1: ASML's Financial Performance - ASML's market value dropped from a peak of $432.4 billion on July 10 to a low of $259.1 billion by November 15, representing a 40% decline [1]. - In Q3 2024, ASML reported new orders of only €2.6 billion, significantly below analyst expectations of €5.4 billion [1]. - The company sold only 44 EUV lithography machines in 2024, a decrease of 9 units or 17% from the previous year, largely due to reduced demand from major clients like Intel and Samsung [3]. Group 2: Market Dynamics and Competitors - TSMC, ASML's largest customer, experienced a remarkable stock performance in 2024, with its market value increasing from $520 billion to $1.1 trillion, nearly doubling [2]. - TSMC's revenue and net profit grew by 39% and 54% year-on-year, respectively, driven by strong demand for AI chips [2]. - Nikon has re-entered the high-end lithography market, launching a new ArF immersion lithography machine, aiming to capture market share in China following ASML's exit [5][6]. Group 3: Political and Regulatory Factors - ASML's sales to China, which constituted 49% of its revenue in Q1 2024, have been severely impacted by U.S. export restrictions, dropping to 27% by Q4 2024 and projected to fall to around 20% in 2025 [4]. - The Dutch government has expressed dissatisfaction with U.S. pressures limiting ASML's exports to China, indicating a desire for more autonomy in export policy decisions [8]. Group 4: Future Outlook - ASML's confidence in market performance for 2025 is low, leading the CFO to announce that the company will stop quarterly reporting of new order amounts [8]. - The rise of China's semiconductor manufacturing capabilities is anticipated, with significant advancements in domestic lithography technology being reported [9].