美股IPO·2025-11-11 04:48Core Viewpoint - The demand for next-generation chips from AI giants like Nvidia is pushing TSMC's N3 advanced process capacity to its limits, leading to a significant supply shortage that is expected to enhance TSMC's profit margins, potentially pushing gross margins above 60% by 2026 [1][3][9] Group 1: Capacity Constraints - TSMC's N3 advanced process capacity is nearing its maximum, with Morgan Stanley predicting a significant capacity shortfall even with efforts to optimize existing lines [1][3] - Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang has personally requested increased chip supply from TSMC, highlighting the urgency of the situation [3] - Despite Nvidia's request to expand N3 capacity to 160,000 wafers per month, TSMC's actual capacity may only reach 140,000 to 145,000 wafers per month by the end of 2026, indicating a persistent supply-demand imbalance [3][4] Group 2: Production Strategies - TSMC is not planning to build new N3 fabs but will prioritize existing facilities for next-generation processes, with capacity increases mainly coming from line conversions at the Tainan Fab 18 [4][6] - The conversion of N4 lines to N3 may face challenges if Nvidia is allowed to ship GPUs to the Chinese market, potentially slowing down the conversion process [5] - TSMC is also utilizing cross-factory collaboration to maximize output, leveraging idle capacity from its Fab 14 to handle some backend processes for N3 [6] Group 3: Customer Demand - Major tech companies are scrambling to secure production capacity, with a diverse lineup of clients including Nvidia, Broadcom, Amazon, Meta, Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek [7] - The demand from cryptocurrency miners is expected to remain largely unmet in 2026 due to the pre-booking of capacity by major clients [7] Group 4: Profitability Outlook - The scarcity of capacity is translating directly into TSMC's profitability, with clients willing to pay premiums of 50% to 100% for expedited orders [8][9] - Morgan Stanley predicts that if the trend of urgent orders continues, TSMC's gross margin could reach the low to mid-60% range in the first half of 2026, exceeding current market expectations [9]