SMIC(SH:688981) 21世纪经济报道·2025-11-15 14:34Core Viewpoint - SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation) has reported strong Q3 results, driven by the domestic supply chain shift and increasing AI computing power, but has provided cautious guidance for Q4 and next year, indicating concerns about future demand and profitability [1][8]. Group 1: Q3 Performance Highlights - In Q3, SMIC achieved revenue of $2.382 billion, a year-on-year increase of 9.7% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 7.8%, with a net profit of approximately $192 million, up 28.9% year-on-year [1]. - The monthly capacity for 8-inch standard logic wafers exceeded one million for the first time, with a capacity utilization rate reaching 95.8%, close to full capacity [1][4]. - Revenue from domestic customers accounted for 86.2% of total revenue, up from 84.1% in Q2, with a significant 11% quarter-on-quarter increase in absolute terms [4]. Group 2: Factors Driving Growth - The primary driver of growth is the shift to domestic supply chains, particularly in the consumer electronics sector, which has created opportunities for SMIC [4]. - Customer inventory replenishment has also contributed to the strong performance, as many clients are restocking to compete in the domestic market after previously depleting their inventories [5]. - The automotive and industrial sectors are showing signs of recovery, leading to increased inventory replenishment from suppliers [5]. Group 3: Cautious Outlook for Q4 - Despite strong Q3 results, SMIC's guidance for Q4 is conservative, expecting revenue to remain flat or grow by 2% quarter-on-quarter, with gross margin projected to decline to 18%-20% [9]. - The cautious outlook is attributed to the ongoing "super cycle" in memory chips, which may impact demand for logic chips and create supply chain risks for SMIC's customers [9][10]. - Rising memory chip prices could pressure profit margins for downstream manufacturers, leading to reduced orders for SMIC's key products [10]. Group 4: Internal and External Cost Pressures - SMIC's capital expenditure for Q3 was $2.394 billion, with a total of $5.7 billion for the first three quarters, indicating ongoing investment in capacity expansion [11]. - Increased depreciation costs from new equipment, which will be deployed in Q4 and Q1 of next year, are expected to further pressure gross margins [11]. - The company acknowledges that competition in the industry will remain intense, necessitating a focus on performance, quality, and cost efficiency [11].