Flash | 08 Jan 2026 07:14:02 ET │ 11 pages Conant Optical (2276.HK) Key Takeaways from Fireside Chat with Chairman CITI'S TAKE We hosted a fireside chat call with Chairman Mr. Fei on 8 January. Management's outlook is positive with 2026 expected to be continuous- growth year riding AI glasses. He is optimistic on AI glasses outlook and believes Conant is one of the few capable players in providing RX lens as optical module. Conant has 30+ AI glasses projects on hand from North America and China customers, o ...

Core Insights - Meta is launching a new creative studio within its Reality Labs division, led by former Apple design executive Alan Dye, to innovate future products and services [1][2] Group 1: Leadership and Team Composition - Alan Dye, who has extensive experience at Apple, will head the new studio, which will also include other notable design leads from Apple and Meta's existing design teams [3] - The team aims to leverage their combined expertise in creating products that integrate hardware and software seamlessly [2][3] Group 2: Vision and Objectives - Mark Zuckerberg emphasized that the studio's focus will be on developing AI glasses and other devices that enhance human-technology interaction, aiming for natural and intuitive user experiences [4] - The studio's mission is to ensure that every interaction with their products is thoughtful and centered around user needs [4] Group 3: Alan Dye's Background - Alan Dye joined Apple in 2006 and became the Design Studio Lead in 2015, significantly influencing the design evolution of major Apple platforms [5][6] - His work included the introduction of Liquid Glass, a new material that transformed the aesthetics and usability of Apple's devices [5][6]

Summary of SICC (688234.SS) 3Q25 Earnings Call Company Overview - **Company**: SICC (688234.SS) - **Industry**: Silicon Carbide (SiC) Substrate Manufacturing Key Financial Metrics - **3Q25 Revenues**: Rmb 318 million, down 18% QoQ and 14% YoY, significantly below expectations by 37% compared to Goldman Sachs and Bloomberg consensus [2][3] - **Gross Margin (GM)**: Improved to 20.6% in 3Q25 from 12.6% in 2Q25, reflecting a product mix upgrade towards 8-inch SiC substrates [1][2] - **Operating Income (OP)**: Reported a loss of Rmb 42 million in 3Q25, compared to a loss of Rmb 28 million in 2Q25 [3] - **Net Income**: Loss of Rmb 10 million in 3Q25, down from a profit of Rmb 2 million in 2Q25 [3] Core Insights - **Product Mix Upgrade**: The shift towards 8-inch and 12-inch SiC substrates is expected to drive future growth [1][5] - **Market Competition**: Intense pricing competition, particularly in the 6-inch SiC substrate market in mainland China, is impacting revenue and margins [2][5] - **R&D Investments**: Increased R&D and selling expenses due to new product developments have contributed to the operating loss [2][5] - **Future Growth Drivers**: Anticipated growth in SiC adoption in electric vehicles (EVs) for fast charging capabilities and expansion into AI applications such as AI glasses and servers [1][5] Earnings Revision - **EPS Forecast**: 2025-2027 EPS estimates reduced by 86%, 9%, and 7% respectively due to lower revenues and higher expenses [5][10] - **Revenue Growth Projection**: Despite the cuts, a strong revenue growth of 65% CAGR is expected from 2025 to 2027, driven by product mix upgrades and market expansion [5][10] - **Long-term Margin Recovery**: Blended GM is projected to recover to 37.6% by 2027, with an operating margin (OPM) of 24.9% expected as revenue scales normalize [5][10] Valuation and Price Target - **Target Price**: Rmb 101, reflecting a 36.7% upside from the current price of Rmb 73.86 [17] - **Valuation Methodology**: Based on a discounted P/E approach, with a target P/E multiple of 35.8x applied to 2029E EPS [10][15] Risks and Considerations - **Downside Risks**: Include slower-than-expected capacity expansion, intense competition, and potential supply chain issues [16] - **Market Volatility**: The company's relatively short trading history and the volatile nature of the SiC substrate market may affect valuation [16] Conclusion - Despite a challenging 3Q25 performance, SICC is positioned for long-term growth driven by product upgrades and market expansion in the EV and AI sectors. The current valuation presents a potential investment opportunity, albeit with associated risks from market competition and operational challenges.

Zuckerberg says people without AI glasses will be at a disadvantage in the future | TechCrunch https://t.co/ykDbhERyTq ...

Investment Rating - The report assigns an "In-Line" rating for the Greater China Semiconductors industry, indicating expected performance in line with the broader market benchmark [6]. Core Insights - The report highlights a positive outlook for AI glasses, driven by successful product launches such as Ray-Ban Meta and the new Oakley Meta HSTN and Xiaomi AI glasses, which are expected to increase demand for semiconductors [2][3]. - Key beneficiaries in the semiconductor sector include OmniVision, Himax, MediaTek, and Universal Scientific Industries, which are positioned to gain from the growing AI glasses market [2][23]. Summary by Sections AI Glasses Market Developments - The report notes that the features of AI glasses, particularly AI LLM interaction, are likely to contribute to their success [2]. - The Oakley Meta HSTN is designed for sports use and features Qualcomm's AR1 SoC, a 12MP camera, and an improved battery life of eight hours compared to four hours for Ray-Ban Meta [3][13]. - Xiaomi's AI glasses, priced from Rmb1,999 (~US$277), utilize a dual-chip design for enhanced performance and have a battery life of 8.6 hours, supporting 2K video recording [4][12]. Semiconductor Supply Chain - Qualcomm remains a leader in the AI glasses market, with SoCs accounting for approximately 40% of the bill of materials (BoM), which could lead to more affordable AI glasses [5][20]. - The report anticipates an 80% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the SoC total addressable market (TAM) for AI glasses from 2024 to 2028 [33]. - The total addressable market for camera image sensors (CIS) in AI glasses is projected to grow to US$273 million by 2028 [27]. Stock Implications - The report maintains an "Overweight" rating on MediaTek due to its advanced designs for headset SoCs, while OmniVision and Himax are also expected to benefit from the AI glasses trend [23]. - System-in-package technology is anticipated to enhance semiconductor component density in smart glasses, potentially benefiting Universal Scientific Industries [23].