Teradyne, Inc. ( TER ) is one of the best businesses in the semiconductor supply chain, full stop. It dominates the high-end testing markets, earns very strong margins when the volumes show up, and has a very long historyI’m Emmanuel Onwusah—a financial analyst, writer, and recovering engineer. I hold FMVA® and BIDA® certifications from the Corporate Finance Institute, and I spend most of my time creating pitch decks, building models, analyzing companies, and trying to make sense of where value meets narrat ...

Teradyne, Inc. ( TER ) is one of the best businesses in the semiconductor supply chain, full stop. It dominates the high-end testing markets, earns very strong margins when the volumes show up, and has a very long historyI’m Emmanuel Onwusah—a financial analyst, writer, and recovering engineer. I hold FMVA® and BIDA® certifications from the Corporate Finance Institute, and I spend most of my time creating pitch decks, building models, analyzing companies, and trying to make sense of where value meets narrat ...

Core Insights - Intel's stock surged over 6% on January 7 after the announcement of a new gaming chip and platform by Daniel Rogers, the vice president of PC products [1] - The launch of the Core Ultra Series 3 processors, built on the 18A process, shows a remarkable 77% performance improvement in gaming compared to previous models [1] - Following this rally, Intel's stock has increased approximately 140% from its 52-week low [2] Product Development - The CES 2026 launch of the Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" processors is seen as a positive indicator for Intel's stock, confirming the effectiveness of the 18A node at scale [3] - The new processors demonstrate significant performance gains, including a 60% improvement in multithreaded workloads, enhancing Intel's competitiveness against rivals like AMD and Nvidia [3] Market Position and Strategy - Enhanced product differentiation strengthens confidence in Intel's turnaround strategy and showcases successful execution of advanced manufacturing processes, which reassures investors about long-term growth [4] - Intel is positioned as a fallback option for global customers due to the inability of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to meet the increasing chip demand, suggesting potential for a multi-year stock rally [5] Investment and Financial Health - Intel has attracted billions in investments from major players like Nvidia, SoftBank, and the Trump administration, highlighting its strategic importance in the global semiconductor supply chain [6] - Despite a significant rally since last April, Intel's long-term relative strength index (100-day) is around 58, indicating that the bullish trend may continue [6]

Investment Rating - The report indicates a positive outlook for the semiconductor industry, with preferred picks including TI, Renesas, Infineon, and STMicroelectronics to gain exposure to the recovery [2]. Core Insights - The semiconductor distribution channel has experienced a significant pricing increase of 4-5% month-over-month (m-o-m) for power semiconductor products, following a previous increase of 6-9% [2]. - Nexperia's disruption has led to a notable decline in unit inventories of transistors and diodes, with drops of 48% and 32% respectively, while prices have surged by 114% and 149% [3]. - Average quarterly pricing is projected to increase by 6% quarter-over-quarter (q-o-q) for Q4'25, with inventory down 4% q-o-q [4]. Summary by Sections Pricing Trends - Pricing across various product categories has shown stability, with an average increase of 2% m-o-m and 21% year-over-year (y-o-y) [4]. - The pricing environment remains supportive, with a year-over-year increase of approximately 13% in December compared to 11% in November [5]. Inventory Trends - Unit inventories of MCUs and microprocessors have unexpectedly increased by 13% and 19% m-o-m respectively, primarily driven by Microchip products [4]. - Excluding Nexperia, unit inventories of transistors and diodes have decreased by 18% and 23% since the beginning of October [3]. Company Performance - The report highlights that pricing has been up y-o-y for all companies for two consecutive months, indicating a broad-based recovery in the semiconductor sector [5]. - The data suggests that products not directly impacted by Nexperia have remained stable, indicating limited indirect effects from production delays [4].

Core Points - Lorenzo Grandi, President and CFO of STMicroelectronics, will present at the Barclays 23rd Annual Global Technology Conference on December 11, 2025 [1] - A live webcast of the conference will be available on ST's website and can be replayed until December 25, 2025 [2] Company Overview - STMicroelectronics employs 50,000 individuals and specializes in semiconductor technologies, managing the semiconductor supply chain with advanced manufacturing facilities [3] - The company collaborates with over 200,000 customers and numerous partners to create products and solutions that promote sustainability and address various challenges [3] - STMicroelectronics aims to achieve carbon neutrality in all direct and indirect emissions by the end of 2027, alongside a goal of 100% renewable electricity sourcing [3]

Investment & Expansion - Intel to invest an additional $208 million in Malaysia to enhance its assembly and testing operations [1] - This investment reinforces Malaysia's significance in the global semiconductor supply chain [1] Geopolitical Implications - The investment provides a boost to Malaysia's critical role in the global semiconductor supply chain [1]

Investment Rating - The report indicates a positive outlook for the semiconductor industry, particularly in the context of recovery following disruptions at Nexperia, with preferred picks including TI, Renesas, Infineon, and STMicroelectronics [2][4]. Core Insights - The semiconductor distribution channel has experienced a month-over-month price increase of 6-9% for power semiconductor products, alongside a significant drop in unit inventories by as much as 20% [2]. - Nexperia's disruption has led to a notable decrease in unit inventories of transistors and diodes, with reductions of 35% and 22% respectively, while prices surged by 68% and 103% [3][10]. - Overall, the pricing environment is supportive, with average year-over-year pricing up 11% in November compared to October [5][27]. Summary by Sections Distributor Data - Nexperia's unit inventories have decreased significantly, with transistors down 36% month-over-month and diodes down 25% month-over-month, while pricing for Nexperia products has more than doubled compared to the same period last year [15][10]. - Other manufacturers have also seen inventory reductions, with onsemi's transistors down 10% month-over-month [15][21]. Market Trends - MCU inventory levels have stabilized, marking the fifth consecutive month of flat unit inventory, indicating a normalization trend across various product categories [4][30]. - Pricing across all product categories has shown an upward trend, with an average increase of 2% month-over-month and 19% year-over-year [4][34]. Company Observations - The report highlights that pricing for all companies tracked has increased year-over-year for the first time, suggesting a broad-based recovery in the semiconductor sector [5][27]. - Unit inventories for nearly all companies remain stable, indicating limited indirect impacts from production delays related to Nexperia [4][5].

Core Insights - FormFactor, Inc. has commenced site work and equipment installation for a new advanced manufacturing facility in Farmers Branch, Texas, marking a significant economic development for the city [1][2][3] Economic Impact - The project is expected to create hundreds of new, highly skilled jobs for local residents, representing a transformative economic impact for Farmers Branch [3] - The establishment of FormFactor's facility strengthens Texas's position in the semiconductor ecosystem and addresses a critical gap in the domestic supply chain [3][6] Company Overview - FormFactor is a leading global supplier of test and measurement technologies for the semiconductor industry, particularly known for its advanced probe cards used in the production of logic and memory chips [4][8] - The company has shipped billions of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) probes and has an installed base of over 10,000 probe systems globally [4] Investment and Growth Plans - FormFactor plans to invest over $140 million in capital for the new site in 2026, indicating a strong commitment to expanding its manufacturing capacity [4] Community and Government Support - The partnership between FormFactor and Farmers Branch is seen as a validation of the city as a high-tech destination, enhancing its role in advanced semiconductor manufacturing [5][6] - The project reflects Texas's vision for a collaborative business environment that fosters innovation and strengthens technological resilience [6]

Core Insights - STMicroelectronics' President and CEO Jean-Marc Chery will present at the Morgan Stanley 25th European Technology, Media & Telecom Conference on November 12, 2025 [1] - A live webcast of the conference will be available on ST's website and can be replayed until November 26, 2025 [2] Company Overview - STMicroelectronics employs 50,000 individuals and is a leader in semiconductor technologies, managing the semiconductor supply chain with advanced manufacturing facilities [3] - The company collaborates with over 200,000 customers and numerous partners to create products and solutions that promote sustainability and address various challenges [3] - STMicroelectronics aims to achieve carbon neutrality in all direct and indirect emissions by the end of 2027, alongside a goal of sourcing 100% renewable electricity [3]

Core Viewpoint - Nexperia's China unit is expected to secure domestic wafer supply despite current challenges, with a focus on maintaining production for the global automotive industry [1][6]. Group 1: Domestic Supply Chain - Nexperia China is anticipated to receive wafer supplies from several Chinese fabs, including Wuxi NCE Power, Hangzhou Silan Microelectronics, and Yangjie Technology [2]. - An alternative domestic wafer supplier could be Shanghai Dingtai Jiangxin Technology, a sister company of Wingtech Technology [3]. Group 2: Investment and Production Capacity - WingSkySemi, part of Wingtech, has invested 12 billion yuan (approximately US$1.7 billion) in a Shanghai fab for 12-inch wafers, which is seen as a strategic pivot for the Chinese market [5]. - Nexperia China is accelerating the qualification of new wafer supply sources and is confident in meeting customer demands starting next year [8]. Group 3: Customer Assurance and Contingency Plans - Nexperia China has multiple contingency plans and sufficient inventory to ensure a secure chip supply [7]. - The company is focused on reassuring customers about uninterrupted production, especially in light of recent export ban considerations by China's Ministry of Commerce [6].