2025-08-31 16:21Summary of UBS Global I/O Semiconductors Conference Call Industry Overview - Industry: Automotive Semiconductors - Market Outlook: Positive momentum in the automotive semiconductor market is expected to continue into H2'25 and 2026E, following a recent inflection point in Q2'25 with a 1% year-over-year revenue growth after seven consecutive quarters of decline [1][2]. Key Points 1. Analog Revenue Growth: - The automotive semiconductor sector has seen a return to positive revenue growth, with a 1% year-over-year increase in Q2'25, marking the first positive growth since Q2'23. Projections for Q3 and Q4 indicate expected growth rates of 4% and 14% year-over-year, respectively [2][3]. 2. Automotive and Industrial Revenue Forecasts: - Automotive semiconductor revenues are forecasted to decline by 7% year-over-year in 2025E, an improvement from a previous estimate of -9%. A rebound is expected in 2026E with an 11% growth [3][11]. - Industrial semiconductor revenues are projected to grow by 8% year-over-year in 2025E, up from a previous estimate of 6%, following a decline of 19% in 2024 [3][11]. 3. Regional Demand Insights: - In China, automotive semiconductor demand is expected to grow by 4% year-over-year in 2025E, down from 21% in 2024. Non-China markets are projected to remain flat [4][16]. - Year-to-date, China car volumes have increased by 14% year-over-year, with new energy vehicles (NEV) growing by 37% [4]. 4. Leading Indicators: - Positive leading indicators include a return to quarter-over-quarter semiconductor revenue growth in Q2'25, with estimates of 5% and 14% growth for Q3 and Q4, respectively. Additionally, semiconductor inventory days are declining, expected to reach 162 days in Q3'25, down from 175 days in Q2'25 [5][9]. 5. Sector Preferences: - The analog semiconductor sector is currently trading at approximately 20x P/E for 2026E, compared to a 10-year average of 19x. Preferred companies include Texas Instruments (TI), Infineon (IFX), and Renesas, while ON Semiconductor and Melexis are rated neutral [6][24]. 6. Risks and Challenges: - Potential downside risks include deteriorating car production/sales, increasing tariffs, pricing pressure on semiconductors, and a slowdown in Chinese demand in H2'25 [5][9]. Additional Insights - Market Pricing: The market appears to be pricing in a low single-digit percentage decline in semiconductor revenues, with a volume increase of 5-15% expected in 2026E [6][24]. - China's Market Dynamics: The growth in China's automotive semiconductor market is expected to normalize, with global incumbents potentially facing a 1% revenue decline in 2025 due to competition from domestic players [16][19]. This summary encapsulates the key insights and projections from the UBS Global I/O Semiconductors conference call, highlighting the optimistic outlook for the automotive semiconductor industry while acknowledging potential risks and regional dynamics.