TSMC(US:TSM)2025-10-16 07:00Financial Highlights - In Q3 2025, revenue increased by 6% sequentially in NT and by 10.1% in USD to $33.1 billion, slightly exceeding guidance [5][6] - Gross margin rose by 0.9 percentage points sequentially to 59.5%, driven by cost improvements and higher capacity utilization [6][12] - Operating margin increased by 1.0 percentage point sequentially to 50.6% [6] - EPS was up 39% year over year, and ROE was 37.8% [6] Business Line Performance - Three nanometer process technology contributed 23% of wafer revenue, while five nanometer and seven nanometer accounted for 37% and 14% respectively [7] - Advanced technologies (seven nanometer and below) made up 74% of wafer revenue [7] - Revenue contribution by platform: HPC remained flat at 57%, smartphone increased by 19% to 30%, IoT grew by 20% to 5%, automotive rose by 18% to 5%, while DCE decreased by 20% to 1% [7][8] Market Data - Cash and marketable securities at the end of Q3 were NT2.8 trillion (approximately $90 billion) [8] - Current liabilities decreased by NT101 billion quarter over quarter, mainly due to a reduction in accrued liabilities [8] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - TSMC is narrowing its 2025 CapEx guidance to between $40 billion and $42 billion, with 70% allocated for advanced process technologies [14] - The company aims to leverage its manufacturing technology leadership and large-scale production to remain the most efficient and cost-effective manufacturer [13] - TSMC is expanding its global manufacturing footprint, with significant investments in Arizona, Japan, and Europe to meet strong AI-related demand [22][24] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expects continued strong demand for leading-edge process technologies, particularly in AI, with full-year 2025 revenue projected to increase by close to mid-thirties percent year over year in USD terms [16][17] - There are uncertainties regarding tariff policies that could impact consumer-related markets, but TSMC remains focused on technology leadership and customer trust [17][20] - The company is preparing for a structural increase in long-term market demand, particularly in AI applications, and is employing a disciplined capacity planning process [20][21] Other Important Information - TSMC's two nanometer technology is on track for volume production later this quarter, with expectations for a faster ramp in 2026 [25][26] - The company is also introducing N2P as an extension of its N2 family, with volume production scheduled for the second half of 2026 [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: AI Demand Growth - Management confirmed that AI demand continues to be strong, with expectations for growth rates potentially exceeding previous mid-forties CAGR guidance [34][35] Question: CapEx Outlook - Management indicated that CapEx will correlate with growth opportunities, and while it is unlikely to drop significantly, it may increase in response to strong demand [38][40] Question: AI Infrastructure and Token Growth - Management acknowledged that token growth is expected to be exponential, and TSMC's technology will enable customers to handle increased demand effectively [78][84] Question: Competition and Strategic Initiatives - TSMC is focusing on Foundry 2.0 to enhance system performance and is working closely with customers to maintain competitive advantages [112][113] Question: Smartphone Demand and Prebuild Concerns - Management expressed no concerns about prebuild inventory levels, indicating that they are currently healthy and at seasonal levels [117]