Semiconductor – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com Latest Crypto News Sun, 13 Jul 2025 21:38:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.7 https://i0.wp.com/earlybirdsinvest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cropped-New-Project-2024-12-17T235703.455.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Semiconductor – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com 32 32 240146708 Prediction: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Is the Safest AI Chip Bet https://earlybirdsinvest.com/prediction-taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-stock-is-the-safest-ai-chip-bet/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/prediction-taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-stock-is-the-safest-ai-chip-bet/#respond Sun, 13 Jul 2025 21:38:14 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/prediction-taiwan-semiconductor-manufacturing-stock-is-the-safest-ai-chip-bet/

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM 0.24%) may not design artificial intelligence (AI) chips, but it’s a company that every AI chipmaker relies on. The AI giants rely on TSMC to manufacture their number-crunching chip designs. That’s why TSMC is the safest long-term play in the AI infrastructure space.

Let’s look at what makes the company so special.

The foundry leader

TSMC is the world’s most advanced semiconductor foundry, and it counts the world’s leading chip designers among its top customers, including Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, Broadcom, and Apple. It has the scale and technological leadership that rivals can’t match. Intel has been burning cash trying to establish its foundry business, while Samsung’s yield issues continue to be an issue. That has given TSMC a huge market share lead in the advanced node market, and it’s not particularly close.

Nodes refer to the size of the transistors used on a chip, measured in nanometers. The smaller the node, the more transistors can be packed onto the chip, which boosts performance and power efficiency. Smaller nodes are becoming a bigger part of TSMC’s mix. Chips made on 7nm and smaller nodes made up 73% of its revenue in the first quarter, up from 65% a year ago. Its 3nm node accounted for 22% of revenue, and Apple has booked much of its 2nm supply for future products. Even Intel has been using TSMC’s 3nm tech for some of its most advanced chips. That says a lot.

TSMC’s clear leadership in the space has also given the company strong pricing power. Between increasing demand and higher prices, this is driving both strong revenue growth and improved gross margins. Last quarter, its revenue jumped 35% to $25.5 billion, led by growth in high-performance computing (HPC). That continued in Q2, with the company reporting preliminary revenue growth of 39% to $31.9 billion, as estimated by Reuters.

Margins remain strong despite new fabs ramping. Gross margin rose 190 basis points to 58.8% in Q1 despite its Arizona and Japan fabs still ramping up and weighing on profitability. TSMC expects these newer facilities to dilute margins by 2 to 3 percentage points this year, but the company is already raising prices to offset the pressure. According to reports, TSMC will increase AI chip prices this year, with Arizona-made chips potentially commanding a 30% premium.

TSMC’s business risks

TSMC is not entirely without risks. Geopolitical tensions around Taiwan will always be part of the story, and it’s not immune to tariffs and policy shifts in the U.S. However, TSMC is already addressing both by expanding its footprint globally. The company has been building new fabs in the U.S., Japan, and Europe in partnership with its largest customers.

However, what makes TSMC the safest AI semiconductor stock is its position in the semiconductor value chain. It ultimately doesn’t matter which company wins the AI chip race. TSMC’s success is tied to overall AI chip demand, not any one company’s products.

AI chip demand isn’t slowing down, either. TSMC previously projected AI-related revenue to grow at a mid-40% compounded average growth rate (CAGR) over the next five years, starting in 2024. It’s also working closely with customers to time its capacity expansion accordingly. With its top customers booking future supply, it has solid visibility into future growth.

Meanwhile, it could see a tailwind beyond AI with autonomous driving. Robotaxis are beginning to take off and gain traction, and all of those vehicles will need to be fitted with advanced chips. It’s still early, but if robotaxis and autonomous driving become commonplace, TSMC will be a big beneficiary.

A semiconductor wafer being manufactured.

A semiconductor wafer being manufactured.

Time to buy the stock

In the AI chip battle, TSMC is essentially the AI arms dealer. It doesn’t need to bet on who will dominate the chip market, because it sells manufacturing services to all of them. For investors who want exposure to AI semiconductors without betting on a single chipmaker, TSMC is the safest way to play it.

The stock is also attractively valued, trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 24 times based on analysts’ 2025 estimates and a price/earnings-to-growth ratio (PEG) of less than 0.7. Stocks with PEG ratios below 1 are typically considered undervalued.

Taken all together, TSMC is one of the best and safest stocks to buy in the semiconductor space right now.

Geoffrey Seiler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Apple, Intel, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: short August 2025 $24 calls on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Taiwan tightens semiconductor export controls on Huawei and SMIC amid US-China tech rivalry https://earlybirdsinvest.com/taiwan-tightens-semiconductor-export-controls-on-huawei-and-smic-amid-us-china-tech-rivalry/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/taiwan-tightens-semiconductor-export-controls-on-huawei-and-smic-amid-us-china-tech-rivalry/#respond Sun, 15 Jun 2025 12:50:26 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/taiwan-tightens-semiconductor-export-controls-on-huawei-and-smic-amid-us-china-tech-rivalry/

Taiwan has intensified its technology export controls by blacklisting two of China’s foremost semiconductor companies, Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), amid escalating tensions in the global tech sector. 

The updated Strategic High-Tech Commodities Entity List, released by Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, now includes both firms along with several of their subsidiaries, requiring Taiwanese companies to obtain government approval before exporting any products to them. Neither Huawei nor SMIC issued an immediate response to their inclusion.

This move effectively cuts off Huawei and SMIC from accessing advanced semiconductor technologies produced in Taiwan, undermining their efforts to compete with major US chipmakers such as Nvidia. The decision comes as part of a broader strategy, aligned with US-led restrictions, to limit China’s advances in the chipmaking sector.

The complex geopolitical backdrop behind Taiwan

China asserts sovereignty over Taiwan and has threatened military action to achieve unification, while the US and most other countries do not recognize Taiwan as an independent state but oppose any forcible annexation and support Taiwan’s defensive capabilities.

New restrictions will further seal loopholes and reduce collaboration between Chinese firms and Taiwanese tech companies, compounding existing US export bans on mainland tech leaders and exacerbating the production challenges both Huawei and SMIC were already facing.

Both companies have been central to China’s push for self-sufficiency in semiconductor manufacturing, especially after the successful launch of a domestically developed 7-nanometer chip in Huawei’s Mate 60 smartphone line in 2023. This development prompted scrutiny in Washington about the effectiveness of existing sanctions. 

The US has also pressured Taiwan and its companies, including TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, to restrict access to advanced chipmaking technologies for mainland clients.

Semiconductor chips’ role in Bitcoin mining

Semiconductor chips are the backbone of crypto mining, particularly for Bitcoin. Mining relies heavily on specialized chips known as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), which are engineered to execute the complex cryptographic calculations required for mining with maximum efficiency. 

Bitcoin’s SHA-256 algorithm, for example, is processed most effectively by ASIC chips, which can perform trillions of calculations per second, far outpacing general-purpose CPUs or GPUs. This specialization allows miners to solve cryptographic puzzles faster and more efficiently, earning rewards for solving blocks and securing the blockchain. 

High-performance chips like these are crucial for maintaining profitability and competitiveness in the mining industry, especially as mining difficulty increases and energy costs rise.

Taiwan’s latest export controls further isolate China’s leading chipmakers from global technology supply chains, reinforcing the strategic importance of semiconductor production in both geopolitics and emerging industries like crypto mining and AI.

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Should You Invest $1,000 in Taiwan Semiconductor Stock Today? https://earlybirdsinvest.com/should-you-invest-1000-in-taiwan-semiconductor-stock-today/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/should-you-invest-1000-in-taiwan-semiconductor-stock-today/#respond Sat, 07 Jun 2025 13:32:47 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/should-you-invest-1000-in-taiwan-semiconductor-stock-today/ Taiwan Semiconductor has been a huge winner over the last 10 years, and the company’s future looks brighter than ever.

During the month of May, stocks started exhibiting some much-needed resilience. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indexes rose by 5% and 8%, respectively.

After bearing the brunt of precipitous sell-offs early this year, semiconductor stocks have started to stage a comeback. Last month, shares of Nvidia and Broadcom climbed by more than 20%, while Advanced Micro Devices surged by roughly 15%.

Lagging behind the usual suspects, however, was Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM 0.84%). While the stock’s 12% gains beat the broader market, they still trail the chip industry’s leading names.

Below, I’ll delve into why Taiwan Semi looks like a great buy right now. From there, I’ll illustrate how a $1,000 investment could wind up being a multibagger for patient, disciplined investors.

A hidden gem in a sea of semiconductor stocks

Nvidia and AMD design chipsets known as graphics processing units (GPU). GPUs have the capability to run sophisticated calculations at fast speeds, which gives them an edge over traditional compute processes when it comes to developing generative AI applications.

Cloud hyperscalers such as Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon, as well as big tech giants Meta Platforms and Oracle, have been buying GPUs in droves over the last few years in an effort to build out data centers and infrastructure services. While the robust demand for chips directly benefits Nvidia and AMD, Taiwan Semi has been an indirect beneficiary of these tailwinds.

The reason? Because Taiwan Semi specializes in foundry services that actually manufacture the chip designs from Nvidia, AMD, and many others. In other words, the largest data center businesses in the world rely heavily on Taiwan Semi’s fabrication business.

A piggybank taking off like a rocket ship.

Image source: Getty Images.

Taiwan Semi is positioned for monster growth

In the chart below, I’ve illustrated Taiwan Semi’s revenue, gross profit, and net income over the last three years. As the slopes of the lines indicate, TSMC’s sales and profitability profile are both steepening.

TSM Revenue (TTM) Chart

TSM Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts

To me, this signals two things. First, demand for chips is on the rise — hence the revenue line is rising. However, the more lucrative trend is that gross margin and net income are accelerating in parallel with sales. This suggests that Taiwan Semi has achieved a fair degree of pricing power relative to competitors such as Intel.

Considering AI infrastructure spend is expected to eclipse multiple trillions over the next five years, I don’t see Taiwan Semi’s growth prospects decelerating anytime soon.

Should you invest $1,000 in TSMC stock?

It’s worth noting that technology investors Cathie Wood and Stanley Druckenmiller each recently added Taiwan Semi stock to their firms’ respective portfolios. While blindly following institutional capital flows isn’t necessarily a prudent strategy, I do think TSMC’s long-term prospects earn some more credibility thanks to the recent buys by such prominent investors.

In the chart below, I’ve illustrated how a $1,000 investment in Taiwan Semi stock 10 years ago is now worth approximately $8,500. Achieving almost a tenfold return in 10 years is impressive — even for a growth stock.

TSM Chart

TSM data by YCharts

There are a couple of important ideas to take away from the chart above. First, the trends clearly show that like many of its peers, TSMC stock has kicked into a new gear over the last couple of years thanks to a bullish AI narrative. Hence, the share price gains following the sell-off in 2022 appear overly pronounced.

Here’s the thing, though: Had you invested $1,000 in Taiwan Semi stock on Nov. 30, 2022 (the day ChatGPT was commercially launched), you would have doubled your money. This underscores the idea that holding on to a stock for long-term periods (i.e. 10 years or more) can lead to outsized gains compared to shorter-term, volatile periods.

I think now is a great time to invest $1,000 in Taiwan Semi stock. The company’s future growth prospects are arguably far more robust than they were 10 years ago, making now an interesting time to begin accumulating shares for a long-run position.

Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Adam Spatacco has positions in Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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After Saying Selling Nvidia Stock Was a "Big Mistake," Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller Just Increased His Fund's Stake by 457% in This Other Artificial Intelligence (AI) Semiconductor Stock https://earlybirdsinvest.com/after-saying-selling-nvidia-stock-was-a-big-mistake-billionaire-stanley-druckenmiller-just-increased-his-funds-stake-by-457-in-this-other-artificial-intelligence-ai-semiconductor/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/after-saying-selling-nvidia-stock-was-a-big-mistake-billionaire-stanley-druckenmiller-just-increased-his-funds-stake-by-457-in-this-other-artificial-intelligence-ai-semiconductor/#respond Thu, 29 May 2025 14:51:20 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/after-saying-selling-nvidia-stock-was-a-big-mistake-billionaire-stanley-druckenmiller-just-increased-his-funds-stake-by-457-in-this-other-artificial-intelligence-ai-semiconductor/ Stanley Druckenmiller of the Duquesne Family Office may have just found his next big opportunity in the artificial intelligence (AI) chip market.

It’s easy to think that institutional money managers somehow possess knowledge that’s superior to the rest of the investment community. After all, these billionaires are called “smart money” for a reason.

What I find helpful, though, is when portfolio managers admit that they may have made a mistake. To me, this sheds light into how these investors think, and what strategies they may hone in order to mitigate making the same oversight.

Stanley Druckenmiller of the Duquesne Family Office admitted that he sold Nvidia stock far too early — going as far as to say that he made a “big mistake” in doing so.

Since making these comments, Druckenmiller has definitely had multiple chances to get back on the Nvidia train. After all, Cathie Wood of Ark Invest did just that after she too sold the semiconductor darling prior to its epic rally a couple of years ago. Nevertheless, recent filings indicate that Druckenmiller may have accepted his decision with Nvidia and is seeking opportunity elsewhere.

Let’s dig into the new artificial intelligence (AI) chip stock that the Duquesne Family Office just increased its stake in by a whopping 457%. Now may be a lucrative time to follow Druckenmiller’s lead.

What AI stock did Druckenmiller just buy?

Per its most recent 13F filing, the Duquesne Family Office recently plowed into Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM 0.72%) stock. In the table, I’ve summarized the fund’s position in TSMC over the last year:

Category Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 Q1 2025
Shares owned 0 0 57,355 107,515 598,780

Data source: Hedge Follow. Table by author.

Sometimes when a hedge fund increases its position in a particular stock, you can begin identifying a pattern by looking at prior filings. In this case, however, I don’t think these dynamics really hold up.

A year ago, Druckenmiller’s portfolio had zero exposure to Taiwan Semi. And while the firm did buy the stock during the previous two quarters, the position itself was relatively nominal. Looked at a different way, the most recent purchase of TSMC stock during Q1 is a clear outlier compared to the previous two quarters.

Why might Druckenmiller like Taiwan Semiconductor stock?

While Taiwan Semi might not receive nearly as much coverage as Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, or Broadcom, don’t be fooled by its quiet reputation.

Companies such as Nvidia, AMD, Broadcom, Amazon, Qualcomm, Apple, and many more all design or buy chips and integrated network equipment for AI data centers. Where TSMC comes into play is that they actually manufacture the equipment that is designed by these companies.

So while Nvidia and its cohorts get to sell the best shovels that money can buy during the AI gold rush, Taiwan Semi is in the background actually making the shovels. In other words, a good chunk of the AI chip opportunity hinges on TSMC’s ability to manufacture these products.

What’s even more encouraging is that Taiwan Semi is investing heavily into infrastructure in an effort to maintain its lead over the competition. The company has already built factories here in the U.S., and has plans to double down on this initiative over the next few years. These investments are strategic, as they should allow for more efficiencies and improved supply chain logistics with domestic chip partners — a strategy that I think will further cement TSMC’s market share lead.

TSM Revenue Estimates for Current Fiscal Year Chart

TSM Revenue Estimates for Current Fiscal Year data by YCharts

Wall Street seems to be bullish on Taiwan Semi, too. Per these estimates, analysts are forecasting impressive growth across both revenue and profits for TSMC over the next few years. I see these projections as a proxy for continued robust demand for AI chips, and Taiwan Semi’s ability to win business over the competition such as Intel or Samsung.

A person working on the assembly line of a chip manufacturing facility.

Image source: Getty Images.

Is Taiwan Semi stock a buy right now?

Right now, Taiwan Semiconductor’s shares trade at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 20.8 — essentially identical to its five-year average. Given how influential TSMC’s foundry services are to the broader chip narrative, it’s a little perplexing to see the company’s forward valuation ratios trading in line with levels prior to the AI revolution.

I think the recent valuation compression in TSMC can be attributed to two primary factors: uncertainty around tariff policies and geopolitical tensions with China.

TSM PE Ratio (Forward) Chart

TSM PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts

While I’ll acknowledge both as potential risk factors, I think the bearish narrative surrounding each of them is overblown. Despite ongoing trade negotiations, demand for AI infrastructure remains incredibly high. These dynamics bode well for TSMC. Moreover, if management were questioning the long-term growth trajectory of the company, I’d be suspicious that it would be looking to expand its footprint beyond Asia.

To me, Taiwan Semiconductor is humming along just fine — and I don’t see its tailwinds slowing down anytime soon. For these reasons, investors may want to follow Druckenmiller’s lead and take advantage of Taiwan Semi’s attractive price levels right now.

More importantly, unlike what Druckenmiller did with Nvidia, TSMC looks primed for years to come, and growth investors may want to hold on tight for the long haul.

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Adam Spatacco has positions in Amazon, Apple, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Amazon, Apple, Intel, Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: short August 2025 $24 calls on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Semiconductor exemptions don’t matter when it comes to tariffs https://earlybirdsinvest.com/semiconductor-exemptions-dont-matter-when-it-comes-to-tariffs/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/semiconductor-exemptions-dont-matter-when-it-comes-to-tariffs/#respond Thu, 22 May 2025 15:32:31 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/semiconductor-exemptions-dont-matter-when-it-comes-to-tariffs/

Opinion by: Ahmad Shadid of O.xyz

Semiconductors scored a rare exemption from US President Donald Trump’s aggressive reciprocal tariffs, but the relief is symbolic at best. Most semiconductors enter the US embedded in servers, GPUs, laptops, and smartphones. 

The finished goods remain heavily tariffed, some with duties reaching up to 49%. The exemption looks good politically but delivers little practical benefit. Nvidia’s DGX systems, crucial for training advanced AI models, do not fall under the exempted HTS codes. Nvidia could pay effective tariffs nearing 40% on these vital components. Such costs threaten to stall critical AI infrastructure projects across the country. 

Semiconductor tariffs may compromise the goal of the CHIPS Act. The act promised tens of billions of dollars in subsidies to support domestic chip manufacturing. Yet advanced lithography machines — key equipment from countries like the Netherlands and Japan — face 20%–24% tariffs. Ironically, tariffs designed to boost American production increase the cost of essential manufacturing equipment.

The effect of new tariffs is already slowing progress in critical supply chains — just as generative AI and large language models are gaining momentum across sectors like finance and defense. Any delays or cost increases now could blunt America’s technological advantage.

Indirect costs undermine exemptions for AI

Modern semiconductor supply chains are global and highly integrated. An exemption on raw silicon means nothing when servers, GPUs and other finished products face steep tariffs. Tariffs indirectly inflate costs, eliminating any competitive advantage from domestic manufacturing.

Indirect tariff costs hit high-end systems disproportionately hard. The effect ripples through AI model training, data center expansions and major infrastructure projects, significantly slowing the industry’s momentum.

Tariff impasse halts investment

So far, it’s clear that the US president’s tariff plan didn’t follow any conventional economic trends or calculated strategy. The uncertain tariff situation stalls investment decisions across the technology sector. Companies need predictable costs to justify large capital expenditures. Ongoing tariff volatility prevents them from committing resources to new data centers and manufacturing lines.

This mirrors the supply chain chaos of 2020. At that time, uncertainty caused massive order cancellations and slowed industry recovery for years. If tariff ambiguity continues, we could see similar waves of cancellations in 2025. This would further compound existing inventory and revenue issues in the semiconductor sector.

Domestic production is not optimal

The border argument for these tariffs is that they’re meant to boost domestic production. They do little, however, to encourage genuine domestic semiconductor production. Despite subsidies under the CHIPS Act, most US semiconductor companies still rely on international foundries for manufacturing. Instead, they face increased equipment and operational costs.

Recent: How trade wars impact stocks and crypto

The idea that tariffs promote domestic production ignores the reality of global semiconductor manufacturing. Costs rise across the board, putting American companies at a disadvantage rather than offering protection.

AI projects face heightened risk

The blockchain and crypto sectors, particularly AI-driven projects, also feel the pinch. Projects depend heavily on GPUs and high-performance servers for mining, validating transactions and running decentralized AI computations. Increased hardware costs directly affect profitability and growth, potentially stalling innovation in blockchain applications. 

AI developments have just started to pick up the pace in the blockchain and Web3 space. The industry saw increased interest from investors and VCs just a year ago. So, they are still on tighter budgets. Elevated costs can, however, lead to stagnation. We might see innovators and developers exiting the market. The ripple effect extends beyond the general technology sector and could threaten future digital economies. 

Moreover, these cost pressures disproportionately affect startups and smaller tech firms. Industry giants can absorb additional expenses, but innovative, smaller players face existential threats. This dynamic risks stifling innovation at the grassroots level, harming the entire tech ecosystem.

What to expect 

Semiconductors have momentarily escaped direct tariffs, but the exemption provides little benefit. Tariffs continue to hit finished products, driving up indirect costs across the industry. Instead of boosting domestic manufacturing, these tariffs create economic paralysis, stall critical infrastructure projects, and threaten America’s lead in AI innovation. Policymakers must acknowledge these realities and adjust their approach before irreversible damage is done to the nation’s technological future.

Opinion by: Ahmad Shadid of O.xyz.

This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

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Why Lattice Semiconductor Stock Got Rocked on Tuesday https://earlybirdsinvest.com/why-lattice-semiconductor-stock-got-rocked-on-tuesday/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/why-lattice-semiconductor-stock-got-rocked-on-tuesday/#respond Wed, 07 May 2025 00:08:30 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/why-lattice-semiconductor-stock-got-rocked-on-tuesday/

It’s safe to say Lattice Semiconductor (LSCC -10.03%) investors did not have a Tuesday they would like to remember. Their stock fell by more than 10% in price that trading session, the cause being an uninspiring quarterly earnings report. That decline was significantly steeper than the 0.8% slide of the bellwether S&P 500 (^GSPC -0.77%).

Expected declines

Lattice’s first quarter revenue was just under $120.2 million, which represented a concerning year-over-year drop of almost 15%. On the bottom line, the fall was more pronounced, with non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) adjusted net income sliding nearly 24% to $30.7 million, or $0.22 per share.

Person in wheelchair looking unhappy while wielding a laptop.

Image source: Getty Images.

Despite the declines, both headline metrics broadly met analyst expectations. The consensus pundit expectation for revenue was $120.1 million, while that for adjusted profitability was the achieved $0.22 per share.

In the earnings release, Lattice sounded a hopeful and optimistic tone for its future. It quoted CFO Lorenzo Flores as saying: “The prior realignment of our resources, coupled with our resilient supply chain and global customer base, position us well. We’re maintaining disciplined control over operating expenses while continuing to focus on execution.”

Guidance was in line too

Lattice proffered fairly comprehensive guidance for its current (second quarter). The company said it expects to book $118.5 million to $128.5 million in revenue, and adjusted net income ranging from $0.22 to $0.26 per share. The consensus analyst estimates fit within these ranges, with projections of $123.6 million on the top line and $0.24 for adjusted, per-share profitability.

In the earnings release, Lattice didn’t directly address how it might get its growth train restarted, which was likely a factor in the negative investor reaction. If the company can’t hit this goal, we can expect many market players to continue shunning the stock.

Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Better Semiconductor Stock: Intel vs. Nvidia https://earlybirdsinvest.com/better-semiconductor-stock-intel-vs-nvidia/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/better-semiconductor-stock-intel-vs-nvidia/#respond Mon, 21 Apr 2025 16:05:24 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/better-semiconductor-stock-intel-vs-nvidia/

The semiconductor sector is growing rapidly thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), making it a great area to invest in. The industry saw 19% year-over-year revenue growth to $627 billion in 2024, and is forecast to hit $981 billion by 2029.

Two giants of the industry to consider investing in are Intel (INTC -3.38%) and Nvidia (NVDA -5.45%). The former enjoyed decades of dominance in the PC arena. The latter flourished as its semiconductor chips proved popular for AI.

Reasons exist to buy shares in one or the other. But which might be the better semiconductor investment for the long haul? Here’s a look at Intel and Nvidia to answer that question.

Intel’s pros and cons

One factor making Intel a compelling investment is that its shares look undervalued. The stock’s price-to-book (P/B) ratio was 0.87 at the time of writing, and this indicates shares are valued lower than Intel’s assets.

The semiconductor veteran’s bargain stock price is the result of a challenging 2024 fiscal year, which ended Dec. 28. Revenue for the year fell to $53.1 billion from $54.2 billion in the 2023 fiscal year. That’s a disappointing result for a semiconductor giant amid the AI boom.

One reason for the sales drop was the poor performance of Intel’s foundry business. While both Intel and Nvidia produce semiconductor chips, Intel owns foundries that manufacture its chips. Nvidia is a fabless chipmaker, meaning it outsources the fabrication of its semiconductor products.

Intel’s fiscal 2024 foundry revenue dropped to $17.5 billion from $18.9 billion in 2023. At the same time, costs increased, and this double whammy squeezed Intel’s gross margin, which dropped to 32.7% in fiscal 2024 compared to 40% in the prior year. As a result, the company exited fiscal 2024 with a net loss of $19.2 billion.

But not all is doom and gloom for Intel. The company has begun manufacturing chips for other companies. Microsoft and Amazon are among its customers as both seek to use custom chips to power their AI ambitions.

Outside its foundry business, Intel’s semiconductor products saw 3% year-over-year revenue growth to $48.9 billion in fiscal 2024. Its latest PC chip, dubbed Panther Lake, debuts later this year, and that should boost Intel’s product sales in fiscal 2025.

Reasons to consider Nvidia

Nvidia may not manufacture its chips, but its leadership in AI chipset designs won over customers to the tune of $130.5 billion in revenue during its 2025 fiscal year, ended Jan. 26. This represented a 114% year-over-year increase.

Because it’s not weighed down by the costs of running a foundry, Nvidia’s gross margin was a strong 75% in fiscal 2025, up from 72.7% in the prior year. Consequently, net income increased 145% year over year to $72.9 billion.

Nvidia’s financials are strong, and so is its latest AI tech. In March, the company unveiled the Blackwell Ultra platform. This product is so powerful, it enables AI to “explore different solutions to problems and break down complex requests into multiple steps, resulting in higher-quality responses,” according to the company.

As a result, the Blackwell Ultra brings AI systems closer to mimicking human thinking, going beyond simply identifying patterns in data to contemplating what the best answer to a problem might be. This advancement ushers in what’s referred to as the age of AI reasoning, the next evolution of artificial intelligence.

To meet this higher level of AI aptitude, companies require more powerful computing capabilities. That’s where Blackwell Ultra comes in. Tech titans, including Microsoft and Amazon, already are adopting Blackwell Ultra.

Picking between Intel and Nvidia

In weighing Intel against Nvidia, the former’s stock looks like a bargain, but its business performance is underwhelming. For instance, Intel estimates between $11.7 billion and $12.7 billion in fiscal first-quarter revenue. The company generated $12.7 billion in the prior year, so Intel doesn’t expect sales growth this Q1.

Meanwhile, Nvidia anticipates its strong growth streak to continue this year. Fiscal Q1 sales are expected to hit $43 billion, a 65% increase over the previous year’s $26 billion.

In addition, recent stock market volatility pushed down Nvidia’s share price, which made its valuation more attractive. Here’s a look at the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio for both companies to assess their stock valuations.

NVDA PS Ratio Chart

Data by YCharts.

Nvidia’s P/S ratio hovers near a low point for the past year. Intel’s P/S multiple is far below its rival’s, but its poor business performance doesn’t warrant a high valuation.

Intel could become a turnaround story. The company brought on a new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, in March. But even if Tan pulls off the turnaround that’s eluded Intel under previous leadership, it could take years.

In contrast, Nvidia is firing on all cylinders, and its Blackwell architecture looks to fuel more growth as AI tech evolves. For these reasons, Nvidia is the superior semiconductor stock to invest in for the long term.

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Robert Izquierdo has positions in Amazon, Intel, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Intel, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft, and short May 2025 $30 calls on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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TSMC: Why This Semiconductor Giant Looks Like a Massive Bargain Right Now https://earlybirdsinvest.com/tsmc-why-this-semiconductor-giant-looks-like-a-massive-bargain-right-now/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/tsmc-why-this-semiconductor-giant-looks-like-a-massive-bargain-right-now/#respond Thu, 17 Apr 2025 06:35:32 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/tsmc-why-this-semiconductor-giant-looks-like-a-massive-bargain-right-now/

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM -3.59%), popularly known as TSMC, is the world’s largest semiconductor foundry, which fabricates chips for the top consumer electronics companies and chip designers across the globe. That explains why it has been growing at an impressive pace over the past couple of years.

The world’s leading companies, such as Nvidia, AMD, Broadcom, Sony, and Apple, tap TSMC’s plants for manufacturing chips that power personal computers (PCs), smartphones, data centers, and gaming consoles, among others. As a result, TSMC is in a solid position to benefit from the secular growth of the global semiconductor market, which is expected to hit $2 trillion in annual revenue in 2032.

That would be more than triple the $656 billion in revenue that the semiconductor industry generated last year. However, TSMC stock has been caught in the tariff turmoil of late, which explains why it is down more than 20% in 2025 as of this writing. But this pullback has made TSMC a terrific bargain.

Let’s look at the reasons why buying TSMC looks like a no-brainer right now.

TSMC is making the right moves to maintain its dominance

TSMC enjoys a massive lead in the foundry market with an estimated share of 67%, according to Counterpoint Research. That figure has been heading higher in recent quarters. Specifically, TSMC’s foundry market share increased by six percentage points in 2024. Meanwhile, second-placed Samsung lost ground in this market as its share shrank by three points to 11%.

A key reason why TSMC has been able to open such a huge gap over rivals in the foundry market is because of its technological advantage. TSMC’s advanced process nodes allow its customers to manufacture powerful and power-efficient chips. For example, TSMC’s 3-nanometer (nm) node is considered to be the most advanced chip manufacturing technology.

This process node is being used to manufacture smartphone chips and PC processors by the likes of AMD, MediaTek, Apple, and Qualcomm. Now, it looks like Nvidia will tap TSMC’s 3nm process node to manufacture its next-generation Rubin graphics processing units (GPUs). Looking ahead, TSMC is looking to push the envelope further in chip manufacturing technology with the 2-nanometer process.

The company is expected to start mass-producing its 2nm processors in the second half of this year, which could put it ahead of rivals Samsung and Intel. Meanwhile, TSMC is also looking to diversify its global presence. The company has pledged an investment of $165 billion in the U.S. to build advanced chip manufacturing facilities that will power artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

It is worth noting that TSMC already fabricates chips for the leading AI semiconductor companies such as Nvidia, Broadcom, and Marvell, and its focus on boosting investments in advanced technologies should allow it to maintain its dominant position in the global foundry market. Additionally, TSMC’s strategy of diversifying its global manufacturing footprint in countries such as Japan, the U.S., and Europe could turn out to be a smart move in the long run as it could help it mitigate the challenges arising out of potential trade-related conflicts, such as the one we are witnessing right now.

So, it won’t be surprising to see TSMC remaining the top semiconductor foundry for a long time to come, and that’s expected to translate into robust financial growth for the company.

A huge addressable market suggests TSMC is built for healthy growth

TSMC finished 2024 with $90 billion in revenue, an improvement of 30% from the prior year. The company has got off to a stronger start in 2025, recording a solid 42% jump in revenue in the first three months of the year to $25.6 billion. That’s better than what the market was anticipating. Analysts expect TSMC’s growth to gain momentum as the year progresses, as evident from the chart below.

TSM Revenue Estimates for Current Fiscal Year Chart

TSM Revenue Estimates for Current Fiscal Year data by YCharts

What’s more, the chart above also tells us that TSMC is on track to deliver robust growth over the next couple of years as well. Importantly, it won’t be surprising to see the company sustaining its solid growth for a much longer period in light of the points discussed in the article. The semiconductor market is set to grow at an impressive pace, and TSMC itself sees a total addressable market worth almost $250 billion in its foundry and packaging services.

That figure could be bigger in the future as the size of the semiconductor market keeps growing. Not surprisingly, TSMC management expects to maintain an annual revenue growth rate of 20% for the next five years, which should translate into robust bottom-line growth as well. All this makes TSMC a top semiconductor stock to buy right now as it is trading at just 22 times trailing earnings and 17 times forward earnings, which is a nice discount to the tech-laden Nasdaq-100 index’s forward earnings multiple of 27 (using the index as a proxy for tech stocks).

Harsh Chauhan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Apple, Intel, Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and Marvell Technology and recommends the following options: short May 2025 $30 calls on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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As Trade Wars Heat Up Over Trump's Tariffs, Is Taiwan Semiconductor Stock Still a Buy Before April 17? https://earlybirdsinvest.com/as-trade-wars-heat-up-over-trumps-tariffs-is-taiwan-semiconductor-stock-still-a-buy-before-april-17/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/as-trade-wars-heat-up-over-trumps-tariffs-is-taiwan-semiconductor-stock-still-a-buy-before-april-17/#respond Wed, 16 Apr 2025 13:08:22 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/as-trade-wars-heat-up-over-trumps-tariffs-is-taiwan-semiconductor-stock-still-a-buy-before-april-17/ Semiconductor stocks are selling off as Trump’s tariff agenda sparks ongoing tensions among trade partners. Is this an opportunity to buy Taiwan Semi?

Generally speaking, stock prices move based on reactions to quarterly earnings or economic indicators such as inflation or unemployment rates. At the moment, those variables have taken a back seat to another gigantic topic: swaying investor sentiment.

Of course, I’m referencing President Trump’s tariff policies. With earnings season quickly approaching, investors are surely going to be dialing in to earnings calls to hear what corporate executives have to say about how tariffs are impacting their businesses.

Let’s explore how the narrative around Trump’s tariffs have already impacted the stock market — and in particular, the technology sector. From there, I’ll hone in on semiconductor stocks and explore if Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM 1.03%) looks like a good buy right now as the company’s earnings come into focus on April 17.

Trump’s tariff policies are rocking the stock market, and big tech is really feeling the pressure

President Trump announced his new tariff agenda on April 2, calling the high-profile event “Liberation Day.” Since then, the S&P 500 (^GSPC -0.17%) and Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC -0.05%) have each fallen by more than 10% at the lowest levels. In addition, megacap growth stocks in the technology sector have been feeling quite a bit of pressure.

At the moment, the allure of artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t enough to entice wary investors. As the chart illustrates, the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF, which tracks the movements of “Magnificent Seven” stocks Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Tesla, Meta Platforms, Alphabet, and Amazon, is down about 5% since April 2.

^SPX Chart

^SPX data by YCharts

Chip stocks have been particularly vulnerable

While this analysis sheds light on how the tariff narrative is impacting leading technology stocks, it doesn’t do much to help us understand how Trump’s new policies are affecting the semiconductor industry.

The reason I am focused on semiconductors is twofold. First, chips play an integral role in the development of generative AI. In addition, chip companies such as Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, and many more outsource much of their manufacturing to Taiwan Semiconductor.

These tariffs have already sparked quite a bit of tension among international trade partners with the U.S. Given that many American technology companies rely on the sophisticated fabrication services from Taiwan Semi, ongoing negotiations around what specific goods are subject to tariffs could take a toll on near-term business prospects.

SMH Chart

SMH data by YCharts

As the graph indicates, chip stocks haven’t fared so well over the last couple of weeks. Among the stocks I’ve outlined, TSMC is the second-worst performing stock in this peer set, with a drop of 8.5% since April 2.

Taiwan Semi corporate office.

Image source: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing.

Should you buy the dip in TSMC stock right now?

I can understand if the sell-off in the stock market right now is disorienting to investors. That said, there are a few things on my mind as a long-term investor.

Unlike other forms of legislation and regulatory affairs, tariff policies don’t always need intermediary approvals from Congress. For this reason, tariffs can generally be imposed or reversed pretty quickly. This dynamic can be a positive or a negative, depending on the situation.

For example, the Trump administration could choose to impose very specific types of tariffs around certain aspects of semiconductor products or certain countries that manufacture and export them to the U.S. Given how fast these policies can change, it’s natural for investors to become bogged down by all the uncertainty.

With that said, I see a silver lining hiding among all of this hoopla. According to the National Economic Council leadership, the Trump administration is currently in negotiations with 130 countries around the tariffs. I’m cautiously optimistic that these trade talks are a good signal for what’s to come down the road.

Said another way, I see the tariffs as a bargaining chip to renegotiate trade relations. As such, the near-term uncertainty has caused widespread panic in the capital markets. However, the long-term results could be much more positive if the U.S. is able to hammer out some new trade deals.

While the day-to-day talks and negotiations will likely dominate news headlines, I wouldn’t focus too much on that right now. Instead, I’d encourage investors to focus on the moves big tech is making.

So far this year, there have been a number of large-scale AI infrastructure projects announced, including over $300 billion from Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Alphabet, as well as a $500 billion commitment from Apple. Investment in AI doesn’t appear to be going away, and I see ongoing spending from big tech as a catalyst for TSMC’s services in the long-run.

While I suspect the markets will continue to witness volatility as the tariff situation unfolds in the near term, I think the current dip in Taiwan Semi stock is too good to pass up right now. Therefore, I would encourage investors to consider buying Taiwan Semi shares as earnings season fast approaches.

Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Adam Spatacco has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nebius Group, Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Crypto markets slightly rebound as Trump excludes smartphones, laptops, semiconductor machines from reciprocal tariffs https://earlybirdsinvest.com/crypto-markets-slightly-rebound-as-trump-excludes-smartphones-laptops-semiconductor-machines-from-reciprocal-tariffs/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/crypto-markets-slightly-rebound-as-trump-excludes-smartphones-laptops-semiconductor-machines-from-reciprocal-tariffs/#respond Sun, 13 Apr 2025 23:03:03 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/crypto-markets-slightly-rebound-as-trump-excludes-smartphones-laptops-semiconductor-machines-from-reciprocal-tariffs/

In the latest round of the Trump tariff saga that has economists around the world on the edge of their seats, the U.S. released updated guidelines on Friday exempting specific technology devices, such as laptops, smartphones, and machines needed to make semiconductors, from reciprocal tariffs imposed by the U.S.

The new tariff guidelines exclude a range of electronics, including laptops, semiconductors, solar cells, flat-panel displays, flash drives, memory cards, and solid-state drives. However, while these products are currently exempt, future duties remain possible.

China’s Ministry of Commerce called the exemptions “a small step by the U.S. towards rectifying the misguided approach of unilateral ‘reciprocal tariffs’” and added that Beijing was still reviewing its impact.

The Ministry took the opportunity to repeat its heavy criticism of the U.S. tariffs, insisting that Washington was “severely disrupting the international economic and trade order” and “harming others without benefiting itself.” It also called on the U.S. to:

“Take a significant step towards rectification, completely abandon the erroneous ‘reciprocal tariffs’, and return to the right path of mutual respect and resolving differences through equal dialogue.”

145% tariffs hit tech companies like Apple particularly hard

The exemption provides temporary relief to companies like Apple, which manufactures over 90% of its products in China, including iPads and Mac computers. Without the exemptions, Apple may have had to increase the price of its U.S.-sold iPhones by up to 85% to maintain profit margins.

The company had already taken emergency measures by chartering flights to ship millions of iPhones from India to the U.S., aiming to mitigate the impact of potential tariffs. The Economic Times of India wrote:

“Apple’s relationship with China, where it makes up to nine out of ten of its iPhones, turned Donald Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” into six days of hell for the tech company.”

Despite the rally, Apple faces an uphill climb

Despite efforts to diversify manufacturing to countries like India and Vietnam, Apple’s dependency on China’s well-established ecosystem remains. Rebuilding its intricate supply chains elsewhere could take decades, and manufacturing iPhones entirely in the U.S. is impractical due to labor shortages and costs.

The memes circulating on social media are entertaining but speak volumes about the reality that American reindustrialization can’t happen overnight.

Trump critics remain unreserved in their commentary, including Ed Krassenstein, a political commentator and creator of KrassenCast, who said:

“It’s almost getting comical at this point. Trump literally said there would be “no exemptions” to his reciprocal tariffs and MAGA cheered… Now, suddenly he’s backtracking again and adding a bunch of exemptions to his reciprocal tariffs. And MAGA is cheering yet again.”

Political commentator Keith Olbermann posted:

“Trump: Tariffs are perfect and beautiful and mandatory, and I won’t back down. Also, Trump: here are 37,498 tariff exemptions for companies who’ve greased me.”

Meanwhile, crypto markets reacted favorably to the news, with Bitcoin reaching $86,000 for the first time since ‘Liberation Day’ on April 2. It may be worth getting the popcorn ready as we gear up for a new week. The next round of tariff actions is about to take off.

Bitcoin Market Data

At the time of press 10:03 pm UTC on Apr. 13, 2025, Bitcoin is ranked #1 by market cap and the price is down 2.43% over the past 24 hours. Bitcoin has a market capitalization of $1.66 trillion with a 24-hour trading volume of $28.38 billion. Learn more about Bitcoin ›

Crypto Market Summary

At the time of press 10:03 pm UTC on Apr. 13, 2025, the total crypto market is valued at at $2.64 trillion with a 24-hour volume of $75.32 billion. Bitcoin dominance is currently at 62.64%. Learn more about the crypto market ›

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