Chips News & Analysis
11 articles
Market Mood
Apple (AAPL) Names Johny Srouji Chief Hardware Engineer Amid Chip Strategy
Apple (AAPL) has elevated Johny Srouji to Chief Hardware Engineer, effective immediately, following the appointment of John Ternus as CEO starting September 1. This restructuring emphasizes Apple's commitment to in-house chip development, allowing tighter integration of hardware and software. Since joining Apple in 2008, Srouji has been pivotal in reducing reliance on suppliers like Intel and Qualcomm. Analysts from Oppenheimer have highlighted this move as positive for Apple's silicon strategy, especially as artificial intelligence plays a larger role in device capabilities.
Read More
TSMC (TSM) Reports 58% Profit Increase Amid Stock Decline
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM) reported a 58% increase in first-quarter profits, marking a record fourth consecutive quarter of profit growth. Despite this positive result, TSM shares fell approximately 3% on the day of the announcement. The company's gross margins reached 66%, with 61% of revenue from its high-performance computing segment, boosted by AI demand, especially from Nvidia. ASML also faced a decline, with shares dropping 2.5% after strong earnings amid investor concerns about sales to China.
Read More
Tesla (TSLA) Stock Rises 6% Due to AI5 Chip Milestone Progress
Tesla (TSLA) shares increased by over 6% on Wednesday following CEO Elon Musk's announcement of significant progress on the upcoming AI5 chip. The chip has reached a key engineering milestone and is nearing production. Additionally, Tesla and SpaceX plan to establish two chip factories in Austin, Texas. UBS analysts upgraded TSLA from sell to hold, raising the price target to $352 after highlighting a new SUV development as a positive sign for the company's product lineup.
Read More
ASML (ASML) 2026 Sales Forecast Raised to €36-40 Billion
ASML (ASML) raised its 2026 revenue forecast to €36 billion-€40 billion from €34 billion-€39 billion, citing increased AI-driven chip demand. For Q1, ASML reported net sales of €8.8 billion and net income of €2.8 billion, exceeding analyst estimates of €8.5 billion and €2.5 billion respectively. The company guided Q2 net sales between €8.4 billion and €9.0 billion with gross margins of 51%-52%. Additionally, ASML noted significant growth in memory chip sales, which accounted for 51% of new-tool net sales, a rise from 30% previously.
Read More
Meta (META) Partners with Broadcom for 1 GW AI Chip Deployment
Meta (META) announced a partnership with Broadcom (AVGO) for the design of custom AI accelerators, committing to an initial deployment of 1 gigawatt of Training and Inference Accelerators by 2029. Concurrently, Broadcom's CEO Hock Tan will not seek reelection to Meta's board after joining in 2024. The deal aims to scale to multiple gigawatts in future iterations of chips. Following the announcement, Broadcom shares rose by 3% in after-hours trading, while Meta stock remained flat. This partnership is part of Meta's extensive $135 billion commitment to AI development this year.
Read More
Rapidus (XYZ) Secures $4 Billion in Japan Approval for Chips
Japan has approved an additional $4 billion in funding for chipmaker Rapidus (XYZ) to bolster its semiconductor production capabilities. This decision follows the country’s initiative to enhance domestic chip manufacturing amid global shortages. The funding is part of Japan's broader strategy to strengthen its semiconductor industry. This approval could significantly impact supply chains and the technology sector, especially as companies are increasingly looking to secure reliable chip sources.
Read More
Broadcom (AVGO) Stock Could Rise 80% After Specialty Chip Deal
Broadcom (AVGO) has secured a significant deal for its specialty chips. Wall Street analysts project that this development could lead to a stock price increase of up to 80%. This potential rise is important in the context of Broadcom's recent performance and market positioning. Such a significant deal may attract investor interest and influence market perceptions about the company's growth trajectory.
Read More
Samsung (005930) Profit Forecast Jumps 8-Fold on AI Chip Demand
Samsung Electronics (005930) shares increased by as much as 4.8% following a forecast of record quarterly profits. The company projected its operating profit for Q1 to reach 57.2 trillion won ($37.8 billion), an increase from 6.69 trillion won a year ago, surpassing estimates of 42.3 trillion won. Estimated consolidated revenue is projected to surge nearly 70% to 133 trillion won. This growth is attributed to high demand for memory chips used in AI computing, which has caused significant shortages and price increases in the memory market.
Read More
NVIDIA (NVDA) Expects $1 Trillion Chip Sales by Next Year
NVIDIA (NVDA) anticipates $1 trillion in sales from its Blackwell and Vera Rubin chips through next year, driven by demand for agentic AI technologies. Jensen Huang, CEO, stated, 'we've achieved AGI', suggesting imminent productivity gains for companies automating labor. This could reshape profitability across various sectors as investors reevaluate stock selections in response to potential efficiency improvements. The accurate timeframe for the impacts remains uncertain, yet the developments indicate a significant shift in the tech landscape.
Read More
TSMC (TSM) Plans 2028 Launch of 3-Nanometre Chip Production in Japan
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced plans to begin 3-nanometre chip production in Japan by 2028. This strategic expansion is aimed at enhancing its manufacturing capabilities in response to growing global demand for advanced semiconductors. The move may impact market dynamics, given Japan's emphasis on semiconductor resilience and supply chain security. TSMC's investment aligns with broader trends in the tech sector as companies seek to secure microchip supplies in an increasingly competitive environment.
Read More
Nvidia Invests in AI: Partners with Thinking Machines Labs for 1 Gigawatt Chips
Nvidia has announced a deal to supply 1 gigawatt of AI chips as part of a significant investment in Thinking Machines Labs, a competitor to OpenAI. This move underscores Nvidia's commitment to expanding its footprint in the artificial intelligence sector and highlights the growing demand for AI technology in various industries. Analysts anticipate this partnership could bolster Nvidia's position in the market, potentially driving further investment and competition in the AI landscape. As AI applications expand, market players are likely to monitor Nvidia's strategic direction closely, given its influence on chip supply and pricing.
Read More