Apple supplier TSMC predicts sharp rise in Q1 revenue, bets big on 5G demand

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) forecast an up to 45% spike in January-March revenue and raised its capex plan for the year, betting robust demand for 5G smartphones would dial up profits at the world's top contract chipmaker.

The promising outlook from TSMC - a proxy for global tech demand given it has clients like Apple, Qualcomm and Huawei - comes as a strong uptake of 5G smartphones is fuelling an overall recovery in the global smartphone market that has shrunk for the past three years.

TSMC said it expects revenue over January-March to reach $10.2 billion-$10.3 billion, versus $7.1 billion a year ago.

"Moving into first quarter 2020, despite mobile product seasonality, we anticipate our business to be supported by the continued ramp up of 5G smartphones," Chief Financial Officer Wendell Huang said at a briefing on Thursday, after TSMC earlier reported a better-than-expected profit for the fourth quarter.

However, the outlook assumes no disruption caused by the China-U.S. trade war. The world's two largest economies signed an initial trade deal on Wednesday, but with numerous thorny issues still unresolved.

The United States has in particular pressured Huawei, believing it a potential security threat, despite the Chinese company's repeated denials.

"The company sees any disruption will be short-lived and for example commented that smaller telco infrastructure suppliers can quickly pick up the shortfall if Huawei can't deploy 5G as planned," analysts at Bernstein wrote in a note.

"We find that too optimistic and believe the short-term impact will be notable."

TSMC's October-December net profit rose 16.1% year-on-year to T$116.035 billion ($3.88 billion), above an average forecast of T$111.41 billion drawn from 19 analysts by Refinitiv.

Revenue rose 10.6% to $10.39 billion, versus the company's estimate of $10.2 billion to $10.3 billion and an average $10.55 billion estimate from 21 analysts.

"Our fourth-quarter business benefited from strong demand for high-end smartphones, initial 5G deployment and high performance computing related applications using TSMC's industry-leading 7-nanometer technology," Huang said.

The 7-nanometer is one of the most advanced technology TSMC uses for its high-end semiconductors.

TSMC expects the global market for foundry chipmaking - contract chip manufacturing - to grow 17% this year, outstripping an 8% rise in the semiconductor market worldwide.

It raised its estimate for capital expenditure to $15-16 billion for 2020, versus an earlier forecast of a level similar to its estimated capex for 2019, which was $14-15 billion. In the end it spent $14.9 billion in 2019.

RISING SMARTPHONE DEMAND

The higher capex allocation comes amid forecasts for rising smartphone demand. Industry tracker IDC sees global smartphone shipments topping 1.4 billion units in 2020, up 1.5% on year, which should bode well for chipmaker TSMC.

Reflecting growing optimism for the tech sector, TSMC shares hit a record high this month after gaining more than 50% in 2019.

Investor sentiment should get a further boost from a Phase 1 trade deal agreed this week between the United States and China that is expected to defuse their 18-month trade war, which has weighed on the global economy and the tech industry.

"Looking into 2020-21, we believe TSMC's position in advanced technology nodes remains solid given its greater capacity, yield rate control, execution and diversified customer base," KGI analyst Laura Chen wrote in a January report prior to the earnings announcement.

Japan's Nikkei reported this week that the United States had increased pressure on TSMC to make military-use chips there, free from any potential Chinese interference. China claims Taiwan as its own territory.

TSMC declined to comment on the report, reiterating that the company is always evaluating the idea of making chips everywhere.

Company chairman Mark Liu said a decision will be made based on the "best interest" of their clients.

"We listen to our customers as our priority," he said. "In the future, right now, it's too early to say. Our customers prefer us to have the lowest (cost) production site in doing business with us."

To overcome geopolitical changes, TSMC will continue to be the industry's leader so that "people will have to come to you", he added. "That's how we maintain being everyone's foundry."

Shares in TSMC closed down 1.62%, versus a 0.21% fall in the wider market, valuing the company at almost $295 billion, bigger than U.S. rival Intel Corp's $256 billion. It reported results after the market closed.