Citi maintains Buy on Taiwan Semi, sees tech migration upside

Published 24/05/2025, 11:10
Citi maintains Buy on Taiwan Semi, sees tech migration upside

On Friday, Citi reiterated its Buy rating on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE:TSM), expressing confidence in the company’s future due to its technological advancements and strategic positioning. With a market capitalization of $851 billion and impressive revenue growth of ~40% over the last twelve months, TSMC stands as a semiconductor industry giant. According to InvestingPro data, analysts maintain a strong buy consensus, suggesting significant upside potential. TSMC, which participated in the Citi Taiwan Tech Conference on May 21, discussed various topics of interest with clients, including the progression of its 2nm technology, the growth of AI and Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS), and capital expenditure forecasts.

During the conference, TSMC emphasized its positive long-term structural growth outlook, particularly in the high-performance computing (HPC) and AI sectors. This confidence is supported by the company’s robust financials, including a gross profit margin of 57.41% and a P/E ratio of 19.6. Despite the ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties, Citi analysts believe that TSMC stands on solid ground. The firm anticipates further benefits as the company continues to transition to more advanced technology in the coming year. InvestingPro analysis indicates that TSMC is currently undervalued, with additional insights available in the comprehensive Pro Research Report.

TSMC’s discussion at the conference highlighted its ongoing efforts to ramp up its 2nm technology, which is expected to be a significant step forward in semiconductor manufacturing. The company also focused on the importance of AI and CoWoS, a packaging technology that allows for the integration of different types of chips into a single package, which is becoming increasingly important in the industry.

Citi’s positive outlook on TSMC reflects a broader industry trend where technology migration plays a crucial role in maintaining a competitive edge. As TSMC continues to invest in next-generation technologies and expand its capabilities, it remains a key player in the semiconductor industry.

The company’s focus on HPC and AI business segments is particularly noteworthy as these areas are expected to drive demand for advanced semiconductor solutions. TSMC’s proactive approach in addressing these market needs, coupled with its ambitious capital expenditure plans, aligns with the expectations of growth and technological leadership in the sector.

TSMC’s reassurance of its structural long-term growth outlook, even in the face of macroeconomic challenges, underlines the company’s confidence in its business strategy and the robustness of its operations. This confidence is reflected in InvestingPro’s Financial Health Score of 3.42, rated as "GREAT," with particularly strong marks in profitability and growth metrics. With annual revenue reaching $94.4 billion, Citi’s reiteration of the Buy rating serves to underscore the belief that TSMC is well-equipped to navigate the evolving landscape of the semiconductor industry.

In other recent news, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has seen a series of adjustments in stock ratings and price targets from several prominent financial firms. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reduced its price target for TSMC to TWD2,330, while maintaining an Overweight rating and highlighting the potential positive impact of AI investments from companies like Meta (NASDAQ:META) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT). Daiwa Securities upgraded TSMC’s stock rating to Buy, citing strong revenue performance and a robust outlook for the upcoming quarters, although it slightly trimmed the price target to TWD1,200 due to tariff concerns.

Bernstein maintained its Outperform rating with a $251 price target, emphasizing TSMC’s leadership in advanced packaging technologies and its strategic value. Stifel, however, revised its expectations, predicting TSMC will spend conservatively on its capital expenditure budget, leading to a reduction in its price target due to uncertainties in demand and potential delays in technology adoption. JPMorgan also lowered its price target to NT$1,300, reflecting a cautious stance on TSMC’s revenue guidance amid tariff impacts and a global economic slowdown.

Despite these adjustments, analysts from various firms continue to express confidence in TSMC’s long-term growth prospects, particularly in AI and advanced packaging. TSMC’s ability to maintain a strong structural revenue growth rate and its strategic moves in technology sectors remain focal points for investors. These recent developments highlight the complex landscape TSMC navigates amid geopolitical and market challenges.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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