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Investing.com-- Shares of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (HK:0981) (SMIC) declined sharply on Friday, as investor sentiment was dampened by the company’s cautious outlook despite reporting a surge in first-quarter profit.
SMIC, China’s largest contract chipmaker, announced a 161.9% year-on-year increase in net profit for the first quarter of 2025, reaching $188 million. However, this figure fell short of analysts’ expectations of $222.4 million, according to LSEG data.
Despite the robust quarterly performance, Hong Kong-listed SMIC shares declined nearly 7% on Friday.
The market’s reaction came as Co-CEO Zhao Haijun expressed concerns about trade tariffs. He said the company would closely monitor the impact of tariffs on demand, adding that the current uncertainty has clouded the outlook for the second half.
Meanwhile, a Nikkei report showed that SMIC plans to invest over $7 billion this year to grow capacity and market share, defying industry caution amid U.S.-China trade tensions.
"The Company believes that the second half of the year presents both opportunities and challenges. The Company will enhance its adaptability and risk resilience capability," SMIC said in its earnings release on Thursday.
SMIC also forecast a 4% to 6% sequential revenue decline for the second quarter, with gross margin expected to fall to between 18% and 20%.