BofA update shows where active managers are putting money
Investing.com -- UBS released findings from its 21st Evidence Lab Smartphone Survey, conducted in the second quarter of 2025 across the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China. The survey highlighted a decline in smartphone purchasing intentions, particularly in the US, where the 12-month forward purchasing intent dropped to 37% from 50% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
The survey indicated that the aspirational replacement cycle for smartphones has extended to 31.1 months, compared to 29.7 months in the previous quarter. This trend reflects a broader pattern of consumers holding onto their devices for longer periods.
Despite a year-to-date unit sell-through increase of 3.2% up to April, UBS maintains a conservative forecast for global smartphone unit sell-in, predicting only a 1.0% year-over-year growth in 2025 and flat growth in 2026.
UBS analysts expressed a preference for several stocks within the smartphone supply chain, including ASE, AVGO, Hon Hai (TW:2317), Inari, JCET, Luxshare, MediaTek, MU, Murata, Samsung (KS:005930), SEMCO, SK Hynix, and TSMC, all rated as Buy. Conversely, they remain cautious on Hua Hong, rated as Sell, and LG Display (NYSE:LPL), which holds a Neutral rating.
In the broader market, UBS analysts have maintained Neutral ratings on major smartphone manufacturers Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Xiaomi (OTC:XIACF). The report suggests that while some supply chain stocks are reflecting valuations close to ex-growth, there are still opportunities within the sector.
Overall, UBS’s findings underscore a cautious yet selective approach to investing in the smartphone supply chain, given the current market dynamics and consumer behavior trends.
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