ASML

ALERT: Replacing Qualcomm with McDonald’s in Dividend Growth Newsletter Portfolio

by

Image: The semiconductor space is experiencing a number of headwinds, and while we still like Qualcomm’s long-term prospects, we’re replacing it with McDonald’s in the simulated Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio. Image Source: Qualcomm By Brian Nelson, CFA The technology industry has been wrecked during 2022, and the semiconductor space has been no exception. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) is down ~41% so far this year, as many of its top holdings, including wireless technology giant Qualcomm (QCOM) languish. As we walk through our views in this work, please note that Qualcomm’s fiscal third-quarter 2022 is calendar second quarter and its fiscal fourth-quarter 2022 is calendar third quarter. We recently highlighted our expectations for near-term weakness across the semiconductor space in … Read more

Chip Stocks — Geopolitical Uncertainty Heightens in China; ASML, QCOM Still Strong Long-Term Considerations, But Expect Near-Term Fundamental Weakness

by

Image Source: The U.S. Department of Commerce By The Valuentum Team The global economic environment continues to reel from heightened inflation, which is pressuring consumer discretionary spending, but geopolitical uncertainty remains at a fever pitch. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has unsettled investors, but the back-and-forth between the U.S. and China has chipmakers in the crosshairs. On October 7, 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce released the following report aimed to restrict China’s ability to attain advanced computer chip technology: The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is implementing a series of targeted updates to its export controls as part of BIS’s ongoing efforts to protect U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. These updates will restrict the … Read more

ASML Holding Retains Dominant Position in High-End Semiconductor Equipment Space

by

Image Shown: ASML Holding NV effectively has a monopoly on the high-end space of the semiconductor equipment industry as the Dutch company sells the only lithography systems that can produce the most advanced cutting edge “chips.” We are huge fans of the company’s business model. Image Source: ASML Holding NV – Second Quarter of Fiscal 2022 IR Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan Based in the Netherlands, ASML Holding NV (ASML) produces lithography systems that can produce all types of semiconductor components and effectively has a monopoly at the high-end part of this industry given its immense technological lead over its peers. The secular tailwinds driving up demand for “chips” across the globe such as the growing computing power needs of … Read more

Taiwan Semi Firing on All Cylinders

by

Image Source: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company – First Quarter of 2022 IR Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan Semiconductor components, or “chips,” are the bedrock of the digital economy. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) operates numerous semiconductor fabrication sites all of the world, with its major manufacturing hub located in Taiwan, that produce chips utilized in all sorts of applications. Furthermore, Taiwan Semi is one of only a handful of companies capable of producing high-end chips at scale. Taiwan Semi’s business model revolves around producing chips for third-parties as the firm does not design semiconductor components itself, and the company is the largest semiconductor foundry in the world (foundries are chip fabrication sites specifically built to meet third-party needs). We are … Read more

Broadcom Buying VMware as “Empire Building” Streak Continues

by

Image Shown: Broadcom Inc is acquiring VMware Inc and the deal will significantly increase its enterprise software business. Image Source: Broadcom Inc and VMware Inc – May 2022 IR Presentation By Callum Turcan Continuing with its acquisitive streak, the semiconductor and enterprise software giant Broadcom Inc (AVGO) announced on May 26 that it would acquire hybrid cloud services provider VMware Inc (VMW) through a cash-and-stock deal that values VMware at ~$61 billion. Additionally, Broadcom will assume ~$8 billion in net debt from VMware. This follows in the footsteps of Broadcom’s $18.9 billion deal to acquire CA Technologies in 2018 and its $10.7 billion deal to acquire the enterprise security business of then-Symantec, now NortonLifeLock Inc (NLOK), in 2019. Under the … Read more

Dividend Growth Idea Qualcomm Beats Estimates; Near Term Guidance Incredibly Bright

by

Image Shown: Dividend growth idea Qualcomm Inc has a stellar cash flow profile. Image Source: Qualcomm Inc – 10-Q SEC filing covering the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2022 By Callum Turcan On April 27, Qualcomm Inc (QCOM) reported second quarter earnings for fiscal 2022 (period ended March 27, 2022) that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. The company is a leader in the technologies relating to 5G wireless, Internet of Things (‘IoT’) trend, semi-autonomous and autonomous driving, and handset operations. We include Qualcomm as an idea in the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio as we view its dividend strength and payout growth outlook quite favorably. Shares of QCOM yield ~2.3% as of this writing. The firm’s latest earnings update and … Read more

Interview with SDM Investments’ Kevin Truitt — ESG in a Few Words: “Good Ethics, Honesty, Respect, and Dignity”

by

Image: SDM Investments’ Kevin Truitt (left) and Valuentum’s Brian Nelson (right) pause for a picture at the Chicago Chapter of the American Association of Individual Investors (December 2016). Brian Nelson, CFA: We’d like to introduce Kevin Truitt, manager in charge of the equity investments at SDM Investments, an investment management firm based in Merrillville, Indiana.  Kevin and I have been friends for more than a decade now, and he’s even written an article about combining value and momentum investing in the AAII Journal a number of years ago, “Investing’s Odd Couple: Value and Momentum.”  Kevin, thanks for sharing your knowledge, wisdom, and experience with us. With that said, let’s get right into the questions. Can you provide some background about … Read more

ESG Newsletter Portfolio Idea ASML Holding May Further Boost Longer Term Guidance

by

Image Shown: How ASML Holding Inc’s photolithography systems are used to produce semiconductor components, including the most cutting edge “chips” along with more mature semiconductor components. Image Source: ASML Holding Inc – Fiscal 2021 Annual Report By Callum Turcan The maker of advanced photolithography systems that are used to produce the most cutting edge semiconductor components or “chips” is the Dutch firm ASML Holding NV (ASML). It has a virtual monopoly at the high-end of this market due to its technological prowess in this space and focus on R&D. The firm also produces photolithography systems to make more mature chips and offers services that are primarily geared towards its installed systems base. ASML Holding reported first quarter earnings for fiscal … Read more

Net Cash Rich Micron Technology Beats Estimates and Issues Favorable Near Term Guidance

by

Image Source: Micron Technology Inc – First Quarter of Fiscal 2022 IR Earnings Presentation By Callum Turcan On December 20, Micron Technology Inc (MU) reported first quarter earnings for fiscal 2022 (period ended December 2, 2021) that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. Underlying demand for Micron Technology’s DRAM, NAND, and NOR offerings (used as memory solutions in personal computers, automobiles, data centers, smartphones, and various electronics devices) remained robust last fiscal quarter. The company has done a great job navigating supply chain hurdles and semiconductor component and equipment shortages in the wake of the coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic to continue meeting booming customer demand.  Shares of Micron Technology surged higher after it published its latest earnings report December 20 … Read more

Nvidia Continues to Deliver in the Face of Global Supply Chain Crunch

by

Image Source: Nvidia Corporation – September 2021 IR Presentation By Callum Turcan On November 17, Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) reported third quarter earnings for fiscal 2022 (period ended October 31, 2021) that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates, and the firm provided favorable guidance covering the current fiscal quarter. The company has done a solid job navigating the ongoing shortage of semiconductor components along with other hurdles, such as logistical bottlenecks and inflationary pressures. Nvidia’s growth runway is enormous as it intends to expand into a new market within the semiconductor space, which we will cover in this note. Shares of NVDA have leapt higher during the past month as the “chip” company’s (Nvidia designs chips that are produced by … Read more