We recently compiled a list of the 7 Best Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) stands against the other semiconductor stocks.
In an updated forecast, The World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) revised its 2024 projections upward, expecting a strong 19.0% YoY growth in the broader semiconductor market. The global market value for 2024 is now pegged at $627 billion, demonstrating improvement in performance in Q2 2024 and Q3 2024, mainly in the computing sector. Growth in 2024 is expected to be aided by 2 Integrated Circuit segments- Memory, which can increase by 81.0%, and Logic, which is expected to grow by 16.9%.
Region-wise, the Americas and Asia Pacific are well-placed to lead the recovery, with expected growth rates of 38.9% and 17.5%, respectively.
What Lies Ahead for The Semiconductor Market?
WSTS expects broad-based improvement for the semiconductor market in 2025, with an 11.2% growth, resulting in an estimated $697 billion in global market valuation. This growth is expected off the back of the Logic and Memory sectors, which together are expected to surpass $400 billion in value. This consists of a YoY growth of more than 17% for Logic and 13% for Memory. Notably, other semiconductor categories are projected to grow at more modest, single-digit rates, demonstrating a steady expansion for the broader industry.
WSTS believes that, in 2025, all the regions will be well-placed for continued expansion. The Americas and Asia Pacific regions will maintain their double-digit growth year over year.
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Key Trends Likely to Aid Semiconductor Market in 2025
IDC predicted some critical trends in the semiconductor market. While AI-driven rapid growth continues to be on top of the list, the Asia-Pacific IC (Integrated Circuits) design market will continue to heat up. The memory segment is expected to be aided by the increased penetration of high-end products including HBM3 and HBM3e, which are needed for AI Accelerator, and the new generation of HBM4, which is expected to be rolled out in H2 2025. The non-memory segment is expected to be supported by healthy demand for advanced node ICs for AI servers, high-end mobile phone ICs, and WiFi7.
As per IDC, Asia-Pacific IC design product lines remain rich and diversified. Since inventory levels have been stabilizing, demand for personal devices is picking up, and AI computing continues to extend to a wide range of applications, the overall demand for IC design is expected to increase. Mature nodes (22nm-500nm) continue to have a wide range of applications spanning consumer electronics, industrial control, automotive, and other industry segments. Looking ahead, the demand is anticipated to improve after the correction and oversupply. This is expected to be aided by consumer electronics and periodical inventory replenishment across automotive and industrial control sectors.
Our Methodology
To list the 7 Best Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Now, we used a screener and sifted through several online rankings. After getting an initial list of 12-15 stocks, we chose the ones that were popular among hedge funds. Finally, the stocks were arranged in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment, as of Q3 2024.
At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A close-up of a complex network of integrated circuits used in logic semiconductors.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 158
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices. Its advanced nodes, mainly N3 and N5, have been witnessing full utilization, demonstrating robust demand for cutting-edge semiconductor technologies. Therefore, a high utilization rate not only results in improved margins but strengthens Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM)’s market position as a go-to manufacturer for advanced chips. The company’s capex strategy demonstrates its commitment to maintaining technological leadership and meeting growing demand.
The company’s management expects a 2025 capital budget of between US$38 billion and US$42 billion. The semiconductor industry has been evolving rapidly, with AI and high-performance computing coming out as critical growth drivers. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM)’s healthy position in such segments should fuel its growth trajectory. The supply/demand imbalance in the semiconductor industry is expected to persist until at least 2026, benefiting the company’s pricing power and market position.
ClearBridge Investments, an investment management company, released its Q3 2024 investor letter. Here is what the fund said:
“While the Strategy continues to have a significant position in Nvidia, we are underweight semiconductors versus the benchmark. We added to our semiconductor positioning during the quarter with the purchase of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM). TSM, an out-of-benchmark name, is the world’s fabrication production provider of choice. The criticality and sophistication of its manufacturing footprint powers all of the leading edge fabless global semiconductor companies, including Apple, Nvidia, Qualcomm, AMD and Broadcom. While AI has driven upside in data centers, PCs and handsets are at cycle lows, positioning half of the company’s business for a recovery.”
Overall TSM ranks 2nd on our list of the best semiconductor stocks to buy now. While we acknowledge the potential of TSM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued AI stock that is more promising than TSM but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
