Earnings Sentiment

Sentiment Analysis of the earnings transcript to help figure out if there are any bullish or bearish sentiments that could be gathered from it. We're doing ML and AI based analysis on the earnings call to get some more insights.

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Sentiment Distribution

   

Earnings Call Transcript Word Cloud

     

Bullish Statements during Earnings call

Statement
So for the 28 given the broader customer base and diverse product line and product pipeline, that gave us the confidence because the outlook remains healthy and that's also equipped with our specialty technology leadership position as well
During the downturn cycle, we both have to look at this -- to revisit the situation, but under the framework of we still have strong confidence in our long term projections
Despite a weaker than expected environment going into the second half, we believe our 22/28 nanometer business will remain resilient due to our strong position in leading edge specialty technologies, such as embedded high voltage
Chi-Tung Liu Our corporate average in quarter two was 36% gross margin, slightly better than Q1
On Page 8, as we mentioned, the blended ASP benefit from a better product mix, in a way it's also a lower utilization rate in 8-inch wafer capacity
But what we have received, and what we have validated the end, what we have delivered right now, that has demonstrated the current broader customer base, and the product pipeline does give us that confidence that this will probably stay in a healthy level for some time
Gross margin rate at 36% is also slightly better than that of quarter one, and reached TWD20.25 billion
In addition, our strong commitment, bringing this company to improve our customer relationship and ESG commitment, we believe will further enhance our position more than short term foundry partner
Second quarter revenue grew 3.8% quarter-over-quarter, mainly due to improved product mix within our 12-inch portfolio
Revenue rose 3.8% quarter-over-quarter to TWD56.3 billion, mainly due to better product mix led to a higher ASP
And hopefully, we can deliver a much healthier, stronger balance sheet for the company
USCXM will continue to provide high quality fabrication service to customer and increase its contribution to UMC's financial performance as a wholly owned subsidiary now
We have been improving our 8-inch customer stickiness, by aligning with our customers on their products back to the [indiscernible] years specialty technology, including process customization, JDP, the joint development program for products such as analog, power management IC, MCU, and discrete devices
So we think the geographical located on those fab actually gave us that benefit as well as our customer to access to the local market
They are also new applications from megatrends such as EV, plus increasing IDN outsourcing business, which will help lift the 8-inch loading
Revenue from 22/28 nanometer products continued to increase sequentially, representing 29% of second quarter sales
I think there's many areas that we need to do, but we do believe that we have several advantages in many areas
And so we are confident to navigate through this current market condition, as well as the competition landscape
And for the OLED driver, the current penetration in end market and the volume remains healthy
So how do you expect this to kind of interact with the, like price discipline that has existed in the non-China part of the market, including you guys and some of your peers over the next couple of years? Jason Wang Well, I mean, first of all, I mean, without commenting about the peers, for UMC to stay competitive and remain relevant in our industry, we have established several advantage in our view for many years
And having a successfully entering the mass production of our 22-nanometer business now and while we witnessing the steady rise in revenue contribution, we are actively progressing with development of the 12 things and specialty things based on the increase in 14-nanometer technology now
So we still feel confidence about those LTA going forward
By segment, we sold short-term demand recovery in the consumer space for Wi-Fi, digital TV and display driver ICs while demand for computer-related products, also moderately rebounded from the previous quarters
The smart manufacturing measures will also focus on technology improvements, such as continuous improvement process, CIP, optimize our fab productivity and quality to help mitigate those headwinds
In addition, our value-added technology and quality and capacity alignment will support our customers their capacity to be competitive as well in their market position
On page 12, due to newly ramped capacity becoming available in our P6 in Tainan Fab our 22/28 nanometer revenue continued to rise
On page 9 revenue rebounded for our Asian customers in the second quarter
I think we both, customer and us still have confidence in what have we aligned to do in terms of longer term
So I'm optimistic
And we are certainly happy to give the gross margin guidance for the next quarter at the end of July
       

Bearish Statements during earnings call

Statement
Looking into the third quarter, wafer demand outlook is uncertain, leading for longer inventory correction in the supply chain
While we saw a limited recovery in the second quarter, overall end market sentiment remains weak, and we expect customers to continue stringent inventory management in the near term
Revenue declined 18.4% to TWD110.5 billion and gross margin rate was around 35.7% or TWD39.4 billion
And North America declined from 31% in Q1 to 27% in Q2
So mainly is inventory concerns
Rising costs will erode gross margin by low-single digit percentage point
But my concern is that more about the 28-nanometer, your pricing strategy because mentioned that your 28 nanometer utilization is still healthy
40-nanometer is about 12% declined by three percentage point from the previous quarter
Jason Wang Of the semi outlook, we expect the 2023 semiconductor market, exclude the memory will declined by mid-single digit year-over-year
Our wafer shipments will decline by approximately 3% to 4%
Right now, given the market outlook, we have been very cautiously looking at it because the across all segments, the sentiment is weak
For the foundry we now expect the industry will decline by mid-teens year-over-year
One is the current market pricing pressure
And then if you could split down by application, how you're seeing the auto industrial, and then for the areas that started to pick up, Wi-Fi, TV, driver IC and PC, how do you see that pickup sustaining? Or do you see those starting to correct now? Jason Wang Well, I mean, really on a higher level, given the overall softer end market demand while the post-lockdown, the recovery in China has being slower than expected and weakened macro conditions, where our customers are cautiously managing their inventory
So I think your peers more or less they already mentioned, some heavy pricing pressure instead
Like weaker demand that's keeping the inventory correction longer
However, like you said, we do anticipate continuous pressure from the 12-inch mature nodes that has impact the 8-inch supply chain
So about inventory, while the end market demand has worsened compared to a quarter ago across a segment in smartphones, PC and server, the inventory will be slower -- slowly work off now
The pace of digestion is slower than we previously expected
For Q3, the rise in cost in electricity, high raw material, labor will impact our profitability
   

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