Semiconductors
Ongoing coverage on Semiconductors.
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TSMC continues to rake it in from the 'multi-year AI megatrend,' making a record-breaking $16.35 billion in…
TSMC reported record-breaking revenue for August, totaling $16.35 billion USD, driven by robust demand for AI-related semiconductors. The company's CEO highlighted the ongoing AI megatrend as a key driver for leading-edge silicon needs. This surge continues a trend of consecutive record gains, with TSMC holding a dominant market share in semiconductor foundries.
Marvell Q2 FY27 earnings results beat revenue expectations, but miss EPS whisper number
Marvell Technology exceeded revenue expectations for Q2 FY27, reporting $2.74 billion in revenue, driven primarily by its $2.17 billion data center business. While the company beat analyst consensus for earnings-per-share (EPS), it fell short of the Earnings Whisper expectation. Despite a slight dip in after-hours trading, Marvell's strong performance in the booming AI and data center component market positions it well for future growth, with a forecast of $3.15 billion in revenue for Q3 FY27.
Nvidia clears the bar again — and points to a $108 billion quarter ahead
Nvidia has reported strong fiscal second-quarter results, exceeding analyst expectations with $96.2 billion in revenue and $2.22 earnings per share. The company provided guidance of $108 billion for the next quarter, surpassing the $103.9 billion analysts had predicted. Data center revenue, driven by AI infrastructure demand, accounted for approximately 92% of sales, with CEO Jensen Huang highlighting AI's inflection point and accelerating compute demand.
Trump's administration considering new tariffs on gaming, laptop & data center hardware
The Trump administration is reportedly considering new tariffs on semiconductors and components used in gaming hardware, laptops, and data center equipment. This move has alarmed US tech companies, who warn it could worsen existing supply chain issues and harm global competitiveness. The proposed tariffs aim to encourage US chip manufacturing investment but could significantly increase costs for American companies reliant on foreign chip production.
Taiwan Charges Nine Over Smuggled AI Servers, Including an Nvidia Senior Manager
Taiwan has charged nine individuals, including a senior Nvidia manager and two Supermicro employees, for allegedly forging documents to illegally ship high-end AI servers to China, violating US export controls. A Taiwanese customs officer's detection of irregularities led to the investigation, which uncovered that 74 servers were delivered to China while 56 were intercepted. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had previously criticized Supermicro's compliance, and Supermicro stated its cooperation with authorities led to the arrests.
Google (GOOGL) to buy up to $12.2 billion shares in US chip firm Marvell (MRVL)
Google is set to invest up to $12.2 billion in Marvell stock and partner with the semiconductor firm to develop custom chips for AI infrastructure. This strategic move involves Google purchasing up to 59.97 million Marvell shares through fiscal year 2033, aiming to bolster Google's AI capabilities.
China reportedly allows ByteDance and Tencent to import 10,000 H200 chips
ByteDance and Tencent have reportedly received 10,000 H200 chips each, with other Chinese companies expected to follow. This development suggests a potential easing of restrictions on importing advanced semiconductors into China.
The memory crisis led me down a rabbit hole into nations forming rival factions to secure the flow of computer chips and AI, with names that wouldn't sound out of place in a Command & Conquer reboot
The article explores the geopolitical landscape surrounding semiconductor and AI chip production, highlighting the formation of rival factions like Pax Silica (US-backed) and WAICO (China-backed). These groups aim to control the global flow of these critical components, impacting industries like PC gaming through supply chain disruptions and price volatility. Governments are prioritizing AI infrastructure, potentially at the expense of consumer needs, leading to a new era of resource guarding and a potential technological arms race.
Nvidia’s Hidden 123 Million SpaceX Shares Are Already $4B Underwater
Nvidia disclosed it holds nearly 123 million shares in SpaceX, acquired through an investment in xAI which was later folded into SpaceX. This stake, initially valued at $21 billion, has seen a paper loss of approximately $4 billion due to a recent decline in SpaceX's stock price. SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk confirmed the company's exclusive reliance on Nvidia for its data center hardware needs.
Applied Materials (AMAT) Q3 FY26 earnings results beat revenue, but miss EPS whisper number
Applied Materials reported a record quarterly revenue of $9.12 billion for Q3 FY26, driven by demand for AI technology and semiconductors. While revenue surpassed analyst consensus, the company's earnings per share of $3.50 missed the 'whisper number' expectation, though it still beat Wall Street estimates. The company's stock price saw a decline in after-hours trading following the announcement.
Google’s Pixel 11 Event Starts at 6PM ET Wednesday — But Its Own Store Spoils It Eight Hours Early
Google's upcoming 'Made by Google 2026' event, scheduled for Wednesday at 6 PM ET, has been preempted by leaks from its own Google Store, which revealed preorder details eight hours early. The event is expected to unveil four new Pixel phones, including the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, alongside the Pixel Watch 5 and potentially a Pixel Tag tracker. Leaks suggest the new phones will feature a Tensor G6 chip built on TSMC's 2nm process, increased base storage, but reduced RAM for Pro models, with price increases across the board.
AMD expects a 'softer PC market' for the second half of its fiscal 2026
AMD anticipates a downturn in the PC market for the latter half of its fiscal year 2026, citing higher component costs. Despite this projection, the company believes its client business, driven by Ryzen processors, will outperform the general market. AMD is also increasing its focus on AI technology development, planning to release new AI rack-scale systems annually.
Memory Chip Crunch Catches Up to Apple’s MacBook Air
Apple's popular MacBook Air is experiencing significant shipping delays, with most configurations not arriving until late August or September. This shortage is attributed to a global memory chip crunch, exacerbated by high demand from AI companies. Apple is reportedly responding by increasing prices and sourcing components from Chinese suppliers, indicating the issue is not expected to resolve quickly.
ARM Q1 2027 earnings results beat revenue and EPS expectations
ARM Holdings exceeded revenue and earnings-per-share expectations for Q1 2027, reporting $1.29 billion in revenue and $0.45 EPS, surpassing analyst estimates. The company's performance was boosted by its new ARM AGI CPU, designed for AI workloads in data centers, and its ongoing chip architecture design business. ARM Holdings also recently began silicon production and is reportedly collaborating with Samsung on a new AI PC chip.
Gleefully counting its billions, Samsung cries warning of a 'severe' memory supply crisis next year
Samsung Electronics reported record profits for Q2 2026, driven by AI data center demand, but warns of a severe memory supply crisis expected to worsen through 2028. Competitor SK hynix also faces scrutiny over HBM4 shipment slowdowns. Both companies are experiencing record profits amidst these supply constraints.
SK Hynix (SKHY) Q2 2026 earnings results miss revenue expectations despite 257% YoY increase
SK Hynix reported its Q2 2026 earnings, with revenue reaching 79.32 trillion won ($54.55 billion), a 257% year-over-year increase. Despite this record performance, the company failed to meet analyst expectations of 84 trillion won. The demand for AI components has significantly boosted SK Hynix's position, though concerns about potential overproduction and strategic adjustments by other companies have impacted its stock.
RAM prices be damned, SK hynix's record-breaking $55.6 billion quarter still failed to meet investors' wild AI…
SK hynix reported a record-breaking revenue of $55.6 billion for its second quarter of 2026, driven by strong demand from the AI industry. However, the company missed investor expectations due to a slowdown in HBM4 shipments, leading to a significant drop in its share price. Despite this, SK hynix plans to increase capital spending to support anticipated future demand.
Taiwanese authorities detain Nvidia employee for alleged attempt to smuggle AI chips into China
An Nvidia employee in Taiwan, identified as 'Chang,' has been detained on suspicion of falsifying documents to export approximately 50 Super Micro servers containing Nvidia AI chips to China. This incident is part of a broader investigation into potential AI chip smuggling routes. Nvidia has stated that smuggling is unacceptable and that all sales comply with US export control rules.
Memory chipmaker CXMT sees shares surge 466%, becomes one of China's most valuable listed companies right below…
Chinese memory manufacturer CXMT experienced a massive surge of 466% on its initial public offering on Shanghai's STAR market, becoming one of China's most valuable listed companies. Despite concerns about speculation and potential market bubbles, CXMT's expansion plans and its appeal to major players like Apple highlight its growing significance in the global memory market.
Sunday Tech Bits
This article touches on several technology-related news items, including Virginia regulators downplaying data center health concerns and Huawei's development of its own DRAM fabrication plant, which could impact global RAM prices. It also briefly mentions a tool called Game Compressor.