Earnings Report Preview | Taiwan Semiconductor Q4 Profit May Plummet 23%, Key Focus on Demand Outlook

Taiwan Semiconductor is set to announce its full-year performance for the fourth quarter on Thursday, with analysts predicting a 23% decline in Q4 profits. Analysts believe that the rebound in demand will drive growth this year. Taiwan Semiconductor had a strong performance in 2022, mainly driven by increased orders from customers such as Apple and NVIDIA. Although global semiconductor demand started to weaken in the second half of 2022, analysts expect an increase in demand for replenishing inventory by smartphone and computer manufacturers. Analysts at Fubon Securities express concerns about the outlook for Taiwan Semiconductor in the first quarter, but believe that demand from Apple will remain stable. Analysts at KGI Securities forecast a year-on-year revenue growth of around 20%, primarily driven by the recovery in demand for 5G and high-performance computing applications.