– NIST to lose 100’s of mainly CHIPS Act people
– If no people are left to administer CHIPS Act it dies by default
– Following USAID play book to kill an unwanted program
– Using the “probationary” clause as excuse to fire recent CHIPS hires
Author: Robert Maire
CHIPS Act dies because employees are fired – NIST CHIPS people are probationary
Trump whacking CHIPS Act? When you hold the checkbook, you make up the new rules
- News reports that Trump will change CHIPS Act to suit his views
- We specifically predicted this months ago as deals closed 11th hour
- Blue states, enemies list & foreign entities likely to get cut
- Big changes/cuts likely to a program Trump roundly criticized
Reuters: Exclusive: Trump prepares to change US CHIPS Act conditions,… Read More
AMAT- In line QTR – poor guide as China Chops hit home- China mkt share loss?
- QTR was just “in-line” but guide was below expectations
- We think its not just China export rules but share loss as well
- Leading edge is strong but obviously not enough to offset China
- Memory remains weak-Foundry (TSMC) is the primary driver
Headwinds slow growth to flat
Applied reported $7.166B in revenues and Non … Read More
KLAC Good QTR with AI and HBM drive leading edge and China is Okay
– KLA put up a good qtr & year with consistent growth
– AI & HBM are the main drivers of leading edge which helps KLA
– China slowing but not too fast, Outlook OK but not super
– Wafer inspection is huge but reticle inspection continues to slip
KLA reports good quarter and OK outlook
KLA reported revenues… Read More
Consumer memory slowing more than AI gaining
- Consumer memory slowing more than AI gaining causing weakness
- HBM sold out for 2025- HBM is most of Capex- NAND near zero
- Big miss on Q1 guide crushes stock on disappointment
- Positive for Nvidia- Negative for Broadcom/Qualcomm
Micron – AI is wonderful & growing out of bounds while consumer sucks
Micron reported in line… Read More
If you believe in Hobbits you can believe in Rapidus
– Semicon Japan super crowded but outlook still uncertain/muted
– Slow analysts finally capitulate on weakening 2025 WFE outlook
– Article confirms our view on chip equip lobbying for China sales
– TSMC continues dominate, China slows, Samsung/Intel weak
Semicon Japan crowded but muted
We attended… Read More
AMAT has OK Qtr but Mixed Outlook Means Weaker 2025 – China & Delays & CHIPS Act?
– AMAT has OK QTR but outlook below expectations as 2025 weakens
– Strength in AI cannot offset weakness in the rest of the market
– Increasing headwinds going into 2025 dampen overall outlook
– Weakness combined with regulatory uncertainty reduce valuations
Quarter and year are just OK but outlook is
… Read MoreMore Headwinds – CHIPS Act Chop? – Chip Equip Re-Shore? Orders Canceled & Fab Delay
– CHIPS Act more likely to be maimed & cut than outright killed
– Will Legislators reverse flow of equipment to Reshore from Offshore?
– Recent order cuts, Fab Delay & SMIC comments are all negative
– News flow for semi equipment all bad in front of AMAT
CHIPS Act Chops likely to occur under new administration
… Read MoreKLAC – OK Qtr/Guide – Slow Growth – 2025 Leading Edge Offset by China – Mask Mash
- KLA put up an OK Quarter & Guide with modest growth & outlook
- 2025 remains slow growth as leading edge offset by China slowing
- China sanctions remain a “great unknown”- impact unclear
- Reticle biz getting squeezed from both high & low ends
OK quarter with slight beat as always- Guide is OK as well
KLA reported… Read More
LRCX- Coulda been worse but wasn’t so relief rally- Flattish is better than down
- Lam put in good quarter with flattish guide- still a slow recovery
- This is better than worst case fears of order drop like ASML
- China spend is slowing but tech spending increase offsets
- Relief rally as the market was braced for bad news and got OK news
Lam has OK, slightly better than in line quarter with OK guide….
It coulda been… Read More
Unlocking the cloud: A new era for post-tapeout flow for semiconductor manufacturing