– SPIE EUV & Photomask conference well attended with great talks
– Chip industry focused on next gen High NA EUV & what it impacts
– Do big chips=big masks? Another Actinic tool?
– AI & chip tools, a game changer- China pre-empting more sanctions
Author: Robert Maire
SPIE- EUV & Photomask conference- Anticipating High NA- Mask Size Matters- China
Micron Chip & Memory Down Cycle – It Ain’t Over Til it’s Over Maybe Longer and Deeper
- The memory down cycle is longer/deeper than many thought
- The recovery will be slower than past cycles- a “U” rather than “V”
- AI & new apps don’t make up for macro weakness
- Negative for overall semis & equip- Could China extend downcycle?
Micron report suggests a longer deeper down cycle
… Read MoreHas U.S. already lost Chip war to China? Is Taiwan’s silicon shield a liability?
- Huawei’s 7NM chip? This wasn’t supposed to happen
- Are Chips a weapon for U.S. or China? Role reversal?
- Will Taiwan turn from protected asset to unwanted liability?
- Are sanctions so porous that US has already lost to China?
While EUV is critical to advanced chips there are workarounds
Many people either thought or assumed… Read More
ASML-Strong Results & Guide Prove China Concerns Overblown-Chips Slow to Recover
-ASML reports better results & guide despite China restrictions
-Supports our view of China issues not that impactful longer term
-Industry recovery seems very far off with more delays
-ASML remains the best, most robust story in a weak industry
ASML reports nice beat despite China concerns
ASML reported revenues of Euro6.9B… Read More
SEMICON West 2023 Summary – No recovery in sight – Next Year?
-SEMICON well attended but bouncing along the biz bottom
-Recovery seems at least a year away with memory even more
-AI creates hope but not impactful- Disconnect tween stocks & reality
-AMAT me too platform- Back end benefits from chiplets
SEMICON busy but subdued
SEMICON is certainly back to pre-covid levels or perhaps better.… Read More
Micron Mandarin Memory Machinations- CHIPS Act semiconductor equipment hypocrisy
-We think China issue is overblown- Zero sum game theory
-US should respond Tit-for-Tat and then some- Chop Chinese Chips
-Chip equip makers duplicitous behavior- smacks of hypocrisy
-Exporting chip equip biz/jobs to Asia while asking for CHIPS Act$
Memory Market remains a zero sum game market much like petroleum
China’s… Read More
AMAT- Trailing Edge & China Almost Offset Floundering Foundry & Missing Memory
-AMAT reported inline resulted helped by trailing edge & China
-Memory remains at very low levels- Foundry remains uninspiring
-China seems to be buying anything they are allowed to buy
-The recovery is too far out & unknown to handicap
Quarter was OK and Guidance also OK
Revenue was $6.63B and EPS of $1.86 versus reduced… Read More
LAM Not Yet at Bottom Memory Worsening Down 50%
-Lam reported in line results on reduced expectations
-Guidance disappoints as memory decline continues
-Memory capex down 50% but still sees “further declines”
-Lam ties future to EUV maybe not good idea after ASML report
Lam comes in above grossly already reduced expectations
and misses on guidance
We always … Read More
ASML Wavering- Supports our Concern of Second Leg Down for Semis- False Bottom
-ASML weakness is evidence of deeper chip down cycle
-When ASML sneezes other chip equip makers catch a cold
-Will backlog last long enough? Will EUV demand hold up?
-“Unthinkable” event, litho cancelations, could shock industry
ASML has in line quarter but alarm bells ring on wavering outlook
ASML reported Euro6.7B… Read More
Gordon Moore’s legacy will live on through new paths & incarnations
-Gordon Moore’s passing reminds us of how far we have come
-One of many pioneers of chip industry-but most remembered
-The most exponential & ubiquitous industry of all times
-“No exponential is forever”- Gordon Moore was an exponential
Remembering Gordon Moore
He will be remembered most for his observation… Read More
CES 2025 and all things Cycling