TSMC jumps on strong second-quarter outlook with AI demand unblemished by tariffs
The world’s biggest chipmaker is undaunted by the trade war or increased restrictions on semiconductor exports to China.
TSMC is up nearly 3% in early trading after the Taiwan-based foundry giant issued a second-quarter outlook that wowed investors. Management expects revenues to come in between $28.4 billion and $29.2 billion in the current quarter. Even the low end of that range is above the consensus estimate of $27.35 billion.
CEO CC Wei said the recent ban on H20 sales to China has been incorporated into TSMC’s outlook, and that the company continues to see “robust AI-related demand,” maintaining calls for those revenues to double this year.
“We understand there are uncertainties and risks from the potential impact of tariff policies. However, we have not seen any change in our customers’ behavior so far,” he said on a conference call with analysts. “Therefore, we continue to expect our full-year 2025 revenue to increase by close to mid-20s percent in US dollar terms.”
First-quarter earnings per share of NT$13.94 came in ahead of estimates for NT$13.58. TSMC’s revenue figures were a known quantity, as the chipmaker breaks out its monthly sales with March’s data reported last week.