TSMC results Thursday: analysts expect a 65% jump to a record $23.4 billion quarterly profit

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) is expected to report a 65% jump in third-quarter net profit to T$746.3 billion ($23.4 billion) on Thursday, which would be its sixth record quarter in a row, according to an LSEG SmartEstimate drawn from 16 analysts, Business Recorder reported on Monday, carrying a Reuters story.

Anything above T$706.56 billion would be the highest quarterly net income in TSMC's history and its 11th straight quarter of profit growth. The earnings call is at 0600 GMT, which is 11am PKT on Thursday 15 October, when the company will also give its fourth-quarter outlook.

The numbers to watch

Morgan Stanley analyst Charlie Chan expects TSMC to raise its full-year revenue growth forecast to the low to mid 40% range, from "more than 40%" now, on demand for its 3-nanometre chips. Demand for AI chipmaking capacity and its CoWoS advanced packaging is the driver.

Arizona, and maybe Texas

TSMC is spending $265 billion on chip plants in Arizona, including $100 billion more announced in July. Reuters reported in September that it was weighing a Texas investment, and Elon Musk said last week that his companies would build and run a "Terafab" AI chip complex in which TSMC might sublease space. Chan said Texas could become necessary within five years; Morningstar's Phelix Lee said it looked more like a 2030s or 2040s plan, and possibly "a dangling carrot" to head off US trade measures.

Why it matters in Pakistan

TSMC makes the processors inside most iPhones and many Android phones sold here, and its capacity decides how fast new chips, and the phones and laptops built on them, reach the market. Check current prices on our mobile prices list and laptop prices list, and the PTA tax on an imported phone with the PTA mobile tax calculator.