Investing in AI: Key Chip Companies to Watch

AI investing highlights crucial chip manufacturers like TSM and ASML. Their roles in the AI arms race present strong investment opportunities that could lead to significant growth over the coming years.

Date: 23-02-2025

AI Rating: 7

**Earnings Potential in AI Chip Manufacturing**

The report emphasizes the importance of chip manufacturers, specifically Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) and ASML, as key players in the AI technology arena.

Taiwan Semiconductor is noted for its remarkable position as a contract chip manufacturer creating chips for leading tech companies such as Apple and Nvidia. The management forecasts that TSMC's revenue from AI-related chips will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 45% over the next five years. This aggressive growth trajectory suggests a high upside potential for earnings, contributing positively to the company's overall projected revenue growth rate of 20% for the same period.

TSMC's business model allows it to operate neutrally amidst growing competition in the AI sector. Given the bullish outlook from management, investors may consider the company a favorable option as it is positioned well to capitalize on rising demand for AI chips.

In contrast, ASML, despite not manufacturing chips directly, plays a critical role by producing machines required for chip production. Its unique extreme ultraviolet lithography technology solidifies its status in the industry as it currently holds a technological monopoly. Although ASML revised its 2025 revenue guidance downward from 30 billion to 40 billion euros to a range of 30 billion to 35 billion euros, this adjustment still indicates stable growth, as ASML generated 28.2 billion euros in sales during 2024.

Moreover, ASML's growth is tethered to the overall chip manufacturing industry's expansion. Given TSMC's projected growth rate, there is an expectation of rising sales for ASML, reflecting positively on its revenue prospects.

**Summary Ratings**

This analysis highlights strong growth potential for both companies in the AI chip sector:

**Taiwan Semiconductor**: 8 (strongly positive).
**ASML**: 7 (slightly positive due to revenue guidance adjustment).

**Overall Analysis Rating**: 7, indicating slightly positive sentiment due to strong growth projections for both companies in an expanding market.

Stocks: TSM ASML