$UMS(558.SI)$ : Turning the Corner on the Semiconductor DownâCycle
đ SoftâŻFY24 Print â Revenue slid 19âŻ% YoY to S$242.1âŻmillion while net profit fell 32âŻ% to S$41.6âŻmillion as integratedâsystem sales normalized after the 2022â23 boom.
That said, gross margins edged up to 51âŻ%, reflecting disciplined cost management and a continued shift toward higherâvalue modules.
Management reiterated its view that FY24 marks the earnings trough, with order momentum improving into 1QâŻ2025.
đ Penang MegaâPlant RampâUp â The new 300000âŻsqâŻft facility, built for roughly RM250âŻmillion, entered volume production in 4QâŻ2024 and already houses two anchor tool programmes.
The siteâs proximity to key NorthâAsian customers shortens lead times and diversifies manufacturing risk away from Singapore.
đ Semicon Cycle Inflection â Tierâ1 customers indicate a 2025 recovery fuelled by AI servers, advancedâpackaging tools, and new logic nodes.
Industry body SEMI forecasts 18 fresh fabs breaking ground next year, lifting demand for waferâfab equipment that UMSâs core customer supplies.
Order visibility has seemingly improved for 2HâŻ2025 as OEMs reposition inventory ahead of the buildâout.
âď¸ Fortified Balance Sheet â Net cash rose to S$79âŻmillion after robust operating inflows and minimal debt, giving ample headroom for Penang PhaseâŻ2 expansion, boltâon M&A, or further shareholder returns.
A final 2.0âcent payout brings FY2024 DPS to 5.2âŻcents, translating into a decent 4.8% dividend yield too.
đ Undemanding Valuation â According to Simplywall.st, UMS trades at roughly 15x FY2024 EPS versus its peersâ P/E ratios like Frencken at 11.6x, $AEM Holdings Limited(AEMFF)$ at 32.6x, and $Venture(V03.SI)$ at 13.5x, standing in the middle ground excluding its cashârich balance sheet.
The analyst consensus target of S$1.23 implies about 15âŻ% potential upside before dividends, offering a decent riskâreward profile for mediumâterm investors.
đ Conclusion
UMS emerges from the downâcycle with cash to spare, a freshly commissioned Penang plant, and clear visibility on a 2025 semiconductor rebound.
Investors seeking resilient yield and leveraged exposure to nextâgeneration chip capitalâexpenditure growth may find the shares compelling at current levels.
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