TSMC, chipmaker to the tech giants, bounces back

The world’s leading semiconductor saw its sales jump 17% in the latest quarter

4/10/24 10:38AM

In Silico

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has caught the AI wave, posting double-digit growth for the first time since 2022, with a 17% surge in sales for the first quarter of 2024.

The world’s largest chipmaker, TSMC manufactures chips designed by the likes of Nvidia and Qualcomm. The output of the Taiwanese titan ends up in a countless number of products that make modern life tick, from smartphones to smart cars — and Apple is “by far” TSMC’s largest customer, spending tens of billions of dollars on TSMC chips for its Macs and iPhones.

After the pandemic-fueled tech binge cooled off, TSMC had a more sluggish 2023, reporting its first back-to-back quarterly sales decline since 2017. However, the AI revolution has reinvigorated demand for TSMC's high-end chips, with companies scrambling to stock up on the silicon that powers AI, bolstering the chipmaker’s sales in the most recent quarter: revenue in March alone was reportedly up 34% year-on-year.

TSMC's dominance remains a political football in the ongoing tensions between China and the US. In an attempt to bring more advanced semiconductor manufacturing back to American shores, the government has been working to boost its domestic semiconductor industry — on Monday announcing that TSMC could receive up to $11.6bn in grants and loans to help build its factories in Arizona.

Netflix and Disney+ probably only added ad-tier subscribers this year, says Morgan Stanley

As streaming prices climb, ad-free subscribers are becoming a rarity.

Max Knoblauch12/18/25

BLOOD

MONEY

J. Edward Moreno12/17/25

Discount stores are having a moment in America, drawing high- and low-income consumers alike

Everyone loves a deal in 2025 — and Aldi, Walmart, and Dollar Tree are all cashing in.

Millie Giles12/17/25

Max Knoblauch12/16/25

Report: OpenAI won’t pay a dime in cash for its 3-year licensing deal for Disney IP

More financial details behind the landmark deal that will grant OpenAI three years of access to Disney intellectual property are coming out, and they’re pretty surprising.

The deal will reportedly see OpenAI pay zero dollars in licensing fees, instead compensating Disney in stock warrants. It was previously reported that Disney would invest $1 billion into OpenAI as part of the agreement.

It’s very abnormal for Disney to grant anyone access to its massive IP library without a cash payment, and the entertainment juggernaut has been known to strike down even crocheted Etsy Yodas for infringing on its turf. In its fiscal year 2025, Disney booked more than $10 billion in revenue from licensing fees across merchandising, television, and theatrical distribution.

OpenAI Deal to License Disney Characters Is Entirely in Stock

Max Knoblauch12/15/25

Ford says it will take $19.5 billion in charges in a massive EV write-down

The EV business has marked a long stretch of losing for Ford, and today the automaker announced it will take $19.5 billion in charges tied, for the most part, to its EV division.

Ford said it’s launching a battery energy storage business, leveraging battery plants in Kentucky and Michigan to “provide solutions for energy infrastructure and growing data center demand.”

According to Ford, the changes will drive Ford’s electrified division to profitability by 2029. The company will stop making its electric F-150, the Lightning, and instead shift to an “extended-range electric vehicle” that includes a gas-powered generator.

The Detroit automaker also raised its adjusted earnings before interest and taxes outlook to “about $7 billion” from a range of $6 billion to $6.5 billion.

Ford’s write-down is one of the largest taken by a company as legacy automakers scale back on EVs, giving EV-only automakers a market share boost.