TSMC Q4 profit seen up 58% despite tariffs

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., a major global producer of advanced chips used in artificial intelligence applications, is expected to see its fourth-quarter profit rise 58%, helped by surging demand.

The world’s largest contract chipmaker, whose clients include Apple Inc. (AAPL.O) and Nvidia Inc. (NVDA.O), has benefited from the trend toward artificial intelligence, but the Taiwanese company faces headwinds from U.S. government technology restrictions on China and uncertainty over the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, which has threatened to impose broad tariffs on imports.

TSMC is set to report a net profit of T$377.95 billion ($11.41 billion) for the quarter ended Dec. 31, according to LSEG SmartEstimate estimates based on 22 analysts. Reuters reported.

SmartEstimates gives greater weight to forecasts from analysts who are consistently more accurate, and this estimate compares to a Q4 2023 net profit of NT$238.7 billion. TSMC last week reported a rise in Q4 revenue in Taiwanese dollars, comfortably beating market expectations, and the company will provide its revenue forecast in US dollars on its quarterly earnings call, scheduled for 06:00 GMT on Thursday.