Summary: Hua Hong Semiconductor Ltd recorded record fourth-quarter revenue and returned to net profit, boosting its share prices in Shanghai and Hong Kong as investors cheered higher shipments and improving margins. The results come as renewed investor interest in domestic artificial intelligence and chip demand lifts technology names across Chinese markets.
Shares of Hua Hong Semiconductor rose on Thursday after the Shanghai- and Hong Kong-listed contract foundry announced its strongest quarterly top line to date and a move back to profitability. The company reported fourth-quarter revenue of $659.9 million, a 22.4% increase from the same quarter a year earlier, marking an all-time high for the firm.
Net profit attributable to shareholders in the quarter reached $17.5 million, reversing a loss from the comparable period a year before. Gross margin improved as well, advancing to 13.0% from 11.4% year-on-year. Management cited higher wafer shipments, which rose 19.4%, as a key operational contributor to the improved margin and revenue performance.
Market reaction was positive: the company’s Shanghai-listed shares climbed as much as 6% to 137.13 yuan, while the stock listed in Hong Kong rose about 3% to HK$102.6.
The upbeat showing from China’s second-largest contract chipmaker arrives amid a broader technology sector rally linked to growing investor enthusiasm for domestic AI initiatives. In the run-up to the Lunar New Year, several Chinese AI developers and platforms rolled out new services and models, including the release of GLM-5 by Zhipu AI and increased usage of Alibaba’s Qwen AI chatbot during a major promotional push. These developments helped underpin demand expectations for chips tailored to AI and power management.
Media reports during the week also indicated that leading PC manufacturers are examining Chinese-made memory chips for the first time as a global supply squeeze tightens availability and lifts costs, a dynamic that could influence supply chains and component sourcing decisions.
Separately, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp reported a strong fourth quarter with profit up by more than 60%, though its shares slipped after management flagged a cautious outlook for 2026.
Alongside these corporate updates, an investment research product referenced in market commentary evaluates individual stocks, including the SMIC ticker, against a broad universe of companies using numerous financial metrics. The commentary noted that the tool identifies names with attractive risk-reward profiles and cited past examples of large returns in other stocks.
Key takeaways:
- Hua Hong delivered record quarterly revenue of $659.9 million and returned to profit with $17.5 million attributable to shareholders.
- Operational improvements included a gross margin increase to 13.0% and a 19.4% rise in wafer shipments, supporting the company’s recovery.
- Investor interest in domestic AI developments has buoyed technology and semiconductor stocks, contributing to share gains for Hua Hong.
Market and sector impacts: The results affect the semiconductor sector directly, with implications for technology and PC manufacturing supply chains as firms reassess sourcing and capacity in light of supply constraints and rising component costs.
Risks and uncertainties:
- SMIC’s shares fell despite strong quarterly profit because of a cautious outlook for 2026 - illustrating how forward guidance can affect valuations in the semiconductor sector.
- Reports of a global memory supply crunch and rising costs may pressure PC makers and component buyers, introducing uncertainty into procurement and cost forecasts for the broader technology hardware supply chain.
- Market sentiment around AI developments is a driver of current rallies; shifts in investor enthusiasm could alter near-term stock performance across technology and chipmaker listings.