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Mon 12 Oct 2026
Chips From the edition of Monday 12 October 2026

TSMC just had a record quarter, and its American shares fell four days running

TSMC

TSMC, which makes chips for Nvidia and Apple, took in NT$1.49 trillion in the three months to September. That is about US$46.7 billion, 50.9% more than a year earlier and a quarterly record.

TSMC beat its own forecast. It had told investors to expect between US$44.6 billion and US$45.8 billion. September alone came in 54.6% above a year earlier.

Its American-listed shares fell anyway. They dropped four sessions in a row, from US$485.80 on Monday to US$453.31 on Friday, a slide of 6.7%.

Chart: TSMC's sales climb 50.9% in a record quarter. TSMC's revenue growth on a year earlier, in percent, for each quarter from March 2024 to September 2026. Its US-listed shares fell 6.7% last week.
This story’s chart of the day: the numbers, the dark version and the animated version are on its own page. The chart’s page →

The rest of the chip sector had it worse. Intel lost 12.3% over the week to US$104.70. Much of the selling came after Thursday's report that OpenAI earns less than investors had been told.

TSMC's results call is at 2pm Thursday in Taiwan, which is 7pm in Auckland and 5pm in Sydney. The sales are already public, so the call is about margins and next year's spending plans.

Next up

TSMC's outlook for 2027. The sales figures show AI money is still arriving. Last week's selling was about whether it keeps coming, and TSMC is among the first to hear its customers' plans.

This story ran in Harvest Season Monday 12 October’s edition, with the market snapshot, the other two stories, the numbers and the week ahead. Read the whole edition →

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General information and commentary only, not financial advice. It does not take account of your objectives, financial situation or needs, and reflects the author's own reading of public information at the time of writing, which may be wrong. Sharespective, its people and its clients may hold positions in the companies covered. Do your own research and talk to a licensed adviser.

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