United Microelectronics (NYSE:UMC) Posts Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.01 EPS

United Microelectronics (NYSE:UMC) issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The semiconductor company reported $0.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.12 by $0.01, Zacks reports. United Microelectronics had a net margin of 17.08% and a return on equity of 11.18%. The business’s revenue was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.10 earnings per share.

Here are the key takeaways from United Microelectronics’ conference call:

• Q4 results beat guidance with revenue of TWD 61.81 billion, a 30.7% gross margin and net income attributable to shareholders of TWD 10.06 billion, while cash remained above TWD 110 billion and utilization was ~78%.
• Q1‑2026 guidance is conservative — wafer shipments flat, ASPs “firm” but gross margin guided to the high‑20% range and utilization to mid‑70% — signaling near‑term margin pressure.
• 22 nm and 28 nm continue to drive product‑mix improvement (combined ~36% of revenue), with 22 nm tape‑outs accelerating and management expecting this to support stronger pricing and growth in 2026.
• UMC is scaling strategic initiatives — Phase 3 at Singapore Fab 12i completed, a 12nm collaboration with Intel advancing toward 2027 tape‑outs, and active push into advanced packaging and silicon photonics (PDK work with imec and 12″ PIC ramps planned).
• Capital plan is modestly down to $1.5 billion for 2026 but capacity growth is limited (~1.2% y/y) while depreciation is expected to rise by the low‑teens percentage, which will weigh on margins this year.

United Microelectronics Stock Down 8.8%

UMC traded down $1.10 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $11.38. 7,915,159 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 13,944,411. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $8.40 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $7.60. United Microelectronics has a fifty-two week low of $5.66 and a fifty-two week high of $12.68. The stock has a market cap of $28.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.02 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 2.34 and a quick ratio of 1.92.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on UMC shares. Bank of America cut United Microelectronics from a “buy” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 12th. Wall Street Zen lowered United Microelectronics from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, December 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of United Microelectronics in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, United Microelectronics has an average rating of “Hold”.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UMC. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Microelectronics in the second quarter worth $27,000. Lido Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of United Microelectronics in the third quarter valued at $98,000. Legal & General Group Plc bought a new position in United Microelectronics in the second quarter worth $108,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. raised its position in United Microelectronics by 11.5% in the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 14,756 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $113,000 after purchasing an additional 1,516 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GeoWealth Management LLC boosted its stake in United Microelectronics by 10.2% in the third quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 15,710 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $119,000 after purchasing an additional 1,459 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 5.05% of the company’s stock.

About United Microelectronics

United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) is a Taiwan-based semiconductor foundry that provides wafer fabrication and related manufacturing services to a global customer base. Founded in 1980, the company operates as a pure-play foundry, producing integrated circuits for a range of customers including fabless semiconductor companies and integrated device manufacturers. UMC is publicly listed (NYSE: UMC) and focuses on high-reliability manufacturing rather than branding consumer products.

UMC’s core services encompass wafer fabrication using a portfolio of process technologies, with particular emphasis on mature and specialty nodes that support analog, power-management, radio-frequency (RF), and mixed-signal applications.