The World of Semiconductors

ASE Technology Holding Company

While researching investment possibilities yesterday, I came upon a company with the ticker symbol ASX. I own, and have owned, various semiconductor company stocks over the years. This has included companies like MXIM, AMD, and TXN. In fact, I still hold shares of Texas Instruments (TXN), AVGO and QCOM. One of the reasons I like Seeking Alpha is that it provides some tools for finding “peer” investments. Another helpful feature is one that lets you see, based on Seeking Alpha ratings, the top investments in a category.

Buying Top-Rated Investments is rarely a bad idea. But you must be patient.

The Top Six Semiconductor Companies

The number one company in this subsector is ASX (ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.), The next five are: 2) Broadcom Inc. (AVGO); 3) Himax Technologies, Inc. (HIMX); 4) United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC); 5) Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD); and 6) QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM). Intel (INTC) is number 23 and Texas Instruments (TXN) is number 24. A word of caution is in order. Just because an investment is “number one” doesn’t make it a sure thing. However, I have found that investing in highly-rated companies rarely results in disappointment if the goal is long-term investment growth.

Dividends

ASX is not a dividend investment but it pays an annual dividend.

Don’t invest in ASX for the dividend. It is only paid annually (like many foreign companies) and it is nothing to excite a dividend growth investor. This is more of a growth investment.

Full Disclosure

I own 100 shares of ASX and 100 shares of GSL.

I trade in and out of GSL. ASX will probably be a long-term holding.

Business Profile

ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. provides a range of semiconductors packaging and testing, and electronic manufacturing services in the United States, Taiwan, rest of Asia, Europe, and internationally. The company offers packaging services, including flip chip ball grid array (BGA), flip chip chip scale package (CSP), advanced chip scale packages, quad flat packages, low profile and thin quad flat packages, bump chip carrier and quad flat no-lead (QFN) packages, advanced QFN packages, plastic BGAs, and 3D chip packages; stacked die solutions in various package types; and copper and silver wire bonding solutions. It also provides advanced packages, such as flip chip BGA; heat-spreader FCBGA; flip-chip CSP; hybrid FCCSP; flip chip package in package and package on package (POP); advanced single sided substrate; high-bandwidth POP; fan-out wafer-level packaging; SESUB; and 2.5D silicon interposer. In addition, the company offers IC wire bonding packages; system-in-package products (SiP) and modules; and interconnect materials, as well as assembles automotive electronic products. Further, it provides a range of semiconductor testing services, including front-end engineering testing, wafer probing, logic/mixed-signal/RF module and SiP/MEMS/discrete final testing, and other test-related services, as well as drop shipment services. Additionally, the company develops, constructs, sells, leases, and manages real estate properties; produces substrates; offers information software, equipment leasing, financing, investment advisory, and warehousing management services; processes and sells computer and communication peripherals, electronic components, telecommunications equipment, and motherboards; and imports and exports goods and technology. ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. was incorporated in 1984 and is headquartered in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.