TSMC is by far the largest semiconductor foundry in the world and is a critical supplier of 7/5nm application processor devices. Figure shows an updated outlook at TSMC’s 2020 sales forecast given its actual 1H20 results. As shown, while the company expects its full-year sales “to grow above 20%” this year, IC Insights believes its 2H20/1H20 sales will increase by 8%, yielding a full-year jump of 24% for TSMC.

There is no doubt that Apple’s need for leading-edge application processors will be a driving force in this growth. In the second half of 2020, TSMC reported that it shipped its one-billionth 7nm IC and expects to be in high volume production of devices manufactured using its 5nm process technology. In total, the company expects about $3.5 billion in revenue come from its 5nm shipments in 2H20, representing 8% of its total sales in 2020.

Intel, the largest semiconductor supplier in the world, put its full-year 2020 sales growth guidance at 4% during a discussion of its actual 2Q20 sales results. However, Intel’s 2H20/1H20 expectations are for a 10% drop in revenue. The company attributed its strong 1H20 sales and soft 2H20 expectations to some customers building inventory, a “safety stock” of parts given the uncertainties surrounding the trade issues. This inventory is expected to burn off in the second half of this year.

ST, the world’s fourth-largest analog IC supplier and a key automotive device producer, has big hopes for 2H20. After a precipitous drop of 19% in 1H20/2H19, the company expects a strong 19% jump in its 2H20/1H20 sales. The company’s jump in sales in the second half of this year is forecast to be driven by a rebound in the automotive sector from a exceptionally weak 1H20 and a increase in demand from the industrial segment of the market as the global economy displays some stability from a disastrous first half of this year. However, even after a strong 2H20, ST’s total semiconductor sales are expected to be down 1% this year.