TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan-listed companies reported strong first-quarter earnings, driven largely by AI-related demand across semiconductor and electronics supply chains.
A total of 1,062 listed firms, excluding 13 financial holding companies and Yong Guan Energy Technology, which had not yet reported results, posted combined revenue of NT$13.7 trillion (US$433.5 billion). The figure represents a 26.29% increase over the same period a year earlier, according to a Taiwan Stock Exchange press release.
Combined pre-tax profit rose 47.86% to NT$1.64 trillion. About 80% of listed companies were profitable in the quarter, while roughly 60% posted year-on-year earnings growth.
Semiconductors were the primary growth driver, supported by strong demand for advanced chips used in AI and high-performance computing. Industry output reached NT$1.92 trillion in the first quarter, up 29.4% year on year, according to LTN.
The Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association raised the industry's full-year outlook, projecting output at NT$8.44 trillion, up from a previous estimate of NT$7.7 trillion. The revised forecast suggests record annual growth of 29.5%, compared with an earlier projection of 18.3%.
Electronic components manufacturers also reported higher profits, supported by demand across the broader technology supply chain. The sector includes upstream passive components, midstream printed circuit boards and integrated circuit substrates, as well as advanced packaging, testing equipment, and downstream assembly and system integration, according to Statementdog.
The plastics sector also benefited from stronger demand for electronic materials used in AI applications. Higher crude oil prices, driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, supported product pricing.
Sectors that reported weaker profitability included shipping, sports and leisure, and automotive. Shipping companies were affected by lower freight rates and a high base of comparison from the previous year.
The sports and leisure sector saw softer demand and lower utilization as brands adjusted product lines. The automotive industry was weighed down by tariff-related uncertainty and foreign exchange volatility.
Among major listed companies, TSMC remained the top profit contributor, reporting record first-quarter revenue, profit, and earnings per share. Institutional investors expect full-year EPS to approach triple digits, according to CTEE.
Cloud infrastructure provider Wiwynn was the strongest performer in terms of EPS, driven by demand for AI data center infrastructure. It reported first-quarter EPS of NT$75.95, its second-highest quarterly result and a record for the same period.
EPS is an important measure of a company’s profitability, showing how much profit it earns for each share of stock. It is calculated by dividing a company’s net profit after tax by the total number of shares outstanding, according to Sinotrade.
Other high-performing companies with EPS above NT$50 included memory chipmakers Phison Electronics, which posted NT$68.8, and Innodisk at NT$57.49. Both figures were record quarterly results.
