UMC Shares Extend Rally on 8-Inch Wafer Pricing Bets Ahead of Earnings
Traders are betting that tightening 8‑inch supply signals a turn in pricing before results arrive.
Overview
- UMC stock in Taipei added to a two‑day gain of more than 6% as investors positioned for possible 8‑inch wafer price increases in 2026.
- Industry surveys point to rising 200mm foundry utilization with limited new capacity, bolstering expectations for stronger pricing power.
- U.S.-listed shares closed at $9.30 on Friday after touching $9.37, a 52‑week high on heavy volume of about 14.27 million shares.
- Recent momentum followed UMC and Microchip’s SST unveiling of an automotive‑grade embedded flash platform on UMC’s 28HPC+ process that Microchip says is fully qualified and ready for mass production.
- Investors are watching UMC’s Jan. 28 fourth‑quarter earnings and Feb. 5 monthly sales for clarity on order trends, pricing, and utilization that could validate the rally.