Chip Customization Order Backlog Jumped
发布时间:2026-11-06 来源:华泰证券
ASR Microelectronics reported 9M26 revenue of RMB3,814mn (+32.4% YoY), attributable NP of RMB358mn (vs. a net loss of RMB327mn in 9M25), and recurring NP of RMB85mn (vs. a net loss of RMB488mn in 9M25). In 3Q26, revenue reached RMB1,363mn (+38.8% YoY, +3.2% QoQ), attributable NP was RMB274mn (turning positive YoY, +144.3% QoQ), and recurring NP was RMB144mn (turning positive both YoY and QoQ). Non-recurring items included net fair value gains of RMB140mn. The cellular baseband chip business continued to improve, with 3Q26 revenue growing further QoQ. Driven by price increases for some products and product mix optimization, overall gross margin reached 33.25% (+4.42pp QoQ). Combined with disciplined expense control, recurring NP turned positive. The cellular baseband chip business remains a solid, the ASIC customization business is advancing with a significant increase in order backlog, and smartphone SoCs could broaden the growth ceiling. Maintain BUY.
3Q26: GPM notably improved
By segment, the company's cellular baseband chip products are seeing increasingly diverse downstream terminal applications, with effective market expansion and steady growth. In 3Q26, revenue from private-labeled products grew c. 28% YoY. The chip customization business continued to deepen cooperation with core customers, enhancing order intake capability, with projects delivered smoothly and revenue up c. 948% YoY. For profitability, 3Q26 overall gross margin rose to 33.25% (+6.60pp YoY, +4.42pp QoQ). We attribute the significant YoY and QoQ improvement to: 1) the ramp-up of the customization business driving business and product mix optimization, and 2) price increases for some products driving chip gross margin improvement. On the expense side, 3Q26 R&D expenses fell 24.9% QoQ to RMB240mn, mainly due to improved overall R&D efficiency and the company shifting some R&D personnel toward the customization business. These factors together drove the company's first positive quarterly recurring NP. On the supply chain front, inventory reached RMB2,613mn at end-3Q26 (up RMB457mn from end-2Q26), as the company continued to build inventory to enhance product delivery capability.
Earnings forecasts and valuation
Considering that delivery and volume production of customized chip projects may accelerate entering 2027, we lower our 2026 revenue forecast and raise our 2027/2028 revenue forecasts. We now project 2026-2028 revenue of RMB5,125/7,681/11,133mn (-7.47%/+4.26%/+18.88% vs. previous forecasts). Factoring in the impact of product price increases and business mix changes on gross margin, we adjust our gross margin forecasts to 31.5%/30.4%/28.0% (+1.73/+1.6p/-1.44pp vs. previous forecasts). Combined with fair value gains and R&D expense improvement from the reallocation of R&D personnel, this corresponds to attributable NP of RMB482/859/1,371mn (+125.95%/+74.26%/ +42.47% vs. previous forecasts). The company's core cellular baseband chip business has high barriers and strong scarcity value, while the chip customization business is entering a period of strong volume growth. We expect earnings growth to accelerate. We apply 6.2x 2027E PS, in line with its peers’ average on Wind consensus, and derive a target price of RMB113.90 (previous: RMB125.10, based on 7.1x 2027E PS). Maintain BUY.
Risks: slower-than-expected new product development, intensifying market competition, slower-than-expected market expansion.