Taipei, Feb 2, 2026, 08:41 CST — Premarket
- UMC shares resumed trading in Taipei following a steep plunge on Friday; their ADRs also dropped in New York.
- Jan. sales data, set for release Feb. 5, is under close watch for signals on demand and pricing.
- Attention remains on margins, capacity utilization, and 2026 spending following last week’s outlook.
Shares of United Microelectronics Corp will resume trading in Taipei on Monday following a sharp drop late last week. Investors are eyeing a monthly sales update slated for later this week to gauge demand.
This move is significant since UMC occupies a key spot in the chip supply chain—not at the forefront, but handling mature process nodes that power cars, industrial gear, and everyday electronics. Shifts in sentiment here often ripple out to other foundry stocks.
Investors are also debating if pricing for older chips has truly stabilized or is merely pausing before another round of margin pressure.
UMC finished Friday down 8.77% at NT$62.40, per MarketWatch data, as the stock struggled to find support going into the week. (MarketWatch)
UMC’s shares listed in the U.S. slipped 3.9% to $10.18 in New York.
Shares slid after UMC’s latest forecast showed first-quarter wafer shipments holding steady, with U.S.-dollar average selling prices described as “firm.” The company expects gross margins in the high-20% range and capacity utilisation around the mid-70% mark, reflecting how much of its fab is active. Capital spending for 2026 was set at $1.5 billion. Co-president Jason Wang noted that fourth-quarter wafer shipments were “flattish,” citing “mild demand across most markets.” (Stock Titan)
UBS analyst Sunny Lin noted that UMC’s flat ASP outlook appears “more resilient” compared to the roughly 5% drops expected in early 2024 and early 2025. He highlighted Chinese foundries operating above 90% capacity and hiking prices, alongside changes in mature-capacity strategies across the industry. (Investing)
UMC’s January monthly sales report is due Feb. 5. Investors watch it closely as a quick gauge of order flow post year-end budgeting and ahead of the spring build-up. (UMC)
Monthly revenue figures often come with noise. Factors like customer timing, inventory adjustments, and currency fluctuations can distort the picture. A surprise dip would quickly spark concerns that “firm” pricing might weaken when contracts are up for renewal.
The market’s eye is on Feb. 5, when the first solid data of the quarter drops. All focus will be on whether UMC holds its pricing ground as competitors jostle for the same mature-node volume.
