Story perspectives

TSMC Lifts 2026 Capex Target to $60–$64 Billion

By Drooid · Oct 17, 2026, 2:27 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

TSMC reported third-quarter net profit of NT$763.1 billion, a 69% year-over-year increase overall.
Third-quarter revenue reached NT$1.49 trillion, up 51% and above LSEG estimates globally.
AI-driven high-performance computing generated 68% of total revenue significantly.
TSMC forecasts fourth-quarter revenue of $52.3-$54.3 billion, a 61% YoY rise for the company.
TSMC raised 2026 capex target to $60-$64 billion, up from $52-$56 billion significantly.

History

Historical Context

Founded in 1987 as a joint venture of Taiwan’s government, ITRI and private investors, TSMC received $58 million and technology from Philips to launch the first dedicated foundry. Scaling in the 1990s later powered smartphone and AI chip demand, setting a precedent for huge capex cycles. Following that path, TSMC announced a 2026 spend of $60-$64 billion as AI sales now make up about two-thirds of profit.

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Story summary

TSMC reported third-quarter net profit of NT$763.1 billion, a 69% year-over-year increase overall.
Third-quarter revenue reached NT$1.49 trillion, up 51% and above LSEG estimates globally.
AI-driven high-performance computing generated 68% of total revenue significantly.
TSMC forecasts fourth-quarter revenue of $52.3-$54.3 billion, a 61% YoY rise for the company.
TSMC raised 2026 capex target to $60-$64 billion, up from $52-$56 billion significantly.

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