Do we like them?

Do we like TSMC?

World's largest contract chipmaker, making advanced chips for Apple, Nvidia and others; based in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Our score: 6 out of 10. Essential, well-run maker of the world's chips with a decent green push. A possible $1B+ US export-control penalty and heavy water and power use keep us from a high score.

TSMC is the Taiwanese company that makes most of the world's most advanced chips for other firms. C.C. Wei is chairman and CEO. Almost every phone, AI server and gadget you use probably depends on it.

The big drama is the US Commerce Department probe. Reuters reported in April 2025 that TSMC could face a penalty of $1 billion or more. The probe concerns its work for China-based Sophgo, whose chip matched one found in a Huawei AI processor. We found no update on whether it has settled.

In April 2026 a Taiwan court sentenced a former TSMC engineer to 10 years in prison for stealing trade secrets. It also fined Tokyo Electron's Taiwan unit NT$150 million. TSMC was the victim in that case.

On the environment, the 2024 sustainability report targets net zero by 2050 and RE100 by 2040. Taiwanese group CET said it couldn't see a specific renewable plan. Wei said in June 2026 that water still worries him, but talent worries him more. We'd give it a fair, not glowing, score.