TSMC Profit Jumps 69% to Record as AI Demand Holds Strong

TSMC reported another record quarterly profit on 15 October, as demand for advanced chips continued to lift its business. Net income for July–September rose 68.7% from a year earlier to NT$763.06 billion, according to the company's earnings release.

The result marked its sixth consecutive quarterly profit record. Revenue reached US$46.72 billion, up 41.2% year on year in US-dollar terms.

The chipmaker, whose customers include Nvidia and Apple, also raised its forecast for 2026 revenue growth to about 44%, from more than 40% previously, Reuters reported.

For the final quarter of the year, TSMC expects revenue of US$52.3 billion to US$54.3 billion. Its 2026 capital spending plan remains US$60 billion to US$64 billion.

But strong AI demand is not removing every risk. Chief executive C.C. Wei said rising component prices and economic uncertainty were putting pressure on consumer and other price-sensitive markets. That is prompting a cautious approach to business planning for 2027.

The distinction matters: TSMC said it saw no slowdown in the AI trend and that demand still exceeded its supply capacity. Its caution concerned the wider market backdrop, not an announced cut to AI demand expectations.

Sources: Reuters, 15 October 2026, via MarketScreener; TSMC Q3 2026 earnings release, 15 October 2026.

Archival photograph: TSMC factory in Taichung, Taiwan, 25 June 2020. Photo: Briáxis F. Mendes (孟必思) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for layout; any crop remains licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.