UMC

We rate UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP (UMC) as a Buy with a composite score of 71.6/100 at a current price of $10.92. The stock scores above average across the majority of our six quantitative factors and ranks #68 out of 7,333 stocks in our universe, reflecting a favorable risk-reward profile.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in value (90th percentile) and momentum (79th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. All factors score above the 40th percentile, indicating no material weakness in the quantitative profile. We assign a Narrow Moat rating (50/100), Low uncertainty, and Exemplary capital allocation.

Key items to watch: whether strong momentum is fundamentally supported by revenue trends. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP holds a mid-tier position (#35 of 50) within the Manufacturing sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 71.6/100 places it at rank #68 in our full 7,333-stock universe. With a $15.3B market capitalization, UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP operates at meaningful scale within the Manufacturing sector, providing competitive advantages in distribution, procurement, and customer reach.

Despite positive momentum (79th percentile), revenue contraction of -3% creates a divergence between price action and fundamental trajectory. This divergence suggests either that the market is looking through near-term weakness or that technical factors are temporarily inflating the stock. Investors should assess whether the revenue decline reflects cyclical weakness or structural challenges.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 33% (-9.9pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 22% (+20.9pp vs sector) and net margins of 20.9%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 64%. This efficient conversion suggests well-controlled operating costs and limited margin leakage between the gross and net levels.

At a current price of $10.92, UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP appears undervalued relative to its fundamentals. Our value factor score of 90/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. The stock screens as attractively priced on a majority of these measures, suggesting the market may be underappreciating the underlying fundamentals.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 85.2x (a 283% premium to the sector median of 22.3x), EV/EBITDA of 2.1x (discounted to peers), P/B of 2.5x, P/S of 0.9x. The above-sector P/E multiple suggests the market is pricing in superior growth or quality, which our analysis partially supports given strong quality metrics.

We assign a Low uncertainty rating to UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP. The company exhibits strong financial stability with a beta of 0.76, conservative leverage (24% D/E), and a stability factor in the 74th percentile. The predictable nature of the business model and solid financial position reduce the range of potential outcomes, giving us confidence in our fair value estimate.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: elevated valuation multiple (P/E 85.2x) that leaves limited margin for error. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 74th percentile and quality factor at the 77th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: conservative leverage (24% D/E) limits balance sheet risk; above-average stability (74th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics; a 7.46% dividend yield anchors total return. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP's capital allocation as Exemplary. Management demonstrates a strong track record of balancing reinvestment with shareholder returns, evidenced by returns on equity of 57.0%, disciplined leverage (24% D/E), a 7.46% dividend yield. Exemplary allocators typically generate returns on equity above 20% while maintaining debt-to-equity below 50% — UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP meets this high bar.

The balance sheet remains conservatively managed, providing financial flexibility for opportunistic investments while maintaining a margin of safety for shareholders. The company returns capital via a 7.46% dividend yield, and the combination of 34.8% return on assets and controlled leverage suggests management is deploying capital at rates well above the cost of capital — the hallmark of exemplary stewardship.

In summary, UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP receives a Buy rating with a composite score of 71.6/100 (rank #68 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Narrow Moat (50/100, trend: stable), Low uncertainty, and Exemplary capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 74/100.

Our analysis supports a constructive view on UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP. The combination of identifiable competitive advantages, low uncertainty, and exemplary capital allocation creates a risk-reward profile that favors accumulation at current levels. We recommend investors consider adding this name to portfolios aligned with the stock's risk profile.