Seek Returns

ASML vs. UMC: ASML vs. United Microelectronics Stock Comparison

How do ASML (ASML) and United Microelectronics (UMC) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

ASML (ASML) and United Microelectronics (UMC) both belong to the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, though ASML is classified under Semiconductor Materials & Equipment while UMC falls under Semiconductors.

Both ASML (ASML) and United Microelectronics (UMC) trade as ADRs — their core financials are comparable, but keep FX, depositary-program fees, and dividend withholding in view for each.

Company profile comparison for ASML (ASML) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Profile ItemASMLUMC
NameASML Holding N.V. NY Registered SharesUnited Microelectronics Corp. ADR
Country/RegionNetherlandsTaiwan
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS IndustrySemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustrySemiconductor Materials & EquipmentSemiconductors
Market Capitalization549.12 billion USD34.73 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMarch 15, 1995September 19, 2000
Security TypeADRADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ASML
UMC
GSPC
Loading price history…
ASML (ASML) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for ASML (ASML) and United Microelectronics (UMC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for ASML (ASML) and United Microelectronics (UMC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ASML (ASML) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricASMLUMC
Total Return (1Y)50.12%102.63%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)34.80%31.57%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)13.32%11.51%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ASML
UMC
GSPC
Loading price history…
ASML (ASML) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for ASML (ASML) and United Microelectronics (UMC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for ASML (ASML) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricASMLUMC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.80%67.94%
Beta (5Y)1.801.77
Max Drawdown (5Y)-56.47%-54.30%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.42M11.82M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
ASML and UMC are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for ASML (ASML) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricASMLUMC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.941.45
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.392.35

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

ASML (ASML) at 65.64% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than United Microelectronics (UMC) at 20.37%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

65.64%

ASML
65.64%
Max
52.82%
Q3
22.26%
Median
10.58%
Q1
1.29%
Min
-16.89%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

20.37%

Max
52.82%
Q3
22.26%
UMC
20.37%
Median
10.58%
Q1
1.29%
Min
-16.89%
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their ROE against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both ASML (ASML) at 34.14% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 31.95% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

34.14%

Max
63.80%
ASML
34.14%
Q3
28.36%
Median
11.44%
Q1
0.90%
Min
-37.77%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

31.95%

Max
63.80%
UMC
31.95%
Q3
28.36%
Median
11.44%
Q1
0.90%
Min
-37.77%
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their net margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

ASML (ASML) at 44.36% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of United Microelectronics (UMC) at 25.09%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

44.36%

Max
58.66%
ASML
44.36%
Q3
30.23%
Median
15.91%
Q1
7.54%
Min
-25.74%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

25.09%

Max
58.66%
Q3
30.23%
UMC
25.09%
Median
15.91%
Q1
7.54%
Min
-25.74%
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ASML (ASML) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricASMLUMC
ROE (TTM)65.64%20.37%
ROA (TTM)18.28%5.79%
Net Margin (TTM)34.14%31.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)44.36%25.09%
Gross Margin (TTM)54.34%31.72%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both ASML (ASML) at 15.58% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 2.26% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both ASML (ASML) at 28.43% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at -12.57% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ASML (ASML) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricASMLUMC
Revenue Growth (YoY)15.58%2.26%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)15.55%-5.19%
EPS Growth (YoY)28.43%-12.57%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)15.42%-21.92%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 3.27 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while ASML (ASML) at 1.49 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ASML.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1.49

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
Q1
2.35
ASML
1.49
Min
1.03

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

3.27

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
UMC
3.27
Q1
2.35
Min
1.03
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both ASML (ASML) at 0.09 and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 0.17 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.09

Max
1.46
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
ASML
0.09
Q1
0.04
Min
0.00

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.17

Max
1.46
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
UMC
0.17
Q1
0.04
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for ASML (ASML) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricASMLUMC
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.493.27
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.090.17
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.67-0.60

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

ASML (ASML) at 0.55% pays an industry-typical yield; United Microelectronics (UMC) at 19.43% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.55%

Max
1.37%
Q3
0.65%
ASML
0.55%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

19.43%

UMC
19.43%
Max
1.37%
Q3
0.65%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both ASML (ASML) at 22.26% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 37.46% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

22.26%

Max
49.64%
ASML
22.26%
Q3
21.71%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

37.46%

Max
49.64%
UMC
37.46%
Q3
21.71%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ASML (ASML) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricASMLUMC
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.55%19.43%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)22.26%37.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 13.07 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while ASML (ASML) at 35.06 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for UMC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

35.06

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
ASML
35.06
Q1
23.96
Min
8.12

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

13.07

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
Q1
23.96
UMC
13.07
Min
8.12
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 0.13 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while ASML (ASML) at 13.91 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

13.91

Max
21.42
ASML
13.91
Q3
12.27
Median
5.76
Q1
2.73
Min
0.00

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.13

Max
21.42
Q3
12.27
Median
5.76
Q1
2.73
UMC
0.13
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 2.39 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while ASML (ASML) at 1,223.36 prices above its benchmark range — ASML looks rich relative to book.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1,223.36

ASML
1,223.36
Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
Median
4.29
Q1
2.30
Min
0.20

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.39

Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
Median
4.29
UMC
2.39
Q1
2.30
Min
0.20
Loading chart…
ASML (ASML) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ASML (ASML) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricASMLUMC
P/E Ratio (TTM)35.0613.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)13.910.13
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1,223.362.39
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.89%129.43%