GFS vs. UMC: GLOBALFOUNDRIES vs. United Microelectronics Stock Comparison
How do GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GFS) 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
GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GFS) and United Microelectronics (UMC) are both classified in the Semiconductors sub-industry within the broader Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
United Microelectronics (UMC) has more than two decades of public-market history since September 19, 2000, whereas GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GFS) listed on October 28, 2021 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GFS) trades as ordinary local shares, while United Microelectronics (UMC) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | GFS | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | GlobalFoundries Inc. | United Microelectronics Corp. ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | Taiwan |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment |
| GICS Industry | Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Semiconductors | Semiconductors |
| Market Capitalization | 21.53 billion USD | 34.73 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 28, 2021 | September 19, 2000 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GFS | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 19.69% | 102.63% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -7.06% | 31.57% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -7.38% | 11.51% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | GFS | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 62.43% | 67.94% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.84 | 1.77 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -61.53% | -54.30% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.75M | 11.82M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | GFS | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.25 | 1.45 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.37 | 2.35 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GFS) at 1.69% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 20.37% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
GFS
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
1.69%
- Max
- 52.82%
- Q3
- 22.26%
- Median
- 10.58%
- GFS
- 1.69%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
United Microelectronics (UMC) at 31.95% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GFS) at 2.76%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
GFS
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
2.76%
- Max
- 63.80%
- Q3
- 28.36%
- Median
- 11.44%
- GFS
- 2.76%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GFS) at 12.11% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 25.09% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
GFS
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
12.11%
- Max
- 58.66%
- Q3
- 30.23%
- Median
- 15.91%
- GFS
- 12.11%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | GFS | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 1.69% | 20.37% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.11% | 5.79% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 2.76% | 31.95% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 12.11% | 25.09% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 28.47% | 31.72% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GFS) at 0.61% 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.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: United Microelectronics (UMC) reports EPS growth of -12.57%, ranked against its industry; GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GFS) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | GFS | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 0.61% | 2.26% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -5.74% | -5.19% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | -12.57% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -15.34% | -21.92% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GFS) at 2.58 and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 3.27 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
GFS
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
2.58
- Max
- 10.33
- Q3
- 5.62
- Median
- 3.33
- GFS
- 2.58
- Q1
- 2.35
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GFS) at 0.14 and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 0.17 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
GFS
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
0.14
- Max
- 1.46
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.27
- GFS
- 0.14
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | GFS | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.58 | 3.27 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.14 | 0.17 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.27 | -0.60 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GFS) at 0.66% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; United Microelectronics (UMC) at 19.43% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.
GFS
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
0.66%
- Max
- 1.37%
- GFS
- 0.66%
- Q3
- 0.65%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and GFS more so: United Microelectronics (UMC) at 37.46% sits above the band, while GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GFS) at 68.57% exceeds every peer in its group.
GFS
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
68.57%
- GFS
- 68.57%
- Max
- 49.64%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | GFS | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.66% | 19.43% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 68.57% | 37.46% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
United Microelectronics (UMC) at 13.07 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GFS) at 110.34 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.
GFS
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
110.34
- GFS
- 110.34
- Max
- 110.34
- Q3
- 66.81
- Median
- 37.02
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
United Microelectronics (UMC) at 0.13 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GFS) at 3.01 prices around its industry’s middle — UMC costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
GFS
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
3.01
- Max
- 21.42
- Q3
- 12.27
- Median
- 5.76
- GFS
- 3.01
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GFS) at 1.80 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while United Microelectronics (UMC) at 2.39 is valued near its industry’s middle — GFS is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
GFS
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
1.80
- Max
- 14.06
- Q3
- 7.44
- Median
- 4.29
- Q1
- 2.30
- GFS
- 1.80
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | GFS | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 110.34 | 13.07 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.01 | 0.13 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.80 | 2.39 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.04% | 129.43% |