MU vs. UMC: Micron vs. United Microelectronics Stock Comparison
How do Micron (MU) 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
Micron (MU) 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.
Micron (MU) 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 | MU | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Micron Technology 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 | 780.68 billion USD | 34.73 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1984 | September 19, 2000 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MU | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 208.53% | 102.63% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 115.89% | 31.57% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 58.28% | 11.51% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MU | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 83.85% | 67.94% |
| Beta (5Y) | 2.44 | 1.77 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -57.63% | -54.30% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 27.63M | 11.82M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MU | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 2.44 | 1.45 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 3.87 | 2.35 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Micron (MU) at 88.26% 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.
MU
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
88.26%
- MU
- 88.26%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Micron (MU) at 63.80% 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.
MU
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
63.80%
- MU
- 63.80%
- Max
- 63.80%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Micron (MU) at 80.68% turns sales into operating profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while United Microelectronics (UMC) at 25.09% operates around its industry’s norm.
MU
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
80.68%
- MU
- 80.68%
- Max
- 58.66%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MU | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 88.26% | 20.37% |
| ROA (TTM) | 44.56% | 5.79% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 63.80% | 31.95% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 80.68% | 25.09% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 80.72% | 31.72% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Micron (MU) at 256.33% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than United Microelectronics (UMC) at 2.26%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
EPS Growth
Micron (MU) at 879.31% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than United Microelectronics (UMC) at -12.57%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MU | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 256.33% | 2.26% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 104.65% | -5.19% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 879.31% | -12.57% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -21.92% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Micron (MU) at 3.31 and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 3.27 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
MU
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
3.31
- Max
- 10.33
- Q3
- 5.62
- Median
- 3.33
- MU
- 3.31
- 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)
Micron (MU) at 0.04 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while United Microelectronics (UMC) at 0.17 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
MU
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
0.04
- Max
- 1.46
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.27
- Q1
- 0.04
- MU
- 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 | MU | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 3.31 | 3.27 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.04 | 0.17 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.35 | -0.60 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Micron (MU) at 0.09% 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.
MU
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
0.09%
- Max
- 1.37%
- Q3
- 0.65%
- MU
- 0.09%
- 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)
Micron (MU) at 0.71% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while United Microelectronics (UMC) at 37.46% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
MU
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
0.71%
- Max
- 49.64%
- Q3
- 21.71%
- MU
- 0.71%
- 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 | MU | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.09% | 19.43% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.71% | 37.46% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Micron (MU) at 9.28 and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 13.07 sit in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, with the market paying less for a dollar of trailing earnings than it pays for typical peers.
MU
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
9.28
- Max
- 110.34
- Q3
- 66.81
- Median
- 37.02
- Q1
- 23.96
- MU
- 9.28
- 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 Micron (MU) at 5.86 prices around its industry’s middle — UMC costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
MU
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
5.86
- Max
- 21.42
- Q3
- 12.27
- MU
- 5.86
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Micron (MU) at 5.64 and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 2.39 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
MU
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
5.64
- Max
- 14.06
- Q3
- 7.44
- MU
- 5.64
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MU | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 9.28 | 13.07 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.86 | 0.13 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.64 | 2.39 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.73% | 129.43% |