TSEM vs. UMC: Tower Semiconductor vs. United Microelectronics Stock Comparison
How do Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) 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
Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) 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.
Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) 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 | TSEM | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Tower Semiconductor Ltd. | United Microelectronics Corp. ADR |
| Country/Region | Israel | 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 | 15.59 billion USD | 34.73 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 26, 1994 | September 19, 2000 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | TSEM | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 78.71% | 102.63% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 83.79% | 31.57% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 32.56% | 11.51% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | TSEM | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 84.90% | 67.94% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.99 | 1.77 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -58.66% | -54.30% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.22M | 11.82M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | TSEM | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.88 | 1.45 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.32 | 2.35 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) at 11.86% 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.
TSEM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
11.86%
- Max
- 52.82%
- Q3
- 22.26%
- TSEM
- 11.86%
- 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)
United Microelectronics (UMC) at 31.95% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) at 19.36%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
TSEM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
19.36%
- Max
- 63.80%
- Q3
- 28.36%
- TSEM
- 19.36%
- 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)
Both Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) at 24.16% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 25.09% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
TSEM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
24.16%
- Max
- 58.66%
- Q3
- 30.23%
- TSEM
- 24.16%
- 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 | TSEM | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 11.86% | 20.37% |
| ROA (TTM) | 6.07% | 5.79% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 19.36% | 31.95% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 24.16% | 25.09% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 29.62% | 31.72% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) at 9.05% 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
Both Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) at 4.86% 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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | TSEM | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.05% | 2.26% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -2.27% | -5.19% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 4.86% | -12.57% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -6.72% | -21.92% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) at 3.72 and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 3.27 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
TSEM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
3.72
- Max
- 10.33
- Q3
- 5.62
- TSEM
- 3.72
- Median
- 3.33
- 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 Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) at 0.05 and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 0.17 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
TSEM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
0.05
- Max
- 1.46
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.27
- TSEM
- 0.05
- 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 | TSEM | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 3.72 | 3.27 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.05 | 0.17 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -1.92 | -0.60 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile United Microelectronics (UMC) reports a yield of 19.43%, ranking against industry peers normally.
TSEM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 1.37%
- Q3
- 0.65%
- TSEM
- 0.00%
- 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)
Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile United Microelectronics (UMC) reports a payout of 37.46%, ranking against industry peers normally.
TSEM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 49.64%
- Q3
- 21.71%
- TSEM
- 0.00%
- 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 | TSEM | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 19.43% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 37.46% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
United Microelectronics (UMC) at 13.07 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) at 44.16 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for UMC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
TSEM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
44.16
- Max
- 110.34
- Q3
- 66.81
- TSEM
- 44.16
- 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 Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) at 8.47 prices around its industry’s middle — UMC costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
TSEM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
8.47
- Max
- 21.42
- Q3
- 12.27
- TSEM
- 8.47
- 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 Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) at 4.85 and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 2.39 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
TSEM
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group
4.85
- Max
- 14.06
- Q3
- 7.44
- TSEM
- 4.85
- 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 | TSEM | UMC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 44.16 | 13.07 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.47 | 0.13 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.85 | 2.39 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.59% | 129.43% |