Is UMC buy
7/24/2024 11:32am
**United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) is not a buy**. Here's why:
1. **Revenue Decline**: UMC reported a revenue decline of 3.8% year-on-year, which could be a concern for future profitability.
2. **Free Cash Flow**: The free cash flow has been volatile, with a significant decrease from the previous quarter's $1.19 billion to $354.47 million in the most recent quarter. This could indicate liquidity issues or inefficient working capital management.
|Ticker|Name|Free Cash Flow|Date|code|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|UMC.N|UMC|9.5157212398354E8|2022 Q2|UMC|169|
|UMC.N|UMC|7.7307561773503E8|2022 Q3|UMC|169|
|UMC.N|UMC|1.1948566650031E9|2022 Q4|UMC|169|
|UMC.N|UMC|5.0279192473644E8|2023 Q1|UMC|169|
|UMC.N|UMC|1.0155360222229E9|2023 Q2|UMC|169|
|UMC.N|UMC|1.0779896157542E9|2023 Q3|UMC|169|
|UMC.N|UMC|8.4641020415666E8|2023 Q4|UMC|169|
|UMC.N|UMC|3.5446750343797E8|2024 Q1|UMC|169|
3. **Debt Level**: The debt-to-equity ratio of 49.93% suggests that UMC has a high level of debt relative to its equity. This could lead to increased financial risk and potential interest burden.
4. **Market Sentiment**: The sentiment towards UMC is cautious, with a recent upgrade to "Hold/Accumulate" and a downgrade from a "Buy" rating. This suggests that while some analysts see potential, others are more cautious.
5. **Dividend Reduction**: UMC recently reduced its dividend, which could be a sign of financial constraints or strategic capital allocation.
6. **Technical Analysis**: The stock is trading below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating a potential downtrend.
7. **Analyst Ratings**: Despite some positive ratings, such as the "Buy" rating from Citigroup and the upgrade from "Neutral" to "Buy" by StockNews.com, the average price target is $11.00, which is below the current price. This suggests that analysts do not see significant upside potential at the current price.
In conclusion, while UMC has some positive aspects, such as its role in the semiconductor industry and its dividend yield, the concerns about revenue decline, free cash flow volatility, debt level, and market sentiment suggest that it is not a buy at the current price. Investors should consider these factors and the potential risks before making an investment decision.