While Juan von lieben @Tenbagger2024 left Japan on his way to Norway, I stayed in Japan and would like to introduce you to another company from my watchlist in the semiconductor sector.

Today we are talking about Lasertec Corp $6920 (+2,48%)

Lasertec Corp $6920 (+2,48%) 👀The eye of the semiconductor revolution

Lasertec $6920 (+2,48%) is no ordinary chip supplier. It is the only company in the world capable of testing the extremely complex masks for EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) lithography. Without Lasertec $6920 (+2,48%) there would be no iPhones, no high-performance AI servers and no progress in 2nm chips.

1. the business model: "The Monopoly Gatekeeper" 🔬

Lasertec $6920 (+2,48%) operates in a technological stratosphere in which there is hardly any competition.

- The EUV lever: ASML $ASML (+4,63%) builds the exposure machines. But before a mask (the "negative" of the chip) goes into the machine, it has to be checked for atomic defects. Lasertec $6920 (+2,48%) has a market share of almost 100% for certain market share of almost 100 %💯

- Actinic Inspection: Lasertec uses the same EUV wavelength for inspection as the exposure machine itself. This "Actinic" technology is extremely difficult to copy and forms the ultimate technological moat.

- Service revenues: As the machines are highly complex, Lasertec generates massive revenues through maintenance and software updates over the entire life cycle (10-15 years).

Deep Dive: Lasertec - The physical frontier of semiconductor manufacturing

1. the technological "miracle": Actinic EUV Inspection

To understand why Lasertec $6920 (+2,48%) has a monopoly, you have to look at EUV lithography lithography. At wavelengths of 13.5 nanometers (EUV), light behaves extremely difficult: it is absorbed by almost all materials, even air. This is why the entire process takes place in a vacuum.

- The problem: Conventional inspection devices use deep ultraviolet light (DUV). However, DUV does not "see" certain defects on an EUV mask because the mask behaves differently under EUV light (phase jumps, reflections).

- The Lasertec solution (ABICS series): Lasertec $6920 (+2,48%) was the first and so far only company to develop a light source that uses EUV light for inspection (hence "Actinic" - under real working conditions). They shoot EUV photons at the mask and analyze the reflected image.

- The moat: Mastering this light source and the optics that direct EUV beams without significant losses is a feat of physics. Competitors rely on electron beam technology (e-beam), which is precise but 10 to 100 times slower. slower than the light process from Lasertec $6920 (+2,48%)

2. the growth pillar: AI chips & sub-2nm era

- Next generation (GAA): The transition to new transistor structures (Gate-All-Around) requires even more precise masks. Lasertec has already completed the systems for 2nm production (planned from the end of 2025/2026).

- Semiconductor sovereignty: As the USA, Japan and Europe are building their own chip factories (fabs), each new location must order Lasertec machines. The company benefits from the global subsidy race.

2b. The "GAA cycle" (Gate-All-Around) - the next share price driver

We are currently in the transition from FinFET transistors to GAA transistors (for 2nm and below).

- Complexity explosion: With GAA structures, the chip designs are so delicate that the masks are even more susceptible to the smallest impurities.

- Higher inspection rate: It used to be enough to randomly inspect a mask. With 2nm AI chips, the mask must be after each exposure cycle (reticle cleaning) in order not to jeopardize the yield. This massively increases the number of Lasertec machines required per factory.

3 The "hidden" risks (bear-case deepening)

- Concentration risk: As only three companies (TSMC $2330 Samsung $005930 Intel $INTC (+2,48%) ) operate real high-end EUV fabs, Lasertec is extremely dependent on the investment decisions of these three giants.

- Politics: Japan has tightened export restrictions on high-end chip equipment to China. Lasertec is losing part of the market as a result, but is compensating for this with the boom in the USA and Japan itself.

3. the hard facts (key figures 2025/26) 📊

- Market capitalization: approx. 2.8 - 3.1 trillion. JPY (approx. 19-21 billion USD).

- Profitability: An operating margin of over 35 % and a return on equity (ROE) of often over 45 %. These are figures that are normally only achieved by software companies.

- Cash position: Lasertec $6920 (+2,48%) is virtually debt-free and finances all of its research from current cash flow.

Lasertec $6920 (+2,48%) has experienced explosive profit growth in recent years, driven by the roll-out of High-NA EUV technology.

- Turnover (forecast 2026): approx. 240 - 250 billion JPY (A massive jump from approx. JPY 153 bn in 2023).

- Operating margin: This is constant at 35 % to 40 %. By way of comparison, a traditional mechanical engineering company such as DMG Mori is often at 8-10 %. Lasertec $6920 (+2,48%) plays in a league of its own.

- Net profit: Expected for 2026 approx. JPY 66 - 70 billion.

- R&D ratio (R&D): Lasertec invests approx. 10-12% of the turnover directly into research. This is its protective shield against the competition.

2. the strength of the balance sheet

The company has an extremely "clean" and conservative financial position:

- Equity ratio: Is a phenomenal ~50 % to 60 %.

- Net cash position: Lasertec $6920 (+2,48%) has no significant bank debt. On the contrary: they are sitting on high cash balances, which they are using to finance the pre-production of the extremely expensive EUV mask testing devices.

- Stocks (inventories): An important indicator at Lasertec! Inventories are often very high (currently around JPY 100+ billion). This is positive: These are machines already in progress, for which customers (TSMC $2330 /Intel $INTC (+2,48%) ) have already been received.

3. profitability - the "magic numbers"

- ROE (return on equity): Mostly over 45 %. This means that Lasertec $6920 (+2,48%) works extremely efficiently with the shareholders' money.

- ROIC (return on invested capital): Is often over 30 %. This shows that every yen coin invested in the development of new machines yields an extremely high return.

The "moat" in the balance sheet: order backlog

At Lasertec $6920 (+2,48%) looks less at past sales and more at the order backlog. order backlog:

- This is currently at a record level (well over JPY 400 billion).

- Significance: Lasertec $6920 (+2,48%) is effectively booked for the next 2 years is effectively booked out. Even if the global economy weakens slightly tomorrow, the chip giants will have to reduce their orders in order not to be left behind in the technological race.

4. why is the share exciting? (Bull case) 🚀

1. Irreplaceability: There is no "switching" to a competitor product. Anyone who builds state-of-the-art chips must buy from Lasertec.

2. AI growth: As AI chips become larger and more complex, the susceptibility of masks to errors increases - and with it the need for Lasertec test equipment.

3. Efficiency: The company has an extremely lean organization. A small workforce generates billions in turnover.

⚠️ RISKO (Bear-Case)

"The perfection trap

- Valuation risk (P/E ratio 50+): The market is pricing in a "perpetual monopoly". If growth falls from 30 % to 15 %, there is a risk of a massive contraction in the multiple - the share price could correct due to the valuation alone, even if profits continue to rise.

- Concentration risk: Over 70% of sales are attributable to just three customers (TSMC $2330 Intel $INTC (+2,48%) , Samsung $005930 ) If Intel $INTC (+2,48%) postpones its 2nm roadmap, Lasertec will immediately feel the impact on its books.

- Technological attack: US giant KLA Corp $KLAC (+1,52%) is working flat out on competing e-beam technologies. As soon as the monopoly becomes a duopoly, margins shrink.

- Geopolitics & currency: Export restrictions to China and a possible appreciation of the yen (JPY) are unpredictable "black swans" for the Japanese export pearl.

🛡️ EARNINGS-PREP: LASERTEC $6920 (+2,48%)

Timing: Thursday, 04/30/2026 (JST) - Q3 results.

This is the moment of truth. Lasertec $6920 (+2,48%) raised its guidance in January and the share price has risen like a rocket since then (~€242 / JPY45,000). Now the company has to deliver to justify the valuation of P/E 51.

1. date & consensus (what the market expects)

- Date: April 30, 2026

- Revenue (consensus): ~ JPY46.07bn (+15.6% YoY)

- EPS (consensus): ~JPY175.76 (+69% YoY)

- FY 2026 Guidance (Revised): Revenue JPY 220 bn | Op. profit JPY 100 bn.

2. CORE METRICS

- Order backlog (order backlog): This is the most important figure. The backlog recently stood at ~297bn JPY. As sales are expected to decline as planned in FY26 (-12.5% YoY), the order intake show that the recovery for 2027 is already rolling.

- High-NA EUV Adoption: Watch for comments on Intel's and TSMC's high-NA plans. Lasertec is the sole bucket-wheel excavator here. Delays at chipmakers = poison for Lasertec.

- MATRICS X712 series: The new system was launched in March 2026. Initial comments on customer feedback are critical for momentum.

5th evaluation & conclusion (April 2026)

- P/E ratio (P/E ratio): Currently approx. 51x.

- History: This is moderate compared to previous years (where the P/E ratio was often 60x to 80x) moderate.

- Verdict: The balance sheet is "bulletproof". The risk at Lasertec is not bankruptcy or over-indebtedness, but merely the market's high expectations for future growth.

💀REAPER-BONUS :

🛡️ LASERTEC CORP (6920.T) - SUMMARY

Status: World monopolist for EUV mask inspection (sub-3nm chip production).

1. DNA & QUALITY (The foundation)

- Moat: 🟢 ELITE. Lasertec has a 100% monopoly on inspection systems for EUV masks. Without them, the assembly lines at TSMC, Intel and Samsung for high-end chips (AI chips, iPhone CPUs) stand still.

- Margins: Operating margins of almost 50% and an ROIC of over 40%. This is absolutely world class and shows the enormous pricing power.

- Balance sheet:
Net cash. The company has no debt and is sitting on massive cash reserves. Interest rate risks? Zero.

2. the valuation fallacy (the price)

- Current price:
~242 € (~45,000 JPY).

- P/E ratio (fwd): ~51x. The market is pricing in perfection. Historically, the P/E ratio is at the upper limit.

- Growth expectation: The share price implies sustained FCF growth of over 22% p.a. for the next 10 years. That is ambitious, even for a monopolist.

3 CATALYST-WATCH (The next spark)

- Date:
30.04.2026 (Q3 Earnings).

- Whisper: Expectations are extremely high (AI hype). An "in-line" (expectations fulfilled) could already lead to profit-taking here, as the share price has run massively in the run-up.

⚖️ REAPER RATE

RATING: WATCH

Lasertec $6920 (+2,48%) is qualitatively a 10/10but in terms of rating a 3/10.

- Dust-off limit: 205 €. This is the fundamental bottom (fair value), where the risk/reward profile becomes attractive again.

Jack's conclusion: "A monopoly protects you from competition, but not from an inflated valuation. Buying at €242 is betting that there won't be a single delay in global chip production. I'll stay on the sidelines and wait for the setback."

In this sense, have a nice weekend

@Tenbagger2024
@Get_Rich_or_Die_Tryin

yours Aktienhauptmeister✌️