TSMC Q3 revenue tops guidance at NT$1.49 trillion as AI chip demand holds

By Khal · · 1 min read

Editorial illustration: An iridescent silicon wafer stands beside a conveyor carrying large chips toward server cabinets filled with processors, cables and glowing interconnected nodes.
AI-generated editorial illustration · AI-generated editorial illustration · Published Oct 12, 2026, 2:36 a.m. (1 hour ago)

In brief

  • TSMC Q3 2026 revenue reached NT$1.49 trillion, about $46.71 billion, up 50% year over year.
  • Revenue came in above TSMC's July guidance of $44.6 billion to $45.8 billion.
  • Q3 net profit is forecast at around NT$740.8 billion, which would be a sixth straight record.
  • High-performance computing, including AI chips, made up 66% of TSMC's Q2 revenue.
  • TSMC's full Q3 earnings call is set for October 15 at 2 p.m. Taiwan time.

Revenue cleared guidance and consensus

In July, TSMC guided Q3 revenue to between $44.6 billion and $45.8 billion. It landed above that range. The result also beat the LSEG SmartEstimate of NT$1.46 trillion.

September did a lot of the heavy lifting. Revenue for that month alone reached NT$511.86 billion, up 54.6% year over year, while revenue for the first nine months of 2026 totaled NT$3.90 trillion (a 41.1% increase). TSMC has also lifted its full-year outlook and now expects 2026 revenue growth slightly above 40% in US dollar terms.

Profit is still a forecast

The profit number isn't out yet. Q3 net profit is expected to come in around NT$740.8 billion, which would be a 64% year-over-year increase and a sixth consecutive record quarter, according to Crypto Briefing (the outlet doesn't say whose estimate that is).

For comparison, TSMC's Q2 2026 net profit was NT$706.6 billion, roughly $22 billion, a 77% jump year over year. Q2 revenue came in at NT$1.27 trillion, up 36% from the prior year.

That's the baseline Q3 has to beat.

AI chips dominate the mix

High-performance computing, which includes AI chips, accounted for 66% of TSMC's Q2 revenue. Advanced process nodes (7nm and smaller) made up 77% of the company's wafer revenue in the same quarter.

TSMC is scheduled to hold its full Q3 earnings conference on October 15 at 2 p.m. Taiwan time. What's on the table? The call is expected to offer insight into potential price adjustments for 2027, and capital expenditure is also expected to rise to support expansion in Taiwan, Arizona and other locations, per Crypto Briefing. Both points are expectations heading into the call, not reported results, and the October 15 numbers will show whether the record streak actually extends to six.

Related stories