TSMC reported a fourth‑quarter net profit of T$505.74 billion ($16 billion), topping Bloomberg’s estimate of T$467 billion. The jump reflects surging demand for its 3‑nanometer chips, which now drive over a quarter of wafer‑unit revenue. AI workloads from NVIDIA and Apple fuel the surge for next generation AI applications worldwide in 2026 and.

Capital‑expenditure guidance for 2026 rises sharply to $52‑$56 billion, up from $40.9 billion in 2025, CFO Wendell Huang said. CEO C.C. Wei warned that expanding overseas fabs will erode long‑term margins. The company plans a 20‑30% share of its Arizona plant to meet AI demand for high‑performance computing workloads in data centers across the world in 2026.

TSMC’s AI‑driven growth signals a broader shift toward data‑center silicon, with firms like NVIDIA and Apple locking in long‑term contracts. Analysts expect the company to double its U.S. capacity by 2028, reinforcing its role as the backbone of the AI ecosystem. Investors will watch 2026 earnings for margin trends and capability expansion.