Will CoWoS & Panel Packaging Demand Drive ASX's Next Growth Phase?

Zacks Investment Research | September 30, 2026 at 04:04 PM UTC
Bullish 81% Confidence Unanimous Agreement
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Key Points

  • ASX's CoWoS capacity expansion and full process business are on track to generate approximately TWD 300 million in 2026 revenues, with substantial growth expected in 2027
  • The company's fully-automated 310-by-310 panel packaging line will begin production in Q1 2027, offering a complementary solution to foundry offerings for AI infrastructure customers
  • ASX currently trades at a forward P/E of 24.45X (above industry average of 13.61X) and holds a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), competing against Amkor Technology and Intel in advanced packaging

AI Summary

Summary: ASE Technology's Advanced Packaging Expansion

Key Company & Focus:

ASE Technology Holding (ASX) is aggressively expanding its advanced semiconductor packaging capabilities, particularly CoWoS (Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate) and panel-level packaging technologies, driven by surging AI infrastructure demand.

Critical Financial Metrics:

  • First-half 2026 consolidated revenues increased 24% year-over-year
  • ATM (Advanced Technology & Materials) revenues grew 35% in H1 2026, with full-year 2026 growth expected at 35%
  • LEAP service revenues tracking ahead of the $3.5 billion target, with plans to double LEAP revenues in 2027
  • Zacks Consensus Estimate projects 27.9% revenue growth in 2026 and 22.5% in 2027
  • Full process business expected to generate approximately TWD 300 million in 2026 revenues

Key Developments:

  • Fully-automated 310-by-310 panel packaging line scheduled for production start in Q1 2027
  • Expanding CoWoS capacity to meet AI semiconductor packaging demand
  • Technology positioned as complementary to foundry offerings

Valuation & Market Position:

  • ASX trades at forward P/E of 24.45X versus industry average of 13.61X
  • Year-to-date stock return of 22.5% outperformed the broader Electronics-Semiconductors industry return of 31.5%
  • Currently rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy)

Competitive Landscape:

Main competitors include Amkor Technology (reported record $1.9 billion Q2 revenues, up 26% YoY) and Intel (raising 2026 capex above $20 billion for packaging expansion).

Market Implications:

ASX's multi-pronged packaging expansion positions it to capitalize on AI infrastructure bottlenecks, with packaging moving up the semiconductor value chain as chip complexity and integration requirements intensify.

Model Analysis Breakdown

Model Sentiment Confidence
GPT-5-mini Bullish 75%
Claude 4.5 Haiku Bullish 78%
Gemini 2.5 Flash Bullish 90%
Consensus Bullish 81%