Report

PSA Technology: Does “Murata Good, Skyworks / Avago / Qorvo Better” Still Hold True?

Does “Murata Good, Skyworks / Avago / Qorvo Better” Still Hold True?

Tags: Sony (6758 JP), Apple (AAPL US), Murata (6981 JP), Skyworks (SWKS US), Broadcom / Avago (AVGO US), Nidec (6594 JP), Panasonic (6752 JP), TDK (6762 JP), Rohm (6963 JP)

In this follow-up report to our report this week on Murata’s strong position in high-end MLCCs, Pelham Smithers discusses Murata in the context of the other global providers of front-end modules. It seems that in the FEM sphere, recent technological developments such as auto electrification, IoT and automation play more to Murata's strengths than to those of the three US-listed front-end module makers Skyworks, Broadcom / Avago and Qorvo. The aggregate case for Murata builds.
Underlyings
Apple Inc.

Apple designs, manufactures and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables and accessories, and sells a variety of related services. The company's products include: iPhone; Mac; iPad; and wearables, home and accessories, which includes AirPods?, Apple TV?, Apple Watch?, Beats? products, HomePod?, iPod touch? and other Apple-branded and third-party accessories. The company's services include: digital content stores and streaming services; AppleCare, which includes AppleCare + (AC+) and the AppleCare Protection Plan; iCloud, which is the company's cloud service; licensing; and other services, which include Apple Arcade?, Apple Card?, Apple News+, and Apple Pay, a cashless payment service.

Broadcom Inc

Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

Murata Manufacturing is mainly engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of electronic components and modules in Japan, North America and certain other Asian and European countries. Co.'s products are sold mainly to electronics companies for use as components in telecommunication, computer, audio, video, automotive electronics and other electronic products. Co. is engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of electronic parts and related products, including components for capacitors and piezoelectric products, as well as modules products; the provision of welfare services, personnel services, education and training services, as well as the leasing and management of real estate.

Nidec Corporation

NIDEC and its subsidiaries are primarily engaged in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of small precision motors, mid-size motors, machinery, electronic and optical components, and other products. Co.'s principal products are spindle motors for hard disk drives, motors for optical disk drives, small precision fans and other small motors; mid-size motors; test systems, measuring equipment, power transmission equipment, factory automation systems, card readers and industrial robots; camera shutters, camera lens units, switches, trimmer potentiometers, motor driven actuator units, processing and precision plastic mold products; and auto parts and pivot assemblies.

Panasonic Corporation

Panasonic offers a range of products, systems and components for consumer, business and industrial use based on electronics and precision technology, expanding to building materials and equipment, and housing business. Co. divides its businesses into five segments: Appliances, Eco Solutions, Connected Solutions, Automotive & Industrial Systems and Other. Co.'s principal products include home appliances such as refrigerators, room air conditioners, washing machines and vacuum cleaners; lighting fixtures and electric lamps, video and audio equipment, electrical components, batteries, semiconductors and optical devices.

Rohm Co. Ltd.

ROHM is mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of electronic components. ICs segment offers analog switches, multiplexers, logic ICs, memory ICs, amplifiers, clocks and timers, sensor ICs, data converters, interface ICs communication LSIs, audio and video ICs and other ICs. The segment also provides foundry services. Discrete Semiconductor Devices segment offers diodes, transistors, light emitting diodes and laser diodes. Modules segment offers print heads, optical modules and power modules. Co. is also engaged in the manufacture and sale of resistors and tantalum capacitors.

Skyworks Solutions Inc.

Skyworks Solutions is a provider of analog semiconductors that connect people, places, and things, spanning a number of applications within the aerospace, automotive, broadband, cellular infrastructure, connected home, industrial, medical, military, smartphone, tablet and wearable markets. The company's product portfolio consists of various solutions, including: amplifiers, antenna tuners, attenuators, circulators/isolators, wireless analog system on chip, direct current (DC)/DC converters, demodulators, detectors, diodes, directional couplers, diversity receive modules, filters, front-end modules, hybrid, light emitting diode drivers, low noise amplifiers, mixers, and modulators.

Sony Corporation

Sony is engaged in the development, design, production, manufacture, offer and sale of various kinds of electronic equipment, instruments and devices for consumer, professional and industrial markets such as network services, game hardware and software, televisions, audio and video recorders and players, still and video cameras, mobile phones, and semiconductors. Co. is engaged in the development, production, manufacture, and distribution of recorded music and the management and licensing of the words and music of songs as well as the production and distribution of animation titles. Co. is also engaged in the production, acquisition and distribution of motion pictures and television.

TDK Corporation

TDK is a manufacturer of recording media, ferrite products and recording device products, and a producer of inductor, ceramic capacitor, magnet, HDD head and other components. Co.'s principal business segments are passive components, sensor application products, magnetic application products, film application products and others. Co.'s principal products include ceramic capacitors, aluminum electrolytic capacitors, film capacitors, inductive devices, high-frequency components, piezoelectric materials and circuit protection components, sensors, HDD head suspension, recording devices, power supplies and magnets, and mechatronics.

Provider
Pelham Smithers Associates Ltd
Pelham Smithers Associates Ltd

Founded in 2009, Pelham Smithers Associates (PSA) provides market intelligence on Asian technology, focusing in particular on Japan. The industries covered by our team of specialists are: consumer electronics, telecomms, pharmaceuticals, internet, electronic parts and materials, automotive technology, retail and capital goods. 

PSA produces both company and sector reports. The focus of PSA’s research is to identify winners and losers as new technologies impact the top and bottom lines of corporations. Critical to our research is the clear explanation of how these new technologies work and how they impact companies and industries. 

The founding partners have worked closely together for twenty years and the team has more than doubled in size since 2012. 

Analysts
Pelham Smithers

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