Korea Information & Communications Valuation Multiples

Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple’s iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple’s other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors while working with subcontractors like Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple’s sales come directly through its flagship stores, with a majority of sales coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.

Cisco Systems is the largest provider of networking equipment in the world and one of the largest software companies in the world. Its largest businesses are selling networking hardware and software (where it has leading market shares) and cybersecurity software such as firewalls. It also has collaboration products, like its Webex suite, and observability tools. It primarily outsources its manufacturing to third parties and has a large sales and marketing staff—25,000 strong across 90 countries. Overall, Cisco employs 80,000 people and sells its products globally.

KLA is one of the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, manufacturers in the world. It specializes in the market segment of semiconductor process control, wherein machines inspect semiconductor wafers during research and development and manufacturing for defects and verify precise measurements. In this section of the market, KLA holds a majority share. It also has a small exposure to the etch and deposition segments of the WFE market. It counts as top customers the largest chipmakers in the world, including TSMC and Samsung.

Incorporated in 1911, International Business Machines, or IBM, is one of the oldest technology companies in the world. It provides software, IT consulting services, and hardware to help business customers modernize their technology workflows. IBM operates in 175 countries and employs approximately 300,000 people. The company has a robust roster of business partners to service its clients, which includes 95% of all Fortune 500 companies. IBM’s products, including Red Hat, watsonx, and mainframes, handle some of the world’s most important data workloads in areas like finance and retail.

Foxconn Industrial Internet Co Ltd is engaged in the design, research and development, manufacturing, and sales of various electronic equipment products. The company's main products include communications network equipment, cloud service equipment, precision tools, and industrial robots.

Dell Technologies is a broad information technology vendor, primarily supplying hardware to enterprises. It focuses on premium and commercial personal computers, as well as enterprise on-premises data center hardware. It holds top-three market shares in its core markets of personal computers, peripheral displays, mainstream servers, and external storage. Dell has a robust ecosystem of component and assembly partners, and also relies heavily on channel partners to fulfill its sales.

Tokyo Electron is a major supplier of semiconductor fabrication tools. It operates primarily in the etching, deposition, and cleaning segments, which involve adding and removing materials to and from semiconductor wafers. Customers include leading-edge logic, foundry, and memory chipmakers such as Samsung Electronics, Intel, TSMC, and SK Hynix.

Hitachi Ltd is engaged in diverse businesses spanning industries, energy, IT, and real estate. The company operates through four business segments. The Connective Industries segment covers elevators, escalators, home appliances, air conditioning, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, medical analyzers, industrial and distribution solutions, water and environmental solutions, and industrial equipment. The Digital Systems & Services segment offers system integration, consulting, cloud services, IT products, software, and ATMs. The Green Energy & Mobility segment focuses on power grids, renewable energy, nuclear power, and railway systems. The Others include real estate management, sales, and leasing. It generates the majority of its revenue from the Green Energy & Mobility segment.

Vertiv has roots tracing back to 1946 when its founder, Ralph Liebert, developed an air-cooling system for mainframe data rooms. As computers started making their way into commercial applications in 1965, Liebert developed one of the first computer room air conditioning, or CRAC, units, enabling the precise control of temperature and humidity. The firm has slowly expanded its data center portfolio through internal product development and the acquisition of thermal and power management products like condensers, busways, and switches. Vertiv has global operations today; its products can be found in data centers in most regions throughout the world.

Founded in 1954 and headquartered in Tokyo, Advantest specializes in semiconductor test systems and is a well-known leader in automated test equipment, or ATE. Advantest also has a high market share in test systems for nonmemory semiconductors, including application processors for mobile phones. The company is also involved in peripheral businesses, such as semiconductor device transport equipment. Following its acquisition of Verigy in July 2011, Advantest holds a market share of over 50% in the ATE market.

Mitsubishi Corp. is Japan’s largest general trading house, or sogo shosha, a type of conglomerate unique to Japan. Its core role is that of a trading intermediary in a variety of industrial sectors, including resources businesses like energy and metals as well as non-resources businesses, both industrial ones like automotive and non-industrial ones like food, healthcare, and retail. In addition to acting as a trading intermediary (including midstream processing functions to convert inputs into final products), Mitsubishi also participates in upstream production businesses and downstream distribution businesses.

Hon Hai Precision is the world's largest contract manufacturer of consumer electronics, communications, and computer products. It is the biggest supplier to Apple, whose business accounted for around 54% of overall revenue in 2023. Hon Hai is also involved in the production of upstream components such as electronic connectors, semiconductor packaging, and metal casings for smartphones, as well as producing servers. These upstream activities are mainly conducted through its listed majority-owned subsidiaries Foxconn Industrial Internet and FIH Mobile. In response to its traditional end markets of computers, smartphones, and telecom equipment maturing in 2019 it started on a strategy to develop expertise in three new growth areas-electric vehicles, digital health, and robotics.

Mitsubishi Electric is a leading Japanese diversified industrial manufacturer, specializing in factory automation systems, power and energy systems, infrastructure solutions, automotive equipment, electronic devices, and home appliances. Founded in 1921 and headquartered in Tokyo, the company operates globally with a strong presence in Asia, Europe, and North America. Known for its technological expertise and high reliability, Mitsubishi Electric plays a vital role in sectors ranging from smart manufacturing and transportation to energy management and defense. The company emphasizes sustainability, innovation, and long-term growth through its focus on electrification, automation, and digitalization.

Motorola Solutions is a leading provider of communications and analytics, primarily serving public safety departments as well as schools, hospitals, and businesses. The bulk of the firm's revenue comes from sales of land mobile radios and radio network infrastructure, but the firm also sells surveillance equipment, dispatch software, and other networking capabilities. Most of Motorola's revenue comes from government agencies, while roughly 25% comes from schools and private businesses. Motorola has customers in over 100 countries and in every state in the United States.

Keysight Technologies is a leader in the field of testing and measurement, helping electronics OEMs and suppliers alike bring products to market to fit industry standards and specifications. Keysight specializes in the communications market, but also supplies into the government, automotive, industrial, and semiconductor manufacturing markets. Keysight’s solutions include testing tools, analytical software, and services. The firm’s stated objective is to reduce time to market and improve efficiency at its more than 30,000 customers.

Murata Manufacturing produces passive components for electronic devices. Passive components are necessary for all electronic circuits, used to enable wireless communication, store electricity and handle electric flow, remove electromagnetic noise from circuits, and so on. Thus, passive components are imperative for electronic circuits. For instance, one high-end smartphone contains more than 1,000 passive components. Murata Manufacturing is the world's leading supplier of passive components, such as MLCC and SAW filters.

NAURA Technology Group Co Ltd engages in the research, development, manufacture, sale, and service of electronic equipment and components in the People's Republic of China. The company offers semiconductor equipment, including etching equipment, PVD and CVD equipment, oxidation/diffusion equipment, cleaning equipment, novel display equipment, gas mass flow controllers, etc., and vacuum heat treatment equipment and technical solutions for the semiconductors, photovoltaic equipment, vacuum electronic devices, magnetic materials, aerospace, and smart power grid sectors.

Teradyne provides testing equipment, including automated test equipment for semiconductors, system testing for hard disk drives, circuit boards, and electronics systems, and wireless testing for devices. The firm entered the industrial automation market in 2015 and sells collaborative and autonomous robots for factory applications. Teradyne serves numerous end markets and geographies, directly and indirectly, through its products, but its most significant exposure is to semiconductor testing. Teradyne serves vertically integrated, fabless, and foundry chipmakers with its equipment.

Founded in 1930 and transformed over the decades through the acquisition of dozens of esteemed brands, Ametek owns more than 40 autonomous industrial businesses operating across research, aerospace, energy, medical, and manufacturing. Ametek segments its business into two operating groups: the electronic instruments group and the electromechanical group. The EIG sells a broad portfolio of analytical, test, and measurement instruments, while the EMG sells highly engineered components, interconnects, and specialty metals. The company emphasizes product differentiation and market leadership in the niche markets it operates in.

Suzhou Dongshan Precision Manufacturing Co Ltd is a China-based company mainly engaged in the research and development, production and sales of electronic circuit products, precision components, touch display modules, and light-emitting diode (LED) display devices. Its offerings include flexible, rigid, and rigid-flex printed circuit boards, high-precision metal parts, touch screens, LCD modules, and automotive display systems.

Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology is the world’s largest manufacturer of video surveillance equipment. Since then, the company has been growing its software and analytics offerings, as customers are increasingly seeking customized total solutions. Hikvision is also developing its Innovative businesses, which accounted for 21% of overall 2023 revenue. The smart-home business is powered by the EZVIZ consumer brand. Innovative business includes the development of industrial robotics, automotive electronics, X-ray sensors, infrared sensors, memory products and medical systems. Hikvision employs more than 58,000 people.

Celestica Inc offers supply chain solutions. The company has two operating and reportable segments: Advanced Technology Solutions (ATS) and Connectivity & Cloud Solutions (CCS). The ATS segment consists of the ATS end market and is comprised of the Aerospace and Defense, Industrial, health tech, and Capital Equipment businesses. Its Capital Equipment business is comprised of the semiconductor, display, and robotics equipment businesses, and the CCS segment consists of Communications and Enterprise end markets, The Enterprise end market is comprised of its servers and storage businesses. The company generates a majority of its revenue from the Connectivity & Cloud Solutions segment.

Accton Technology Corp develops, manufactures and sells high-quality products for computer network systems and wireless land area network (LAN) hardware and software products and renders related technical consulting and engineering design services. The products and services offered by the company is Switch, Network Application, Metro Access Switch, Other and Wireless.

China-based Sungrow manufactures and sells power supply equipment for the new energy industry. It offers a wide range of products, including solar inverters, energy storage systems, wind power converters, electric vehicle drives, among others. It is one of the largest suppliers of solar inverters and energy storage systems globally. It is also one of the largest new energy project developers in the world. Solar inverters, energy storage systems, and new energy investment and development segment each accounted for 37%, 32%, and 27% of revenue in 2024, respectively.

Quanta Computer Inc is an original design manufacturer of notebook computers and electronic hardware for use in communication, networking, consumer electronics, auto electronics, and cloud computing solutions. Its products include enterprise network systems, home entertainment systems, rack-mount servers, data center networking switches, high-density storage solutions, encoding cameras, and smart home devices. The Majority of the firm's revenue is generated in the American region, with the rest coming from countries across the world.

Jabil Inc. is a U.S based company providing engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain solutions. It provides comprehensive electronics design, production, and product management services to companies in various industries and end markets. It operates through three segments: Regulated Industries, serving automotive, healthcare, and renewables; Intelligent Infrastructure, focused on AI, cloud, data centers, and communications, driving the majority of revenue; and Connected Living and Digital Commerce, specializing in digitalization and automation, such as robotics and warehouse automation. The company operates in the U.S., Mexico, China, Malaysia, Singapore, and several other markets.

Flex Ltd is a contract manufacturing company providing comprehensive electronics design, manufacturing, and product management services to electronics and technology companies. The company's operating segments include Flex Agility Solutions (FAS) and Flex Reliability Solutions (FRS). Flex Agility Solutions segment includes markets such as Communications, Enterprise and Cloud; Lifestyle; and Consumer Devices. Flex Reliability Solutions segment includes markets such as Automotive, Health Solutions, and Industrial.

Advanced Micro-fabrication Equipment Inc is engaged in the development, production, and sales of equipment such as plasma etching equipment, deep silicon etching equipment, and metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) equipment for microelectronic devices such as integrated circuits and LED chips.

NEC Corp is engaged in IT services, networks, social infrastructure, and solutions. The company operates through three segments: IT Services, Social Infrastructure, and Others. The IT Services segment provides system integration, consulting, maintenance, outsourcing, cloud services, system equipment, and software services. The Social Infrastructure segment offers network infrastructure, including core networks, mobile base stations, optical transmission systems, and marine systems, along with telecom software, OSS/BSS solutions, aerospace and defense system integration, and maintenance. The Others segment covers the development, manufacturing, and sales of system equipment. It generates the majority of its revenue from the IT Services segment.

Founded in 1935, TDK has its origin in magnetic materials, being the first company to commercialize ferrite in the world, and it used to be known as one of the major cassette-tape manufacturers. TDK is now the only external supplier for magnetic recording heads for hard disk drives, and the company intends to expand its magnetic sensor business for handsets and automobiles by leveraging its expertise. It is also one of the global top suppliers of passive components for autos and polymer rechargeable batteries for smartphones. The company acquired InvenSense in 2017, making it third largest MEMS sensor company in the world.

Chroma Ate Inc manufactures and sells automated testing systems, electronic testing instruments, signal generators, and power supplies. The reportable segments of the company are the Test Instrument Department, the Automatic Equipment Department, and Others. The company generates maximum revenue from the Test Instrument Department segment. The Corporation designs, assembles, calibrates, manufactures, sells, repairs, and maintains software/hardware for computers and peripherals, computerized automatic test systems, electronic test instruments, signal generators, power supplies, telecom power supplies, and others.

Wiwynn Corp is a Taiwan-based cloud infrastructure provider. The company is a cloud-enabling service company that is engaged in research, development, design, testing, and sales of products, semi-products, peripheral equipment and parts of computer and peripheral equipment, data storage media, electric appliances and media products, information software, export business relating to the business of the company, management consult services, information software services, and data processing services. The company derives revenue from the manufacturing and sale of servers and storage in cloud infrastructure and hyperscale data centers.

HANMI Semiconductor Co Ltd operates in semiconductor equipment business. Its product portfolio divides into three main segments: Semiconductor Equipment, Laser Application Processes, PV and LED. Semiconductor division offer equipment such as singulation, flip chip binder, molding, trim and form, marking, inspection, pick and place, attach and detach, and PCB equipment. Laser Application Processes comprises laser marking, laser ablation, laser cutting and singulation as well as reel to reel laser. PV and LED offer equipment including PV brick IR inspection, PV wafer inspection, LED manual mold, among others.

ZTE Corp is a provider of integrated telecommunications and IT solutions with a full range of end-to-end ICT products and solutions integrating design, development, production, sales, and services with a special focus on carriers’ networks, government and corporate business, and consumer business. It operates in three segments Carriers’ network, Consumer Business, and Government and Corporate Business. It generates a majority of its revenue from equipment supporting carriers' networks. It has a presence in the PRC, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. It generates the majority of its revenue from the PRC region.

Everpure Inc is a allows organizations to take control of their data with an industry, ever-evolving storage and data management platform. It helps companies unleash the power of their data by ensuring it is secure, accessible, intelligent, and ready to perform in the AI era. The group makes data management effortless while simultaneously scaling performance and significantly reducing energy consumption. Its solutions are Artificial Intelligence, Cloud, Cyber Resilience, Data Protection, Databases, High-Performance Computing, and Virtualization. The group's platform and products, Enterprise Data Cloud, The Everpure Platform, Evergreen//One, FlashArray, and Others.

Lasertec Corp is a Japan-based company mainly engaged in the design, manufacture, and sale of inspection and measurement equipment. The company focuses on providing optical inspection systems and related technologies. The company’s main products include semiconductor-related equipment such as photomasks and wafer inspection or measurement systems, SiC wafer inspection equipment for the energy and environment sector, FPD photomask inspection systems, and hybrid laser microscopes.

BE Semiconductor Industries supplies advanced packaging equipment for the semiconductor industry. Besi has a highly focused product portfolio coupled with a flexible business model, which allows it to maintain high gross and operating margins. Besi’s main clients include the world’s largest logic and memory foundries (TSMC, Samsung, Intel, and Micron) as well as integrated device manufacturers and outsourced assembly and test companies.

Fabrinet provides advance-level optical packaging and precision optical, electro-mechanical, and electronic manufacturing services to original equipment manufacturers of complex products, such as optical communication components, modules and sub-systems, industrial lasers, automotive components, medical devices, and sensors. The company offers a broad range of advance optical and electro-mechanical capabilities across the entire manufacturing process, including process design and engineering, supply chain management, manufacturing, complex printed circuit board assembly, advance-level of packaging, integration, final assembly, and testing. The company generates the majority of its revenue from North America and Asia-Pacific, with the rest from Europe.

BOE Technology Group Co Ltd is an investment holding company. Along with its subsidiaries, the company operates in the following business segments: Display business, Internet of Things (IoT) innovation business, Sensor business, MLED business, Smart medicine and engineering business, and Others. A majority of its revenue is generated from the Display business segment, which integrates design and manufacturing of display devices and offers TFT-LCD, AMOLED, Microdisplay, and other intelligent interface devices. This business focuses on providing high-quality smartphones, tablet PCs, laptops, monitors, TVs, vehicles, VR/AR, and other display devices for customers. Geographically, the group generates maximum revenue from Mainland China, followed by other regions.

Canon Inc designs, manufactures, and distributes an extensive range of consumer and electronic products, including copiers, cameras, lenses, and inkjet printers. The company operates five business segments: printing, imaging, medical, industrial, and others. It generates maximum revenue from the printing segment. Printing Business Unit includes Office multifunction devices (MFDs), Document solutions, Laser multifunction printers (MFPs), Laser printers, Inkjet printers, Image scanners, Calculators, Digital continuous feed presses, Digital sheet-fed presses, and Large format printers.

HP (formerly Hewlett-Packard) is a behemoth in the PC and printing markets. It has focused on these markets since it exited IT infrastructure in 2015 with the split from Hewlett Packard Enterprise. HP focuses on the commercial market, but maintains sales of consumer devices and printers. The firm has a broad and global customer base, with only one third of sales coming from the US. HP completely outsources manufacturing and relies heavily on channel partners for its sales and marketing.

Lenovo is a global technology hardware company with a leading market share in personal computers. The firm has been actively growing its data center business, which primarily sells network servers to enterprise and hyperscale customers, as well as storage equipment through its mainland China joint venture with NetApp. Server-related revenue contribution has jumped to 13% of overall sales in fiscal 2024, from 6% in 2015.

TD Synnex Corp is a distributor and solutions aggregator for the IT ecosystem. The company aggregates and distributes IT hardware, software, and systems including personal computing devices and peripherals, mobile phones and accessories, printers, server and data center infrastructure, hybrid cloud, security, networking, communications and storage solutions, and system components. Its geographical segments include the Americas, Europe, and APJ.

Huagong Tech Co Ltd produces, sells, and provides technical services for products centered on laser technology, computer software and system integration technology, and PTC technology. The company's main products include laser processing equipment and intelligent manufacturing production lines, laser holographic film series products, optoelectronic device series products, sensitive components, and others.

Super Micro Computer Inc provides high-performance server technology services to cloud computing, data centers, high-performance computing, and the Internet of Things embedded markets. Its solutions include servers, storage systems, modular blade servers, workstations, full-rack scale solutions, networking devices, server sub-systems, and server management. These turn-key solutions are designed, developed, validated, and installed for AI datacenters. The company has one operating segment that develops and provides high-performance server solutions based upon a, modular and open-standard architecture. More than half of the firm's revenue is generated in the United States, with the rest coming from Europe, Asia, and other regions.

Nova Ltd is a provider of metrology and process control solutions used in semiconductor manufacturing. The company provides high-performance metrology solutions across the semiconductor fabrication lifecycle and develops differentiated inline metrology solutions deployed by a broad range of customers, including integrated circuit manufacturers. Its portfolio combines high-precision hardware and software, enabling customers to improve device performance, enhance yields, and accelerate time to market. Its products include Dimensional Metrology, Materials Metrology, Chemical Metrology, and Software Solutions. The company operates in China, Taiwan, R.O.C., the United States and other regions, with maximum revenue coming from China.

MPI Corp is engaged in the business of manufacturing, processing, maintenance, import and export, and trading of the semiconductor production process and testing equipments. Its Geographic areas are Taiwan, China, the USA, Singapore, Korea, and Other Countries. The majority of the revenue comes from Taiwan.

Onto Innovation Inc is engaged in the design, development, manufacture, and support of high-performance control metrology, defect inspection, lithography, and data analysis systems used by microelectronics device manufacturers. The Company and its subsidiaries currently operate in a single operating segment. The company mainly operates in the United States, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and Europe, with Taiwan and South Korea the sources of total revenue.