UBS: Murata Factory Visit Confirms 20% Production Increase Potential, Profit Margin Expected to Nearly Double

According to TechFlow Research, UBS pointed out in its research report on August 18 that Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.'s Fukui Takefu Plant opened to market visits for the first time in about 20 years. This plant is the mother factory for advanced MLCCs (Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors), mainly supplying AI servers and high-end smartphones. Murata's global market share is approximately 35%. UBS confirmed three key pieces of information: technical barriers remain substantial, existing equipment still has about 20% potential for production increase through yield improvement and process optimization, and physical capacity expansion is approaching its limits. UBS maintains a Buy rating on Murata, with a target price of 13,200 yen. UBS believes that against the backdrop of limited new capacity construction and extended lead times for in-house equipment components, tapping into the potential of existing equipment is more certain than adding new production lines. Murata is transferring general-purpose products overseas, while domestic Japan plants focus on advanced products such as high capacitance and small size. The product mix upgrade will drive the operating profit margin to climb from 15.4% in fiscal year 2026 to 37.6% in fiscal year 2029. UBS assesses that the industry structure is expected to improve over the next 6 months, and there is a possibility of an upward revision in earnings guidance around October 31.