TSMC Just Posted a Record $46.7 Billion Quarter and Moved Up Its Second Arizona Fab. Keep the Chip Comeback on Schedule
The world's leading chipmaker beat estimates on AI demand and says volume production at its second Arizona plant will start slightly ahead of schedule, with Texas under evaluation. In our view, higher U.S. costs are the price of security, and Washington should keep the power, permits and pressure coming.
By Clara Hughes
ALTAS WORLD NEWS OPINION | By Clara Hughes, Chief Opinion Editor | October 15, 2026 | 6-min read The company that makes most of the world's most advanced computer chips just had the best quarter in its history, again. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reported Thursday that third-quarter revenue reached $46.72 billion, up 41.2% from a year earlier in dollar terms, and net income jumped 68.7% [1]. Buried in the earnings call was the line that matters most for Americans: TSMC has finished building its second chip plant in Arizona and now expects volume production there in the third quarter of 2027, "slightly ahead of our previous schedule" [2][3]. In our view, that is what a working industrial policy looks like, and Washington should keep it on track. Key Takeaways TSMC's third-quarter revenue was NT$1,494.24 billion ($46.72 billion), and net income was NT$763.06 billion, up 68.7% from a year earlier [1]. CNBC reported it was the sixth straight quarter of record profit, beating analyst estimates [3]. The company guided fourth-quarter revenue of $52.3 billion to $54.3 billion and now expects full-year 2026 revenue growth of around 44% in dollar terms [1][2]. Construction of TSMC's second Arizona fab is complete, with tools being