Analyzing Apple’s Silicon Design Strategy

Due to my background in the semiconductor space, I engage in a lot of financial analyst conversations around semiconductor component companies. I used to write a specific note we called “the Circuit” exclusively for hedge funds that dove into the opportunities and challenges for some of the largest semiconductor companies in the world. I would write extensively about Qualcomm, Intel, Samsung semi, Marvell, Xilinx, NXP, Broadcom, ARM, etc., and it was interesting to track the influence of Apple on many of these companies through the years. Nearly every note I wrote for investors in these businesses had Apple mentioned somewhere, and Apple was a constant topic during calls I had with these investors as well.