TSM vs INTC

For growth investors, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is the stronger pick with 33.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 5% for Intel Corp. (INTC). Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) offers the better valuation at 42. 4x trailing P/E (0. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) a "Buy" — based on 25 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On forward P/E, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited is actually cheaper at 0.

8x.

Over the past 5 years, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) delivered a total return of +296.

7%, compared to +135. 9% for Intel Corp. (INTC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TSM returned +1415% versus INTC's +249. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is the lower-risk stock at 2.

17β versus Intel Corp. 's 2. 83β — meaning INTC is approximately 31% more volatile than TSM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 20% versus 37% for Intel Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is pulling ahead at 33.

0% versus -0. 5% for Intel Corp. (INTC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Intel Corp. grew EPS 98. 7% year-over-year, compared to 44. 3% for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited. Over a 3-year CAGR, TSM leads at 19. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is the more profitable company, earning 45.

1% net margin versus -0. 5% for Intel Corp. — meaning it keeps 45. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TSM leads at 50. 8% versus -0. 0% for INTC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TSM leads at 59. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) trades at 0.

8x forward P/E versus 80. 3x for Intel Corp. — 79. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TSM: 29. 9% to $578. 43.

In this comparison, TSM (0.

6% yield) pays a dividend. INTC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0.

6% yield, +1415% 10Y return). Intel Corp. (INTC) carries a higher beta of 2. 83 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (TSM: +1415%, INTC: +249. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: TSM is a mega-cap high-growth stock; INTC is a large-cap quality compounder stock. TSM pays a dividend while INTC does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.