NEW YORK — Shares of United Microelectronics Corporation jumped more than 17% on Tuesday, climbing to $21.34 as investors responded to robust April revenue figures and growing optimism about the company's position in the expanding artificial intelligence semiconductor market.

The Taiwanese foundry operator, one of the world's largest contract chipmakers, reported April consolidated sales of NT$22.66 billion, up 10.8% from the same month a year earlier. The strong monthly performance contributed to year-to-date sales of NT$83.70 billion, representing a 6.88% increase over the first four months of 2025.

The surge in UMC stock reflects renewed confidence in the semiconductor sector's recovery and the company's ability to benefit from rising demand for advanced chips used in artificial intelligence applications, automotive electronics and consumer devices. UMC has been expanding its capacity in higher-margin segments, including 22-nanometer and 28-nanometer processes, which are seeing strong utilization rates amid global supply constraints.

Analysts noted that UMC's April results signal improving momentum after a period of softer demand in certain end markets. The company has benefited from increased orders from fabless chip designers seeking capacity outside of leading-edge foundries dominated by TSMC. This diversification strategy has helped UMC maintain stable utilization rates even as the broader industry navigates cyclical pressures.

United Microelectronics reported solid first-quarter 2026 earnings earlier this month, with revenue and earnings per share beating Wall Street expectations. The results were driven by strong performance in specialty technologies and steady contributions from its 12-inch wafer fabs. Management........

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