Three Players in a Tight Market
Let us examine the trio caught in this drama. TSMC is, ironically, still an anchor here. When your product is hopelessly scarce, your ability to dictate terms becomes absolute.
Then there is ASML. This Dutch outfit holds a near-monopoly on the complex machinery needed to print advanced circuits. If a rival foundry wants to step up and absorb TSMC's overflow, they absolutely must buy ASML kit to do it.
Finally, we have Intel. They are attempting a monumental pivot to become the West's premier foundry alternative. It is a wildly ambitious strategy, burdened with severe execution risk, but the potential payoff could be formidable if they actually pull it off.