TIP746: ASML: Europe's Tech Monopoly

In this episode of The Investor's Podcast, Clay Finck discusses ASML, a European company that is the sole manufacturer of extreme ultraviolet lithography machines used to produce advanced semiconductor chips. The episode explores ASML's origins as a spinoff from Philips, its rise to a monopoly, the key figures like Martin Vandenbrink who drove its technological advancements, and the geopolitical pressures it faces amid U.S.-China tensions. Finck also shares lessons from the book "Focus! The ASML Way" by Mark Hyjink, highlighting ASML's focus on innovation, its relationships with key customers like TSMC, and the challenges of scaling production to meet growing global demand for chips. The episode also touches on the U.S. government's efforts to bolster its own chip industry through the CHIPS Act and the company's transition as key leaders retire.