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Wolfspeed Eyes Bankruptcy Filing Amid Debt Struggles and Weak Demand

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Wolfspeed, a leading U.S. semiconductor firm specializing in silicon carbide chips, is reportedly preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy within weeks, according to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal. The move comes as the company faces mounting debt, weakened demand, and heightened market uncertainty due to tariffs and macroeconomic pressures.

Shares of Wolfspeed (WOLF.N) plunged more than 57% in after-hours trading following the news.

The company, which serves industrial and automotive markets, has been wrestling with declining demand and recently rejected multiple out-of-court debt restructuring proposals. It is now seeking a court-supervised process with the backing of a majority of its creditors, as part of a pre-packaged bankruptcy strategy.

Earlier this month, Wolfspeed signaled financial distress by raising “going-concern” doubts and significantly lowering its revenue outlook. It forecast $850 million in revenue for fiscal 2026, falling short of analysts’ consensus of $958.7 million.

Wolfspeed declined to comment on the bankruptcy report when contacted by Reuters.

As one of the few major U.S. producers of silicon carbide chips — vital for electric vehicles and renewable energy systems — the company’s financial woes could ripple across the supply chain, especially as global chipmakers face persistent economic headwinds and shifting trade dynamics.

Tower Semiconductor Forecasts Q2 Revenue Above Estimates on Wireless Chip Demand

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Tower Semiconductor (TSEM), the Israel-based contract chipmaker, forecast second-quarter revenue slightly above Wall Street expectations on Wednesday, buoyed by steady demand for wireless communication and power management chips.

The company, which specializes in analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, is seeing record growth in radio frequency (RF) infrastructure technologies, driven by expanding wireless and sensing applications—even as demand in automotive and industrial sectors remains uneven.

Key Forecast and Financial Highlights:

  • Q2 Revenue Guidance: $372 million (±5%), above analyst estimates of $371.3 million (LSEG)

  • Q1 Revenue: $358.2 million, in line with forecasts

  • Q1 Adjusted EPS: 45 cents, beating estimates of 38 cents

Growth Drivers

  • Strong demand for RF infrastructure chips used in wireless communication is a standout contributor to revenue.

  • Despite choppy conditions in the automotive and EV sectors, Tower is finding support in consumer electronics and industrial applications.

The company is also expanding production capacity at its Agrate, Italy facility, a move that increases short-term costs but is expected to bolster long-term output and growth potential.

Tower reaffirmed its full-year outlook for sequential revenue growth across quarters, signaling confidence in its product pipeline and end-market stability.

Market Reaction

Despite the strong performance and upbeat forecast, Tower’s U.S.-listed shares slipped about 1% in premarket trading, possibly due to broader market sentiment or cost concerns related to facility expansion.

Tower’s continued focus on analog and RF chip technologies—especially amid global interest in connectivity and power efficiency—positions it as a resilient player in a diversifying semiconductor landscape.

Infineon Lowers Revenue Forecast Amid US Tariff Uncertainty

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Infineon Technologies, Germany’s leading chipmaker, revised its full-year revenue outlook downward on Thursday, citing uncertainty around looming U.S. semiconductor tariffs and unfavorable currency exchange assumptions. Despite reporting stable order intake, the company now anticipates a more cautious fiscal year ahead.

What’s Behind the Cut:

  • U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that chip tariffs could begin at 25% or more, though no implementation timeline has been confirmed. This lack of clarity has clouded business planning for chipmakers like Infineon.

  • As a precaution, Infineon CEO Jochen Hanebeck said the company applied a 10% haircut to its expected Q4 revenue projections.

  • Without the haircut, Infineon said its forecast would have remained “essentially unchanged.”

Financial Highlights:

  • Fiscal 2024 revenue totaled €15 billion ($17 billion).

  • The company had earlier projected flat to slightly higher revenue for the current year but now anticipates a lower figure due to tariff and exchange rate risks.

  • It now expects an operating margin in the mid-teens rather than the previous mid-to-high-teens range.

CEO Commentary:

“Given that order intake still shows no signs at all of slowing down, we can only guesstimate the effects of tariff disputes,”
said Hanebeck, highlighting the unpredictability of U.S. trade policy on semiconductor supply chains.

Broader Context:

Infineon joins a growing list of global tech firms affected by U.S. protectionist policies. The prospect of rising tariffs is pressuring supply chains, pricing strategies, and global investment decisions, particularly as semiconductor demand remains strong across sectors such as automotive, consumer electronics, and industrial systems.