$TSM (Bloomberg) -- TSMC forecast sales for the fourth quarter; the guidance beat the average analyst estimate. FOURTH QUARTER FORECAST •Sees sales $52.3 billion to $54.3 billion, estimate $50.35 billion (Bloomberg Consensus) •Sees gross margin 65% to 67%, estimate 66.1% •Sees operating margin 56.5% to 58.5%, estimate 58% THIRD QUARTER RESULTS •Net income NT$763.1 billion, estimate NT$739.49 billion •Gross margin 66.4%, estimate 66.5% •Operating profit NT$876.45 billion, estimate NT$854.35 billion •Operating margin 58.7%, estimate 58.1% •Sales NT$1.49 trillion, estimate NT$1.46 trillion COMMENTARY AND CONTEXT •Forecasts Based on NT$31.8 Per US Dollar •Still Sees 2026 Capex Between $60B-64B NOTE •For Bloomberg Consensus estimates used in this story see: 2330 TT Equity MODL •39 buys, 2 holds, 0 sells