{"id":428421,"date":"2026-01-23T16:59:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T16:59:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/428421\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T16:59:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T16:59:14","slug":"toilet-maker-toto-scores-a-royal-flush-as-share-price-rises-due-to-ai-demand-in-unlikely-chipmaking-side-gig-japanese-company-develops-electrostatic-chucks-to-hold-silicon-wafers-in-lucrativ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/428421\/","title":{"rendered":"Toilet maker Toto scores a royal flush as share price rises due to AI demand in unlikely chipmaking side-gig \u2014 Japanese company develops electrostatic chucks to hold silicon wafers in lucrative segment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Toilet manufacturer Toto has seen its shares soar at their most rapid pace in five years, as it benefits from AI memory market<\/a> tailwinds. The Japanese sanitaryware maker might be one of the most unlikely beneficiaries of the AI boom. However, its ceramics expertise is useful in semiconductor manufacturing. Specifically, according to the Japan Times<\/a>, Goldman Sachs analysts are crediting the 11% stock surge yesterday to Toto\u2019s electrostatic chucks used in NAND chipmaking.<\/p>\n

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\"Toto\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Toto<\/a>)Flush of confidence<\/p>\n

Best known for its Washlet-branded cleansing toilets and heated toilet seat accessories, Japan\u2019s Toto has smartly invested and diversified into businesses related to the semiconductor and display supply chain. Its ceramics expertise makes it a surprisingly natural fit for the development of these products. Moreover, this isn\u2019t something new to Toto; it has been mass-producing the aforementioned electrostatic chucks since way back in 1988.<\/p>\n

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Toto\u2019s chucks are used to hold silicon wafers in place during chipmaking, while minimizing contamination. Over the years, analysts have charted this once side-gig for Toto ramping up to contribute over two-fifths of its operating income, based on March 2025 figures compiled by Bloomberg. It looks like investors are positive and eager to see an update to these figures, as everything the AI industry touches turns to gold, for now.<\/p>\n

You may like<\/p>\n

Image 1 of 2<\/p>\n

\"Toto(Image credit: Toto<\/a>)\"Toto(Image credit: Toto<\/a>)Tailwinds \u2014 the reason Toto shares are up, and a function of its signature Washlet product line<\/p>\n

The Goldman analysts quoted by the Japan Times say that Toto is likely to see \u201csignificant profit growth,\u201d as they raised the rating of the firm from neutral to buy. Ratcheting up their hopes, they see a tight supply-demand environment in the memory industry<\/a> as a tailwind for Toto. Indeed, Toto is also said to expect the current wave of AI data center construction<\/a> to boost its electrostatic chuck business.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the source name checked a few other unlikely Japanese companies that are benefitting from the AI boom. An MSG seasoning maker also makes chip-insulating films, for example. Meanwhile, cosmetics brand Kao\u2019s expertise in facial cleansers has an unexpected twin: the company also makes cleaning agents for semiconductor wafers.<\/p>\n

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