Toilet Maker Spikes in Value as It Flushes Money Into AI

Toto said it will invest $190 million to expand semiconductor component production and R&D, driven by booming AI-related chip demand.

The announcement sent shares up 18% to a multi-year high.

Chip-related products have become a major profit driver for the Japanese toilet maker, especially electrostatic chucks used in NAND flash chip production.

At the same time, its core toilet business is under pressure from supply shortages tied to the Middle East energy crisis.