Citi's 2026 Semiconductor Forecast: MCHP as Top Choice, with AVGO, ADI, MU, NXPI, and TXN Rated as Buys
AI Supercycle Outlook: Citi Research predicts the AI supercycle will last until 2026 but warns of increasing volatility and risks as costs related to OpenAI emerge and debt concerns grow.
Top Stock Picks: The brokerage favors NVIDIA, Broadcom, and Micron Technology within the AI ecosystem, with Microchip Technology identified as the top pick due to its potential for significant upside.
Earnings Projections: Citi expects substantial earnings growth for Microchip Technology and Texas Instruments, projecting MCHP EPS to rise over fourfold by 2027 and TXN EPS to increase by 77% in the same timeframe.
Preference for Synopsys: Citi prefers Synopsys over Cadence Design Systems, anticipating better operating margin expansion for Synopsys due to cost-cutting measures and a favorable software mix.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on AVGO
About AVGO
About the author

- Surging Market Demand: Broadcom has seen skyrocketing demand for its data center chips and networking equipment, with its stock soaring 49% last year, significantly outperforming rival Nvidia's 38% gain, highlighting its strong position in the AI market.
- Robust Customer Orders: Major AI companies like Google and Anthropic have placed orders totaling $21 billion for Broadcom's Ironwood chips, indicating the increasing importance of its hardware in AI development and further solidifying its market share.
- Accelerating Revenue Growth: Broadcom anticipates total revenue of approximately $19.1 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, representing a 28% year-over-year increase, with AI semiconductor revenue expected to reach $8.2 billion, showcasing strong growth in AI hardware sales.
- Valuation and Investment Advice: Despite Broadcom's high P/E ratio of 68, which is more than double the Nasdaq-100's 32, investors should note its projected 50% annual revenue growth, suggesting a long-term hold strategy for better returns.
- Stake Increase Transaction: On February 4, 2026, Valley Wealth Managers increased its stake in Nexstar Media Group by purchasing 24,243 shares for approximately $4.73 million, reflecting confidence in Nexstar's future growth potential.
- Asset Management Growth: This acquisition raises Nexstar's share to 1.72% of Valley Wealth Managers' assets under management, with a quarter-end value increase of $5.50 million, indicating a positive stock price trend.
- Strong Market Performance: As of February 3, 2026, Nexstar's stock price stood at $208.11, marking a 42.5% increase over the past year and outperforming the S&P 500 by 27.07 percentage points, showcasing its sustained competitiveness in the media sector.
- Significant Acquisition Impact: Nexstar's recent $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna is expected to increase its television station count to 265, with an anticipated net benefit of approximately $300 million, further solidifying its market position and enhancing profitability.
- Revenue Comparison: Amazon achieved $716.9 billion in revenue for the latest fiscal year, surpassing Walmart's $713.2 billion for the first time, marking a significant shift in the retail landscape and showcasing Amazon's success in diversifying its revenue streams.
- Digital Advertising Growth: Walmart's digital business grew by 27% in the U.S. in the fourth quarter and has posted double-digit percentage gains for 15 consecutive quarters, indicating strong performance in e-commerce and a focus on higher-margin businesses, despite losing its market leadership.
- AI Strategic Initiatives: Walmart's partnerships with OpenAI and Google to launch the AI shopping assistant Sparky enhance customer experience, with users reporting a 35% higher average order value, highlighting the potential and importance of AI in retail.
- Amazon's AI Investments: Amazon plans to spend up to $200 billion on AI infrastructure in 2023, and despite market skepticism regarding its capital expenditures, its AI assistant Rufus has generated nearly $12 billion in incremental annualized sales, demonstrating its strong commitment to AI development.
- Share Sale Details: Valley Wealth Managers, Inc. disclosed in its February 4, 2026 SEC filing the sale of 479,832 shares of Sonoco Products Company, with an estimated transaction value of $19.9 million, indicating a significant $20.7 million decline in the fund's position due to market fluctuations during the quarter.
- Position Reduction: Following this transaction, Valley Wealth's stake in Sonoco was reduced to just 475 shares, valued at $20,729 at the end of the quarter, suggesting a waning confidence in Sonoco's future performance, which may impact its investment strategy moving forward.
- Market Performance Analysis: As of February 3, 2026, Sonoco's stock was priced at $49.01, reflecting a 7.9% increase over the past year, yet underperforming the S&P 500 by 9 percentage points, indicating sluggish growth that may prompt investors to reassess its investment value.
- Investor Strategy Shift: In conjunction with the sale of Sonoco shares, Valley Wealth increased its investments in the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF and Apple, reflecting a strategic shift from underperforming traditional sectors to higher-growth tech stocks, aiming to mitigate risk and capitalize on market opportunities through diversification.
- Stake Reduction: Valley Wealth Managers disclosed in its February 4, 2026 SEC filing that it sold 479,832 shares of Sonoco Products Company, with the transaction valued at $19.9 million, reflecting a cautious outlook on the company's future growth potential.
- Asset Value Decline: The fund's position value dropped by $20.7 million quarter-over-quarter due to both the share sale and stock price fluctuations, indicating poor market performance and impacting investor confidence in Sonoco.
- Industry Context: Despite Sonoco's revenue surge of 42% in 2025, its historical low growth trajectory has led investors to be wary of its future prospects, prompting a shift of funds towards more promising tech stocks.
- Investment Strategy Shift: While reducing its stake in Sonoco, Valley Wealth increased investments in other top positions like the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF and Apple, indicating a strategy to seek broader growth opportunities in the current bull market.
- Growing Market Demand: Analyst James Schneider from Goldman Sachs highlights a surge in demand for high-speed, short-range connectivity in AI data centers, which is expected to further drive growth for Credo Technology Group, showcasing the company's strong market potential.
- Buy Rating and Price Target: Goldman Sachs initiates coverage on Credo with a buy rating and sets a 12-month price target of $165, indicating a 29% upside from Wednesday's close, reflecting the analyst's confidence in the company's future performance.
- Significant Technological Advantage: Credo's Active Electrical Cables (AECs) technology offers low-cost, high-bandwidth, and highly reliable connectivity solutions, and Schneider believes this technology will remain mainstream for at least the next five years, further solidifying the company's market position.
- Diversification Strategy: Schneider commends Credo's diversification efforts into optical solutions, which he believes will support long-term growth, while also appreciating the company's carefully managed guidance and investor messaging.










