Semiconductor ETFs Lead AI Investment Trends
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 04 2026
0mins
Should l Buy ASML?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Growing Semiconductor Demand: Even without the AI boom, the demand for semiconductors is expected to continue rising, particularly as traditional electronics in appliances and cars become increasingly computerized, indicating strong long-term industry potential.
- Strong Performance of VanEck ETF: Since its inception in 2011, the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) has outperformed the S&P 500, particularly during the accelerated growth phase of the AI era, making it a focal point for investors.
- Nvidia Faces Competitive Challenges: While Nvidia leads in the AI sector, it faces challenges from competitors like AMD, and its customers are increasingly looking to fulfill semiconductor needs in-house, which could impact its market share.
- Diversification Investment Option: The VanEck Semiconductor ETF offers investors a solid alternative, providing exposure to international stocks like TSMC and ASML that are not included in the S&P 500, thereby enhancing portfolio diversification.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy ASML?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on ASML
Wall Street analysts forecast ASML stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
12 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 1359.760
Low
1385
Averages
1583
High
1911
Current: 1359.760
Low
1385
Averages
1583
High
1911
About ASML
ASML Holding N.V. is a holding company based in the Netherlands. The Company operates through its subsidiaries in the Netherlands, the United States, Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and Israel. The Company operates through one business segment which is engage in development, production, marketing, sales, upgrading and servicing of advanced semiconductor equipment systems, consisting of lithography, metrology and inspection systems. The Company offers TWINSCAN systems, equipped with lithography system with a mercury lamp as light source (i-line), Krypton Fluoride (KrF) and Argon Fluoride (ArF) light sources for processing wafers for manufacturing environments for which imaging at a small resolution is required. TWINSCAN systems also include immersion lithography systems (TWINSCAN immersion systems).
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Stock Markets Pressured by Soaring Oil Prices
- Oil Price Surge Pressures Markets: Stock indexes are under pressure as crude oil prices soar over 8% following President Trump's aggressive stance on Iran, leading to a 0.06% drop in the S&P 500, a 0.23% decline in the Dow, and a 0.20% fall in the Nasdaq 100, indicating heightened inflation concerns among investors.
- Unexpected Jobless Claims Drop: Despite market pressures, initial jobless claims fell by 9,000 to 202,000, indicating a stronger labor market than anticipated, which may provide some support for stocks and alleviate investor fears of an economic slowdown.
- Divergent Energy Sector Performance: Energy producers like Diamondback Energy rose over 2% due to soaring WTI prices, while airline stocks such as American Airlines and Carnival fell more than 4% as rising fuel costs cut into profits, highlighting a clear divergence across sectors.
- Tech Stocks Decline: Chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks retreated, with ARM Holdings leading the Nasdaq 100 down over 5%, reflecting waning confidence in tech stocks and potentially impacting future investment decisions.
See More
US Stocks Plummet as Oil Prices Surge
- Oil Price Surge: Crude oil prices soared over 13% as President Trump took a tougher stance on Iran, reaching a 3.5-week high, which not only heightened inflation fears but also pushed bond yields higher, with the 10-year T-note yield rising by 2 basis points to 4.34%.
- Unemployment Claims Drop: Weekly initial unemployment claims unexpectedly fell by 9,000 to 202,000, indicating a stronger labor market than the anticipated increase to 212,000, which could provide support for the stock market amid rising inflation concerns.
- Global Market Decline: Overseas stock markets are lower, with the Euro Stoxx 50 down 2.25%, China's Shanghai Composite down 0.74%, and Japan's Nikkei 225 sharply falling 2.38% from a two-week high, reflecting global economic uncertainty and investor caution.
- Airline Stocks Plummet: Airline stocks are sharply lower as crude oil prices surged over 10%, raising fuel costs; United Airlines and American Airlines Group both fell more than 6%, highlighting the direct impact of rising oil prices on airline profitability.
See More
VXUS: A New Opportunity for Overseas Stock Investment
- Portfolio Diversification: VXUS, the world's largest international stock ETF with $636.7 billion in assets, offers instant exposure to 8,703 overseas companies, enabling investors to effectively diversify their portfolios and reduce reliance on the U.S. market.
- Significant Valuation Advantage: With a price-to-earnings ratio of just 18 times, VXUS presents a compelling investment opportunity compared to the historically high 28 times for the S&P 500, particularly amid increasing geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic challenges.
- Low Fee Structure: VXUS boasts a low expense ratio of 0.05%, significantly lower than the average 0.14% for actively managed equity ETFs, allowing investors to enjoy higher net returns over the long term and enhancing overall investment efficiency.
- Future Growth Potential: According to Vanguard's Capital Markets Model, overseas stocks are projected to outperform U.S. stocks by 2.2% annually from 2023 to 2033, providing a strong long-term growth outlook for VXUS, especially as U.S. market valuations remain elevated.
See More
American Investors Should Consider Overseas Stocks
- Portfolio Diversification: With U.S. stocks historically valued at 28 times earnings, investors face compression risks, making the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS), with total assets of $636.7 billion, an ideal choice for increasing overseas stock exposure and diversifying portfolios effectively.
- Cost Efficiency: VXUS charges a low expense ratio of just 0.05%, significantly lower than the average 0.14% for actively managed ETFs, allowing investors to achieve market returns at a reduced cost, thereby enhancing investment efficiency while pursuing global diversification.
- Quality Asset Allocation: VXUS holds 8,703 stocks with a median market capitalization of $52 billion and an average earnings growth rate of 15.9%, showcasing strong growth potential, particularly with 26% and 37% allocations to emerging markets and Europe, respectively, effectively diversifying risks and capturing global growth opportunities.
- Future Performance Outlook: According to Vanguard's Capital Markets Model, overseas stocks are expected to outperform U.S. stocks by 2.2% annually from 2023 to 2033, providing a compelling rationale for investors to reassess their portfolios, especially against the backdrop of high valuations in the current U.S. market.
See More
US Stocks Close Higher Amid Optimism Over Middle East Conflict Resolution
- Market Rally: The S&P 500 rose by 0.72%, the Dow Jones increased by 0.48%, and the Nasdaq 100 climbed by 1.18%, reflecting growing investor optimism regarding a potential resolution to the Middle East conflict, which has bolstered market confidence.
- Strong Economic Data: The US ADP employment change for March increased by 62,000, surpassing expectations of 40,000, while February retail sales rose by 0.6% month-over-month, indicating robust economic recovery that could influence Federal Reserve policy decisions.
- Interest Rate Expectations: Despite positive economic indicators, hawkish comments from St. Louis Fed President raised concerns about inflation and employment, leading to a mere 1% chance of a 25 basis point rate hike at the upcoming April FOMC meeting, reflecting cautious market sentiment.
- Divergent Stock Performances: Target Hospitality surged over 36% after securing a multi-year contract worth over $550 million, while Nike fell more than 15% due to revenue forecasts indicating a decline, highlighting the market's varied outlook on different companies' futures.
See More
Micron Technology Reports Blowout Earnings, Stock Reaction Muted
- Impressive Earnings: Micron Technology's latest earnings report revealed quarterly revenue nearing $24 billion, nearly tripling year-over-year and exceeding market expectations by nearly $4 billion; however, the stock fell about 2.8%, indicating market caution regarding future growth.
- Doubling Gross Margin: The company's gross margin doubled year-over-year to approximately 74%, an extraordinary feat for a mature company, reflecting significant pricing power amid surging demand for AI infrastructure.
- Strong Guidance: Micron's revenue guidance for the current quarter is set at $33.5 billion, well above analysts' expectations of $24.3 billion, suggesting a nearly 50% gross margin and indicating continued benefits from the AI investment surge.
- Strategic Customer Agreements: Micron is entering into long-term strategic agreements with customers, marking its first five-year contracts, which will provide greater business predictability and could alter the cyclical nature of the memory chip industry.
See More
Stock Markets Pressured by Soaring Oil Prices
- Oil Price Surge Pressures Markets: Stock indexes are under pressure as crude oil prices soar over 8% following President Trump's aggressive stance on Iran, leading to a 0.06% drop in the S&P 500, a 0.23% decline in the Dow, and a 0.20% fall in the Nasdaq 100, indicating heightened inflation concerns among investors.
- Unexpected Jobless Claims Drop: Despite market pressures, initial jobless claims fell by 9,000 to 202,000, indicating a stronger labor market than anticipated, which may provide some support for stocks and alleviate investor fears of an economic slowdown.
- Divergent Energy Sector Performance: Energy producers like Diamondback Energy rose over 2% due to soaring WTI prices, while airline stocks such as American Airlines and Carnival fell more than 4% as rising fuel costs cut into profits, highlighting a clear divergence across sectors.
- Tech Stocks Decline: Chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks retreated, with ARM Holdings leading the Nasdaq 100 down over 5%, reflecting waning confidence in tech stocks and potentially impacting future investment decisions.
See More
US Stocks Plummet as Oil Prices Surge
- Oil Price Surge: Crude oil prices soared over 13% as President Trump took a tougher stance on Iran, reaching a 3.5-week high, which not only heightened inflation fears but also pushed bond yields higher, with the 10-year T-note yield rising by 2 basis points to 4.34%.
- Unemployment Claims Drop: Weekly initial unemployment claims unexpectedly fell by 9,000 to 202,000, indicating a stronger labor market than the anticipated increase to 212,000, which could provide support for the stock market amid rising inflation concerns.
- Global Market Decline: Overseas stock markets are lower, with the Euro Stoxx 50 down 2.25%, China's Shanghai Composite down 0.74%, and Japan's Nikkei 225 sharply falling 2.38% from a two-week high, reflecting global economic uncertainty and investor caution.
- Airline Stocks Plummet: Airline stocks are sharply lower as crude oil prices surged over 10%, raising fuel costs; United Airlines and American Airlines Group both fell more than 6%, highlighting the direct impact of rising oil prices on airline profitability.
See More
VXUS: A New Opportunity for Overseas Stock Investment
- Portfolio Diversification: VXUS, the world's largest international stock ETF with $636.7 billion in assets, offers instant exposure to 8,703 overseas companies, enabling investors to effectively diversify their portfolios and reduce reliance on the U.S. market.
- Significant Valuation Advantage: With a price-to-earnings ratio of just 18 times, VXUS presents a compelling investment opportunity compared to the historically high 28 times for the S&P 500, particularly amid increasing geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic challenges.
- Low Fee Structure: VXUS boasts a low expense ratio of 0.05%, significantly lower than the average 0.14% for actively managed equity ETFs, allowing investors to enjoy higher net returns over the long term and enhancing overall investment efficiency.
- Future Growth Potential: According to Vanguard's Capital Markets Model, overseas stocks are projected to outperform U.S. stocks by 2.2% annually from 2023 to 2033, providing a strong long-term growth outlook for VXUS, especially as U.S. market valuations remain elevated.
See More
American Investors Should Consider Overseas Stocks
- Portfolio Diversification: With U.S. stocks historically valued at 28 times earnings, investors face compression risks, making the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS), with total assets of $636.7 billion, an ideal choice for increasing overseas stock exposure and diversifying portfolios effectively.
- Cost Efficiency: VXUS charges a low expense ratio of just 0.05%, significantly lower than the average 0.14% for actively managed ETFs, allowing investors to achieve market returns at a reduced cost, thereby enhancing investment efficiency while pursuing global diversification.
- Quality Asset Allocation: VXUS holds 8,703 stocks with a median market capitalization of $52 billion and an average earnings growth rate of 15.9%, showcasing strong growth potential, particularly with 26% and 37% allocations to emerging markets and Europe, respectively, effectively diversifying risks and capturing global growth opportunities.
- Future Performance Outlook: According to Vanguard's Capital Markets Model, overseas stocks are expected to outperform U.S. stocks by 2.2% annually from 2023 to 2033, providing a compelling rationale for investors to reassess their portfolios, especially against the backdrop of high valuations in the current U.S. market.
See More
US Stocks Close Higher Amid Optimism Over Middle East Conflict Resolution
- Market Rally: The S&P 500 rose by 0.72%, the Dow Jones increased by 0.48%, and the Nasdaq 100 climbed by 1.18%, reflecting growing investor optimism regarding a potential resolution to the Middle East conflict, which has bolstered market confidence.
- Strong Economic Data: The US ADP employment change for March increased by 62,000, surpassing expectations of 40,000, while February retail sales rose by 0.6% month-over-month, indicating robust economic recovery that could influence Federal Reserve policy decisions.
- Interest Rate Expectations: Despite positive economic indicators, hawkish comments from St. Louis Fed President raised concerns about inflation and employment, leading to a mere 1% chance of a 25 basis point rate hike at the upcoming April FOMC meeting, reflecting cautious market sentiment.
- Divergent Stock Performances: Target Hospitality surged over 36% after securing a multi-year contract worth over $550 million, while Nike fell more than 15% due to revenue forecasts indicating a decline, highlighting the market's varied outlook on different companies' futures.
See More
Micron Technology Reports Blowout Earnings, Stock Reaction Muted
- Impressive Earnings: Micron Technology's latest earnings report revealed quarterly revenue nearing $24 billion, nearly tripling year-over-year and exceeding market expectations by nearly $4 billion; however, the stock fell about 2.8%, indicating market caution regarding future growth.
- Doubling Gross Margin: The company's gross margin doubled year-over-year to approximately 74%, an extraordinary feat for a mature company, reflecting significant pricing power amid surging demand for AI infrastructure.
- Strong Guidance: Micron's revenue guidance for the current quarter is set at $33.5 billion, well above analysts' expectations of $24.3 billion, suggesting a nearly 50% gross margin and indicating continued benefits from the AI investment surge.
- Strategic Customer Agreements: Micron is entering into long-term strategic agreements with customers, marking its first five-year contracts, which will provide greater business predictability and could alter the cyclical nature of the memory chip industry.
See More
