Three Leading ETFs I'm Eager to Invest in Heavily in 2026, Even with Numerous Affordable Stocks on My Watchlist
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 11 2025
0mins
Should l Buy AMD?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Investment Strategy for 2026: The author plans to allocate half of their retirement contributions to ETFs in 2026, focusing on the Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF, Vanguard Real Estate ETF, and Ark Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF as key investments.
Small Cap Stocks Outlook: Small cap stocks, particularly those in the Russell 2000 index, are currently undervalued compared to large caps, and lower interest rates in 2026 could help close this valuation gap.
Real Estate Investment Potential: The Vanguard Real Estate ETF is highlighted as a promising investment due to its exposure to REITs and a 4% dividend yield, especially as the real estate sector is expected to recover.
AI Investment via ETFs: The Ark Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF is favored for its focus on smaller AI stocks, providing a way to invest in the AI revolution without extensive research on individual companies.
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Analyst Views on AMD
Wall Street analysts forecast AMD stock price to fall
33 Analyst Rating
25 Buy
8 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 341.540
Low
210.00
Averages
289.13
High
377.00
Current: 341.540
Low
210.00
Averages
289.13
High
377.00
About AMD
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. is a global semiconductor company. The Company is focused on high-performance computing and artificial intelligence (AI). Its segments include Data Center, Client and Gaming, and Embedded. Data Center segment includes AI accelerators, microprocessors (CPUs) for servers, graphics processing units (GPUs), accelerated processing units (APUs), data processing units (DPUs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and Adaptive system-on-Chip (SoC) products for data centers. Client and Gaming segment includes CPUs, APUs, chipsets for desktops and notebooks, discrete GPUs, and semi-custom SoC products and development services. Embedded segment includes embedded CPUs, APUs, FPGAs, system on modules (SOMs), and Adaptive SoC products. It markets and sells its products under the AMD trademark. Its products include AMD EPYC, AMD Ryzen, AMD Ryzen PRO, Virtex UltraScale+, among others.
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.
AMD's Q1 Earnings Preview Highlights Key Growth Areas
- Data Center Growth: Analyst Jeff Pu reiterated his Buy rating on AMD and raised his price target to $465, expecting the company's data center CPU business to grow by 55% and 48% YoY in 2026 and 2027, respectively, indicating a strong position in the rapidly expanding AI sector.
- MI 455 AI Accelerator Progress: Pu noted that AMD's upcoming MI 455 AI accelerator is expected to start shipping in Q3, with demand from multi-GW customers like OpenAI, Meta, and Anthropic anticipated to remain strong into 2027 and 2028.
- Competition with Nvidia: While the MI 455 has not yet shipped, there is significant anticipation regarding the upcoming MI 550's comparison to Nvidia's Rubin Ultra line, with Pu suggesting that the MI 500 remains in development for a 4-die packaging design, enhancing AMD's competitive edge.
- Potential Partnership Announcement: There may be an announcement regarding a partnership with Anthropic, as recent job listings indicate the company is seeking a research engineer with ROCm expertise, suggesting a deepening collaboration that could open new business opportunities for AMD.
See More
Zyphra Launches Zyphra Cloud, a Full-Stack AI Platform Powered by AMD
- Platform Launch: Zyphra has announced the launch of Zyphra Cloud, a full-stack AI platform powered by AMD Instinct™ MI355X GPUs and TensorWave infrastructure, aimed at providing developers and enterprises with advanced capabilities for building and deploying AI systems.
- Serverless Inference Service: The Zyphra Inference service, debuting with Zyphra Cloud, is a serverless inference service that supports frontier open-weight models such as DeepSeek V3.2, Kimi K2.6, and GLM 5.1, combining custom kernels and novel long-context inference algorithms to deliver high throughput and low latency performance.
- Expansion Capabilities: Zyphra Cloud is designed to expand into a broader integrated platform, with upcoming features including distributed post-training services, reinforcement learning, and fine-tuning, providing a unified environment for building, training, and deploying AI systems.
- Market Positioning: The launch of Zyphra Cloud signifies Zyphra's further development in the AI space, with CEO Krithik Puthalath stating that the platform will deliver the performance and efficiency required for real-world workloads, driving innovation in AI applications for enterprises.
See More
US Stocks Rise, Nasdaq Hits All-Time High
- Nasdaq Milestone: The Nasdaq 100 index surged by 1.20%, reaching an all-time high, driven by robust performance in technology stocks, reflecting increased investor confidence in the tech sector's growth potential.
- Intel's Strong Surge: Intel's stock rose over 13%, leading chipmakers after Apple indicated exploratory discussions with Intel and Samsung to produce key processors in the US, which is expected to enhance Intel's market share and profitability.
- Economic Data Impact: March new home sales in the US rose by 7.4% month-over-month to 682,000 units, surpassing expectations and indicating signs of recovery in the housing market, while the April ISM services index fell slightly below expectations, highlighting the complexities of economic recovery that may influence future monetary policy.
- Crude Oil Price Drop: WTI crude oil prices fell by more than 4% as calm returned to the Middle East, easing geopolitical risks, which is expected to positively impact inflation expectations and provide support for the stock market.
See More
U.S. Stocks Rise, Nasdaq Hits All-Time High
- Nasdaq Milestone: The Nasdaq 100 index rose by 1.08%, reaching an all-time high, driven by strong performances in technology stocks, particularly Intel, which surged over 10%, indicating increased market confidence in the tech sector.
- Crude Oil Decline: WTI crude prices fell by more than 3% as calm returned to the Middle East, despite U.S. Central Command's announcement of military support for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which could impact global energy supply dynamics.
- Widening Trade Deficit: The U.S. trade deficit widened to $60.3 billion in March from $57.8 billion in February, although it was narrower than the expected $61 billion, reflecting the complexities of economic recovery and its potential implications for the stock market.
- Strong Earnings Reports: So far, 82% of the 322 S&P 500 companies that reported Q1 earnings have exceeded estimates, with overall earnings projected to rise by 12% year-over-year, indicating improved corporate profitability that may further drive stock market gains.
See More
AMD Weekly Options Imply Nearly 9% Post-Earnings Move
- Options Market Dynamics: AMD's weekly options pricing indicates a nearly 9% expected volatility following Tuesday's earnings report, reflecting market caution, particularly with aggressive upside participation at the 350, 360, and 400 strike prices.
- Trading Activity Analysis: The 350 call option saw 18,887 contracts traded, indicating strong bullish sentiment, while the 400 call had 13,769 contracts traded, suggesting significant interest in higher price levels.
- Market Expectations: According to Wedbush Securities, AMD could benefit from robust artificial intelligence-related spending, and despite a sharp stock run-up over the past year, the upcoming earnings call is expected to be crucial for future price movements.
- Risk Assessment: While bullish options are active, the put options at 300 and 340 also show high trading volumes of 13,180 and 9,193 contracts respectively, indicating market concerns about potential downside risks, especially following the earnings report.
See More
Pinterest Surges on Record User Growth and Positive Revenue Guidance
- Strong User Growth: Pinterest (PINS) surged over 15% ahead of market open, driven by an 11% year-over-year increase in monthly active users (MAU), marking the tenth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, indicating that enhanced user engagement will support future profitability.
- Optimistic Revenue Guidance: Pinterest's revenue guidance exceeded expectations, with CEO Bill Ready emphasizing the company's commitment to aligning profitability with user engagement, thereby boosting investor confidence and driving stock price increases.
- Positive Market Reaction: Analyst Rich Greifner highlighted that Pinterest's large and engaged user base, characterized by high commercial intent, makes it an attractive platform for advertisers, further solidifying its competitive position in the advertising market.
- Favorable Industry Outlook: As Pinterest's user growth and revenue expectations improve, market confidence in its future performance is likely to attract more investor interest, propelling further development in the social media sector.
See More
AMD's Q1 Earnings Preview Highlights Key Growth Areas
- Data Center Growth: Analyst Jeff Pu reiterated his Buy rating on AMD and raised his price target to $465, expecting the company's data center CPU business to grow by 55% and 48% YoY in 2026 and 2027, respectively, indicating a strong position in the rapidly expanding AI sector.
- MI 455 AI Accelerator Progress: Pu noted that AMD's upcoming MI 455 AI accelerator is expected to start shipping in Q3, with demand from multi-GW customers like OpenAI, Meta, and Anthropic anticipated to remain strong into 2027 and 2028.
- Competition with Nvidia: While the MI 455 has not yet shipped, there is significant anticipation regarding the upcoming MI 550's comparison to Nvidia's Rubin Ultra line, with Pu suggesting that the MI 500 remains in development for a 4-die packaging design, enhancing AMD's competitive edge.
- Potential Partnership Announcement: There may be an announcement regarding a partnership with Anthropic, as recent job listings indicate the company is seeking a research engineer with ROCm expertise, suggesting a deepening collaboration that could open new business opportunities for AMD.
See More
Zyphra Launches Zyphra Cloud, a Full-Stack AI Platform Powered by AMD
- Platform Launch: Zyphra has announced the launch of Zyphra Cloud, a full-stack AI platform powered by AMD Instinct™ MI355X GPUs and TensorWave infrastructure, aimed at providing developers and enterprises with advanced capabilities for building and deploying AI systems.
- Serverless Inference Service: The Zyphra Inference service, debuting with Zyphra Cloud, is a serverless inference service that supports frontier open-weight models such as DeepSeek V3.2, Kimi K2.6, and GLM 5.1, combining custom kernels and novel long-context inference algorithms to deliver high throughput and low latency performance.
- Expansion Capabilities: Zyphra Cloud is designed to expand into a broader integrated platform, with upcoming features including distributed post-training services, reinforcement learning, and fine-tuning, providing a unified environment for building, training, and deploying AI systems.
- Market Positioning: The launch of Zyphra Cloud signifies Zyphra's further development in the AI space, with CEO Krithik Puthalath stating that the platform will deliver the performance and efficiency required for real-world workloads, driving innovation in AI applications for enterprises.
See More
US Stocks Rise, Nasdaq Hits All-Time High
- Nasdaq Milestone: The Nasdaq 100 index surged by 1.20%, reaching an all-time high, driven by robust performance in technology stocks, reflecting increased investor confidence in the tech sector's growth potential.
- Intel's Strong Surge: Intel's stock rose over 13%, leading chipmakers after Apple indicated exploratory discussions with Intel and Samsung to produce key processors in the US, which is expected to enhance Intel's market share and profitability.
- Economic Data Impact: March new home sales in the US rose by 7.4% month-over-month to 682,000 units, surpassing expectations and indicating signs of recovery in the housing market, while the April ISM services index fell slightly below expectations, highlighting the complexities of economic recovery that may influence future monetary policy.
- Crude Oil Price Drop: WTI crude oil prices fell by more than 4% as calm returned to the Middle East, easing geopolitical risks, which is expected to positively impact inflation expectations and provide support for the stock market.
See More
U.S. Stocks Rise, Nasdaq Hits All-Time High
- Nasdaq Milestone: The Nasdaq 100 index rose by 1.08%, reaching an all-time high, driven by strong performances in technology stocks, particularly Intel, which surged over 10%, indicating increased market confidence in the tech sector.
- Crude Oil Decline: WTI crude prices fell by more than 3% as calm returned to the Middle East, despite U.S. Central Command's announcement of military support for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which could impact global energy supply dynamics.
- Widening Trade Deficit: The U.S. trade deficit widened to $60.3 billion in March from $57.8 billion in February, although it was narrower than the expected $61 billion, reflecting the complexities of economic recovery and its potential implications for the stock market.
- Strong Earnings Reports: So far, 82% of the 322 S&P 500 companies that reported Q1 earnings have exceeded estimates, with overall earnings projected to rise by 12% year-over-year, indicating improved corporate profitability that may further drive stock market gains.
See More
AMD Weekly Options Imply Nearly 9% Post-Earnings Move
- Options Market Dynamics: AMD's weekly options pricing indicates a nearly 9% expected volatility following Tuesday's earnings report, reflecting market caution, particularly with aggressive upside participation at the 350, 360, and 400 strike prices.
- Trading Activity Analysis: The 350 call option saw 18,887 contracts traded, indicating strong bullish sentiment, while the 400 call had 13,769 contracts traded, suggesting significant interest in higher price levels.
- Market Expectations: According to Wedbush Securities, AMD could benefit from robust artificial intelligence-related spending, and despite a sharp stock run-up over the past year, the upcoming earnings call is expected to be crucial for future price movements.
- Risk Assessment: While bullish options are active, the put options at 300 and 340 also show high trading volumes of 13,180 and 9,193 contracts respectively, indicating market concerns about potential downside risks, especially following the earnings report.
See More
Pinterest Surges on Record User Growth and Positive Revenue Guidance
- Strong User Growth: Pinterest (PINS) surged over 15% ahead of market open, driven by an 11% year-over-year increase in monthly active users (MAU), marking the tenth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, indicating that enhanced user engagement will support future profitability.
- Optimistic Revenue Guidance: Pinterest's revenue guidance exceeded expectations, with CEO Bill Ready emphasizing the company's commitment to aligning profitability with user engagement, thereby boosting investor confidence and driving stock price increases.
- Positive Market Reaction: Analyst Rich Greifner highlighted that Pinterest's large and engaged user base, characterized by high commercial intent, makes it an attractive platform for advertisers, further solidifying its competitive position in the advertising market.
- Favorable Industry Outlook: As Pinterest's user growth and revenue expectations improve, market confidence in its future performance is likely to attract more investor interest, propelling further development in the social media sector.
See More
