AI Build-Out Has ‘Broken the Old Demand Cycle,’ Chip Veteran Says as TSMC Posts Record Profit

Chip Stocks Endure Longest Losing Streak Since 2006 as CoreWeave Credit Concerns Mount: This Week on Wall Street

The iShares Semiconductor ETF is on a nine-session losing run unseen since May 2006, as the KOSPI posts its worst week since 2008, optical names suffer dot-com-era drops and Bank of America sees a Cisco echo.

Shares of semiconductor and chip companies are trading lower as rising inflation concerns and elevated energy prices fuel expectations for further Fed rate hikes. Elevated borrowing costs could pressure semiconductor manufacturing and AI infrastructure investments while straining customer budgets. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) has declined for seven consecutive trading sessions, matching its longest losing streak since the 2008 financial crisis.

Needham Maintains Buy on Applied Materials, Lowers Price Target to $580

Needham analyst Charles Shi maintains Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $740 to $580.

Lam Research Stock Hits Longest Losing Streak Ever: Are There Buyers Around?

Lam Research stock is on track for a ninth straight loss, a first since 1984. Benzinga’s 22 analysts see a $346 average target and 26% upside.

Prediction: $1,000 Invested in Taiwan Semi (TSMC) Today Will Be Worth This Much by 2030.

TSMC is positioned for strong growth through 2030, with analysts expecting 46% revenue growth and 66% EPS growth in 2026, followed by 32% and 31% CAGRs respectively through 2028. The article projects a $1,000 investment could grow to over $3,000 by late 2030 if the company meets expectations and trades at 20x forward earnings, driven by AI and cloud infrastructure demand. However, risks include Taiwan-China tensions, costly overseas expansion, and potential AI spending slowdowns.

Not Nvidia. Not TSMC. This Equipment Maker Is the Real Bottleneck in AI Chip Production.

ASML, the Dutch semiconductor equipment maker, is identified as the true bottleneck in AI chip production. As the sole producer of high-end EUV lithography systems essential for manufacturing advanced AI chips, ASML has no competitors and significant pricing power. The company expects 35-38% revenue growth for 2026 with expanding EPS, driven by surging demand for its EUV systems from foundries like TSMC, Samsung, and Intel.