Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides complementary metal oxide silicon wafer fabrication processes to manufacture logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, and embedded memory semiconductors. The company also offers customer support and engineering services, as well as manufactures masks. Its products are used in high performance computing, smartphone, Internet of things, automotive, and digital consumer electronics. The company was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Hsinchu City, Taiwan.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) демонстрирует сильные финансовые показатели, особенно в отношении рентабельности и эффективности. ROE, ROA, и маржи значительно выше медианных значений по отрасли, что указывает на высокую эффективность компании в использовании капитала. Однако мультипликаторы, такие как P/E, P/S и P/B, значительно превышают отралевую медиацию, что может указывать на некоторую переоцененность. Тем не менее, компания имеет низкое соотношение долга к капиталу, что является позитивным знаком для инвесторов. Выручка и чистая прибыль показывают устойчивый рост, что также поддерживает положительный взгляд на будущее. Однако отсутствие дивидендов может вызвать некоторые вопросы у инвесторов, ориентированных на доходность. В общем, фундаментальная картина TSMC выглядит достаточно сильной, но высокие мультипликаторы могут ограничивать дальнейший рост цены акций.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd.

Key Points
Taiwan Semiconductor and Micron are leading chip fabricators.
Nvidia and Broadcom are seeing huge demand for their processors.
Enormous sums of money have already been spent on artificial intelligence (AI) computing infrastructure, and by all projections, there's much more such spending to come. A lot of it is being spent on data centers, which house the computing units that power AI training and inference. One widely cited study by McKinsey & Company predicts the build-out will require nearly $7 trillion in capital expenditures by 2030. That estimate was published last year at this time; the real number could wind up higher.
There are several companies primed to benefit from this build-out, and four of them look like great investments now.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM) is an obvious beneficiary. It's the world's leading logic chip fabricator and has a massive client base that depends on its foundry capabilities. Two of its major clients are Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), both of which don't actually produce any chips themselves; they design them.
Some of Nvidia's competitors are also TSMC clients, which means that Taiwan Semiconductor is one of the ultimate neutral ways to play the AI build-out. As long as there is increased AI spending, chances are quite high that TSMC will benefit from it, as it will likely be producing the chips that go inside whichever computing units happen to be the most popular at any given time.
With management guiding for a 25% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2024 to 2029, it's a solid investment pick.
Nvidia
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has become the largest company in the world thanks to massive demand for AI computing power, and that demand is only getting stronger. It seems odd to say that a company with a $5 trillion market cap can be nearly doubling its revenue each quarter, but Nvidia is approaching that. After decelerating last year, its revenue growth started to accelerate again last quarter.
For the first quarter, analysts expect 79% revenue growth. For Q2, that same group projects 85% growth. That showcases that Nvidia is not only thriving from the AI build-out, but also gaining ground. The massive data center build-out opportunity is just getting started, and Nvidia stock will be a top way for retail investors to capitalize on it.
Broadcom
As I alluded to above, there are other AI chip designers that utilize TSMC's services. Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) is one of them, but it's approaching the market from a different angle than Nvidia. Instead of making broad-purpose computing chips and selling them to a wide array of buyers, Broadcom is partnering directly with AI hyperscalers to design custom chips that are tailored for the precise types of workloads they'll be used for. Doing that often provides better cost performance than an Nvidia GPU.
This is leading to substantial growth for Broadcom; sales from its AI semiconductor division rose by 106% to $8.4 billion last quarter. By the end of 2027, this division is expected to be producing more than $100 billion annually -- a major acceleration. Broadcom is challenging Nvidia's dominance in the AI chip market, and its stock will likely be a major winner along the way.
Micron
Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) is both a chip designer like Nvidia and a fabricator like Taiwan Semiconductor. However, it isn't producing logic chips. Instead, it specializes in memory chips, in particular, high-bandwidth memory chips. These are incredibly important in the AI computing world, as they allow the processors to quickly access the large volumes of information they require in order to perform their computations. Demand for memory chips is so high now that Micron estimates it will only be able to meet half to two-thirds of its medium-term demand. That has allowed it and its peers to raise memory prices dramatically, which is why its earnings have soared recently.
The need for memory will grow as more computing chips are produced, which puts Micron on a similar growth trajectory to the others chip companies mentioned. This makes Micron a clear beneficiary of the AI build-out, and its stock may still have a ton of room to run.
Should you buy stock in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing right now?
Before you buy stock in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $497,606!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,306,846!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 985% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 200% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
Keithen Drury has positions in Broadcom, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Broadcom, Micron Technology, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

4 Stocks Primed to Benefit From the $7 Trillion Data Center Build-Out

Key Points
AI stocks led the S&P 500 higher over the past three years -- but earlier this year, they actually dragged the index down.
The first earnings reports of this season have offered a positive message about the AI story.
It's that time of year again. Another earnings season is upon us, with companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, ASML, and Intel among the first to report. These players all offered the same message: Demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips is soaring. And in each case, this is translating into revenue growth.
This message isn't new, as demand has been climbing quarter after quarter -- and yet, in the late part of last year and the first quarter of this year, AI stocks tumbled. These players, ones that actually drove the S&P 500 through the first three years of a bull market and helped the index post a 78% gain over the past three calendar years, rather suddenly fell out of favor. Investors turned away from them and rotated into completely different sectors, from consumer-related stocks to healthcare shares.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Recently, AI stocks have regained positive momentum, but the big question in investors' minds is: Will this last? My prediction is that AI stocks will keep this going, soaring during and after this earnings season. Here's why.
AI stock valuations
So, first, let's consider why investors lost their appetite for AI stocks in recent months. A few elements contributed to this. AI stocks, after years of gains, in many cases had reached high valuations -- for example, top chip designer Nvidia peaked at about 50x forward earnings estimates. And AI software company Palantir Technologies reached a mind-boggling 285x forward earnings estimates.
This prompted investors to worry about the potential formation of an AI bubble. At the same time, tech giants continued to pour investment into AI infrastructure, raising spending forecasts well into the billions of dollars. And the following risk emerged: What happens if the AI revenue opportunity isn't as vast as expected?
Meanwhile, growing conflict in Iran that turned into war sparked worries about the general market and economic environment -- uncertain environments push investors toward "safer" bets, and we saw this shift in the sector rotation I mentioned above.
All of this meant that even positive earnings reports from AI companies weren't enough to push AI shares higher.
So, what has changed, and why do I think AI stocks now will climb? First, the general geopolitical environment has improved, with Iran and the U.S. progressing toward negotiations. The current ceasefire suggests that both parties are interested in reaching an agreement. Investors don't like major uncertainties, as they can lead to many headwinds for companies. So when uncertainty lifts, investors are more likely to invest in assets that depend on the economy, like growth stocks.
Questions about AI demand
At the same time, evidence of ongoing demand for AI continues to pile up -- and this brings me back to the subject of earnings season. Investors in past months questioned whether AI demand would continue -- even as companies talked about strong demand. It's logical that they would doubt the longevity of such a movement, as the pace of growth has been incredible.
But at a certain point, as a trend marches on and is observed by the industry's major players, and as the new technology is actually applied to real-world problems, it becomes clear that the growth story is real and has what it takes to last.
We may have reached this point right now. A couple of clues: Amazon, in a letter to shareholders earlier this month, mentioned that as companies expand their use of AI, they're increasingly signing up for additional cloud services. So AI could result in a broad growth opportunity for many AI players, such as cloud service providers. Amazon added that its chips business is "on fire," another clearly positive message. And TSMC, to kick off the current earnings season, said its customers' customers -- those serving companies using AI -- are seeing strong chip demand.
All of this sets the stage for additional positive earnings reports and messages from those selling AI products and services. And this time around, considering the points I made above, my prediction is AI stocks will go on to soar -- during earnings season and beyond.
Should you buy stock in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing right now?
Before you buy stock in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $492,752!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,327,935!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 991% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 201% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
Adria Cimino has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML, Amazon, Intel, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Prediction: AI Stocks Will Soar After This Earnings Season and Here's Why

Key Points
Michael Burry expressed concerns late last year about the formation of an AI bubble.
The investing giant is known for betting against the U.S. housing market in the early 2000s -- before it crashed.
Investors eagerly examine Michael Burry's moves because he's proven his keen understanding of financial markets over time -- and the ability to translate that into an investing win. Burry bet against the U.S. housing market when it was booming back in the early 2000s -- and generated a more than $700 million gain for investors in his hedge fund as the subprime market crashed.
Burry's success was documented by Hollywood in the movie "The Big Short," bringing his name into households around the world. This successful investor generally stays out of the limelight, but he continues to invest and discusses the market and his investing moves on Substack. Several days ago, Burry, who has in the past expressed concern about the valuations of AI stocks and has been bearish on the industry, made a shocking move: He revealed a long position in one of today's big tech players -- one that is leading in AI. Should you follow him into this stock? Let's find out.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Burry's views on AI
First, let's consider Burry's views in recent months regarding AI. Late last year, the investor launched a Substack newsletter to share his thoughts about the AI market, one that he considered to be in bubble territory. Prior to deregistering his hedge fund last year, Burry held bets against popular AI stocks Nvidia and Palantir Technologies. Burry compared the situation to past bubbles, such as the dot-com bubble, when spending soared to support a potential game-changing revenue opportunity ahead.
Considering this, some investors may be surprised to hear Burry's latest move. The famous investor announced a long position in Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). The company is an AI player, offering AI products and services through its cloud business. And on top of this, some investors have worried that AI developments from rivals may replace certain software, representing a risk for Microsoft. These two points normally suggest Microsoft wouldn't be on Burry's buy list.
And yet, Burry today is positive on Microsoft stock. Though the move may seem shocking at first, the following, according to press reports citing Burry's Substack newsletter, puts it into perspective. Burry says he "forensically" examined Microsoft and, based on his findings, determined that the company has the competitive strengths to support long-term growth. So this doesn't mean Burry is going all in on AI stocks; instead, he's identifying opportunities -- those players best positioned to win over time.
Key ingredients for long-term success
Now, let's consider our question: Should you follow Burry into Microsoft? Microsoft has the key ingredients generally found in a long-term success story. The company is a market leader in software and cloud computing, and it has proven its ability to generate earnings growth over time.
Though Microsoft is spending heavily to build out compute, offered by its cloud unit, the company has the resources to do so -- and is generating growth from AI demand along the way. For example, Azure and other cloud services last quarter saw revenue soar 39%. The company is set to report earnings for the recent quarter this week, and considering comments about AI demand made by Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing recently, there's reason to be optimistic about revenue growth.
What about the risk of AI actually weighing on Microsoft? The idea is an AI model -- for example, one from Anthropic -- might eventually do the job of today's software. This may happen in some cases, with AI replacing a simple piece of software, but I don't see AI taking over the role of complete systems like Microsoft 365.
All of this suggests that Microsoft is well-positioned to win as the AI story progresses, and at the same time, the company doesn't depend exclusively on this new technology for growth. Meanwhile, today Microsoft stock trades at 25x forward earnings estimates, down from more than 35x last year.
This is a fantastic price for a market giant that also may benefit from a new era of growth ahead -- and this means investors might want to follow Michael Burry's surprising move and get in on this top AI stock.
Should you buy stock in Microsoft right now?
Before you buy stock in Microsoft, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Microsoft wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $492,752!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,327,935!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 991% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 201% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2026.
Adria Cimino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Intel, Microsoft, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Michael Burry of "The Big Short" Fame Just Made a Shocking Move. Should You Follow?

Key Points
The chip foundry is in the midst of a multi-year growth phase.
Its semiconductors are used by nearly every major tech company.
Chip designers like Nvidia and Broadcom get a lot of the headlines regarding their huge artificial intelligence (AI) business, but Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM) is also a great pick in this industry. Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC for short) is the primary logic chip fabricator, and the majority of tech devices use its products.
There aren't many stocks that are better picks than TSMC, and because it's staying neutral in the AI race, you don't have to worry about picking a winner -- it's a near-guarantee to be successful. I think this makes it a top buy in the market, and it just proved again why it's one of the best.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
TSMC continues to see huge growth
Management hasn't been shy about discussing the results it expects artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver. During its fourth-quarter conference call, it forecast a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from its AI business in the mid to high 50% range for the period starting in 2024 and ending in 2029. That's huge over a long time frame, and first-quarter results backed that projection up.
Revenue growth was 41% year over year, and the forecast for 2026 total revenue growth was revised to be above the 30% figure previously provided. That's strong and impressive for TSMC, but it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone following the industry because of how prevalent its chips are and how great the demand for AI computing has been.
Rapid growth from TSMC also bodes well for other AI businesses reporting earnings during the first quarter, and investors should expect strong quarters from Nvidia and Broadcom.
Still, I think TSMC is a great investment in its own right. Its attractiveness is that you're owning the primary chip manufacturer, which means it will benefit from the rising tide of AI spending, rather than requiring you to select one winner. That makes it a suitable choice versus others.
It's not the cheapest stock at 25 times forward earnings, but considering its industry dominance, exposure to huge growth, and strong track record of execution, I think it's a price worth paying.
Few stocks have as few questions surrounding the health of the business as Taiwan Semiconductor, making it an excellent buy-and-hold for years to come.
Should you buy stock in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing right now?
Before you buy stock in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $492,752!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,327,935!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 991% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 201% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2026.
Keithen Drury has positions in Broadcom, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Broadcom, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Taiwan Semiconductor Just Proved Why It's One of the Best Stocks on the Market

Key Points
A helium shortage reveals semiconductor supply chains are still vulnerable.
Recycling, redesign, and diversification efforts help, but none solve helium dependence near term.
The semiconductor industry thought it had fixed its supply chain problem after the early COVID-era chip shortage. It had not. What it had fixed was its exposure to single-fabricator risk. What it hadn't fixed, and what the Strait of Hormuz crisis has now exposed, is its near-total dependence on Qatar for roughly 30% of the global helium supply.
Helium is a byproduct of LNG processing that is used in semiconductor manufacturing. Qatar's Ras Laffan facility -- the world's largest single helium production site -- has been largely offline since early March 2026 following Iranian attacks and an effective blockade of the Strait. Because helium is produced alongside LNG, when LNG tanks fill up and production stops, helium production stops too. When (and if) the Strait reopens, it is expected to take at least two additional months for helium supply to normalize.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
This is not a problem the semiconductor industry can quickly manufacture its way out of.
Why there isn't a substitute for helium
Helium's combination of properties makes it irreplaceable for EUV (extreme ultraviolet) lithography, wafer cooling, and mass spectrometry leak detection. No viable alternative exists for these applications.
South Korea, which imported roughly 64% of its helium from Qatar in 2025, is particularly exposed, meaning Samsung and SK Hynix -- the world's largest producers of the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips that power Nvidia's (NASDAQ: NVDA) Blackwell GPUs -- face the most direct near-term production risk.
There are three real responses underway, and investors should understand their limits clearly.
Addressing the issue
First is Helium recycling. Most advanced fabrication companies (fabs) now run on-site helium recovery systems from Linde (NASDAQ: LIN), L'Air Liquide (OTC: AIQUF), and Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE: APD) that can recapture 90% to 95% of the helium used in certain processes. The flaw: Leak-detection helium is essentially unrecoverable, and even a 5% loss at high consumption volumes adds up fast. The industry is already running lean.
Second is tool redesign. ASML (NASDAQ: ASML) and Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) are designing next-generation tools to use less helium in certain processes, substituting nitrogen for non-critical cooling. These are incremental improvements measured in percentage points -- not a structural fix.
Third is supply diversification. New helium projects are under development in Canada, Tanzania (Helium One Global's Rukwa project), and Minnesota (Pulsar Helium's Topaz project). These are years away from meaningful production. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM) reportedly locked in multiyear helium supply contracts as part of its Arizona fab planning.
What this means for investors
Linde is the most direct beneficiary. As the world's largest industrial gas company and a major supplier of on-site helium recovery infrastructure, rising helium prices and growing demand for recycling systems are genuine revenue tailwinds. Air Products and L'Air Liquide sit in a similar position.
TSMC has the greatest near-term buffer among chipmakers thanks to multiyear supply contracts and reported inventory of four to six months. Nvidia appears relatively insulated in the short term, with CEO Jensen Huang publicly downplaying the near-term risk. But if helium constraints slow HBM production at Samsung and SK Hynix, Nvidia's ability to ship Blackwell GPUs -- which require HBM -- becomes a downstream bottleneck.
The structural lesson here is not that AI is in trouble. It is that the industry's supply chain resilience, for all the investment in fab diversification, has a backdoor that runs through a single waterway. The companies that can hedge that exposure -- industrial gas infrastructure providers and software-layer AI companies that consume rather than fabricate chips -- are the ones best positioned, regardless of whether the Strait reopens next month or next year.
Where to invest $1,000 right now
When our analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, Stock Advisor’s total average return is 991%* — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 201% for the S&P 500.
They just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now, available when you join Stock Advisor.
Micah Zimmerman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML, Applied Materials, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Linde. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

War or Peace, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chip Industry Just Learned Depending on One Route for 30% of Its Helium Is Risky

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (Symbol: SMH) where we have detected an approximate $734.1 million dollar inflow -- that's a 1.3% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 113,391,874 to 114,841,874). Among the largest underlying components of SMH, in trading today Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Symbol: TSM) is off about 3.4%, KLA Corp (Symbol: KLAC) is off about 4%, and ASML Holding NV (Symbol: ASML) is lower by about 3.6%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the SMH Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of SMH, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, SMH's low point in its 52 week range is $203.89 per share, with $510.10 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $490.97. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Never miss the next high-yield opportunity: Preferred Stock Alerts sends timely, actionable picks on income-producing preferred stocks and baby bonds, straight to your inbox.
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Also see:
Technology Dividend Stock List
Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding CEM
Historical PE Ratio
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

SMH, TSM, KLAC, ASML: Large Inflows Detected at ETF

Wall Street delivered a mixed performance last week. The S&P 500 gained 0.7%, the Dow Jones lost about 0.4%, and the Nasdaq-100 advanced about 2.4%. The Russell 2000 added about 0.6%. Optimism around diplomatic progress between Washington and Tehran has supported a risk-on rally to some extent. However, volatility continues to loom amid an uncertain geopolitical backdrop.
With the lack of progress in renewed diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran, along with rising tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz, it appears increasingly likely that oil prices will remain elevated in the near term. United States Brent Oil Fund LP BNO has gained about 12.8% last week (read: Energy ETFs to Shine Amid Supply Constraints and Elusive Peace Talks).
Earnings Season in Focus
Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company TSM jumped last week after Taiwan’s regulator signaled plans to relax limits on fund allocations to individual stocks, as quoted on CNBC. TSM shares rose about 9% last week (read: TSMC Stock Surges to Record High on Policy Boost, AI Demand).
Shares of Tesla TSLA initially rose about 4% in extended trading on April 22, (as cited in CNBC) following its first-quarter 2026 results. However, the momentum faded the following day as shares dropped 3.6%. The electric vehicle (EV) maker’s announcement of a $5 billion increase in capital expenditure guidance during theearnings calllikely dampened investor confidence, triggering the slump in TSLA’s share price.
This capex hike is largely earmarked for AI-related initiatives, specifically the infrastructure required to scale the Robotaxi network and the mass production of Optimus (read: ETFs to Watch as Tesla Shares Slump Despite Q1 Earnings Beat).
Intel INTC shares surged 26% after quarterly results, surpassing dot-com era high, as quoted on Investing.com. Intel reported strong first-quarter 2026 results, with both adjusted earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
The company posted 7% year-over-year revenue growth, signaling that the chipmaker is beginning to regain momentum. It has also received strong backing from the Trump administration, which made the U.S. government its largest shareholder last year to support domestic chip manufacturing. Plus, NVIDIA and SoftBank have invested billions in Intel.
NVIDIA Reclaims $5 Trillion Market Cap
NVIDIA NVDA surged on Friday to reclaim the $5 trillion market capitalization milestone, according to Yahoo Finance. The rally was fueled by strong momentum in chip stocks, supported by upbeat earnings from Intel and optimism surrounding a nuclear power partnership with Oklo.
ETFs in Focus
Against this backdrop, below we highlight a few winning ETF areas from last week.
Cannabis
Roundhill Cannabis ETF WEED – Up 18.4%
AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF MSOS – Up 13.0%
The U.S. Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration have recently moved FDA-approved marijuana-based products and state-regulated medical cannabis to Schedule III, while initiating an expedited review to consider broader reclassification from Schedule I, as quoted on Benzinga. An administrative hearing set for June 29, 2026, aims to fast-track the rulemaking process and provide clearer direction for research and medical applications.
Crude
United States Brent Oil Fund LP BNO – Up 12.8%
Optimism around the near-term resumption of U.S.-Iran diplomatic talks appears limited. With the United States maintaining its naval blockade and Tehran signaling no immediate willingness to return to negotiations, tensions remain elevated, keeping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz near a standstill, as quoted on Yahoo Finance.
Semiconductor
State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF XSD – Up 15.5%
There was a broad-based rally in the chip sector. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index has logged an impressive 18-day winning streak, adding value across the industry. Intel’s upbeat results added to the bullish sentiment.
Major semiconductor players benefiting from this surge include Broadcom (AVGO), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM), Micron Technology (MU), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Intel, and Texas Instruments (TXN).
Hydrogen
Global X Hydrogen ETF HYDR – Up 12.2%
Optimism surrounding a potential long-term truce in the Middle East has lifted U.S. markets. However, the current energy crisis amid the Iran war has led several countries to opt for alternative energy sources. Hydrogen is one such option. Additionally, the expansion of the AI industry has increased the demand for clean and sustainable energy, with hydrogen emerging as a potential fuel.
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4 Best-Performing ETF Areas of Last Week

Key Points
Palantir Technologies is slated to report its first-quarter operating results after the closing bell on May 4.
Palantir's Gotham platform has helped it blow past Wall Street's consensus earnings-per-share (EPS) estimates for 10 consecutive quarters.
However, the company's valuation is an eyesore that no revenue guide will be able to mask.
There's arguably nothing that excites Wall Street and investors more than earnings season. Although geopolitical events, economic reports, and emotions can push and pull on the benchmark S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), corporate operating results cut through this subjectivity and provide investors with tangible reasons to be optimistic or pessimistic.
After the closing bell tolls on May 4, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven data-mining specialist Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) will lift the hood on its first-quarter operating results. Next to AI titans like Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, there might not be a more important earnings report for Wall Street and the AI trade than Palantir.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
While Palantir has made a habit of blowing past the consensus sales and profit forecasts of analysts, this AI darling may have bit off more than it can chew this earnings season.
Palantir's headline numbers are likely to impress
Looking in the rearview mirror, Palantir has managed to leap beyond analysts' earnings per share (EPS) consensus for 10 consecutive quarters. Additionally, the company has been increasing its full-year sales forecast on a near-quarterly basis. Based solely on these headline numbers, there's been a lot to like.
For the March-ended quarter, Palantir is expected to have generated $1.54 billion in sales, up 74% from the comparable quarter last year, and $0.28 in EPS, which is more than double what it generated per share in the first quarter of 2025.
Palantir's outsize growth has been primarily spurred by its AI-fueled software-as-a-service platform, Gotham. This is the segment that assists the U.S. federal government and its allies with military mission planning and execution, as well as data analysis. Palantir's multiyear contracts with the U.S. government, coupled with a lack of competitors at scale, are powering sustained double-digit growth.
But none of this may be enough when the opening bell rings on May 5.
Palantir's valuation has become impossible to justify
Although history can't guarantee the future, it tends to rhyme more often than not on Wall Street and is an objective teacher for those willing to listen. History has made clear that Palantir's valuation -- specifically its price-to-sales (P/S) ratio -- is an insurmountable headwind.
Over the last three decades, P/S ratios above 30 for companies at the forefront of game-changing innovations have spelled trouble. This arbitrary line in the sand has alerted investors to bubbles and identified companies with unsustainable valuations.
Palantir entered 2026 with a trailing 12-month P/S ratio above 100! No industry leader has ever been able to sustain a P/S ratio above 30, let alone three times this level. Even though Palantir's P/S ratio should decline over time as sales rise, no revenue beat-and-raise will be anywhere near enough to justify a P/S ratio of 70 or above.
Following its previous four quarterly reports, Palantir shares have gained up to 8% and lost as much as 12%. Given that big moves are commonplace following Palantir's earnings, investors should prepare for a bumpy ride on May 5.
Should you buy stock in Palantir Technologies right now?
Before you buy stock in Palantir Technologies, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Palantir Technologies wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $498,522!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,276,807!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 983% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 200% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2026.
Sean Williams has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Prediction: Palantir Stock Is Going to Plunge on May 5

Key Points
Taiwan Semiconductor seems like a no-brainer addition, considering its importance to AI.
Broadcom is up and coming and could be Nvidia 2.0.
The "Magnificent Seven" is a group of tech stocks that has led the market over the past few years. It consists of:
These seven stocks have been excellent performers, but in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), I think two stocks deserve to be included more than another two in this list. This would shift the Magnificent Seven from being tech leaders to being AI-centric, but considering the market's direction and where nearly all the focus is, this seems like a smart idea.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
So, which two stocks are getting pulled and which two are getting added? Let's take a look.
Out with Apple, in with Taiwan Semiconductor
It may seem like blasphemy to remove Apple from any leading tech stock list, but I think it's appropriate here. Apple has completely dropped the ball on any AI rollout and is taking the easy way out by deploying Google's Gemini to all of its devices.
We'll see what AI looks like with Apple's products, but so far, nearly every Android device is light years ahead in this important feature set. Because it's merely going to be adopting others' AI tools for its devices, I think including it on a list of AI-centric stocks doesn't jibe with the makeup. So I think Apple should be removed from the AI-centric Magnificent Seven.
In its place, I'm adding Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE: TSM). Taiwan Semiconductor is actually the primary chip manufacturer for all of Apple's custom-designed chips, so it isn't completely separate from Apple's success. However, it's also the primary chip manufacturer for Nvidia and other chip designers, positioning it nicely to take advantage of rapid AI growth.
Another factor is Apple's poor growth. Although its latest quarter was strong, Apple has put up several years of lackluster growth. Compared to TSMC's growth, Apple looks pretty disappointing.
TSMC expects its compounded annual growth rate from 2024 to 2029 to be in the 25% range, which will likely be significantly higher than Apple's. As a result, I think that Taiwan Semiconductor is a better member of the Magnificent Seven than Apple.
Broadcom replaces Tesla
Tesla has well-documented struggles, as electric vehicles (EVs) have lost favor with consumers. Additionally, it has a lot more invested in AI technology than Apple. But with its struggling business and low profit, Tesla doesn't belong in the Magnificent Seven.
Even if you used Tesla's most profitable quarter in the past five years (15% profit margin), at today's $98 billion revenue, that would only equate to just shy of $15 billion in net income -- a far cry from any other stock in the Magnificent Seven.
In its place, I'd add Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO). Broadcom is making waves in the market as a design partner for custom AI chips. It already has several prominent clients (like Alphabet), and more are being added each quarter. It expects to see rapid growth during the next few years, with the average Wall Street analyst projecting 63% growth in fiscal year (FY) 2026 and 52% in FY 2027. As for market cap, it's already about a $2 trillion company -- much larger than Tesla at $1.4 trillion.
During the past 12 months, it has generated $25 billion in net income. While that's a lot more than Tesla, Broadcom still has a ways to go to match the other six members. But after its strong expected growth next year, I think it will look right at home among the Magnificent Seven.
Should you buy stock in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing right now?
Before you buy stock in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $498,522!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,276,807!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 983% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 200% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2026.
Keithen Drury has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Broadcom, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Broadcom, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Reformulating the "Magnificent Seven": 2 Stocks I'd Swap Out for Ultimate Upside

Key Points
AI stocks jumped in the wake of strong earnings reports this week.
Most of the "Magnificent Seven" will report earnings this week.
Signs of cloud growth and AI adoption could drive AI stocks higher.
The AI sector had one of its best sessions in recent memory on Friday after Intel blew past first-quarter estimates and gave strong second-quarter guidance.
Intel's report confirmed suspicions that CPU demand is surging due to agentic AI, which lifted peers like AMD and Arm Holdings by double digits as well. Taiwan Semiconductor jumped 5% as the report signaled strong chip demand, and the iShares Semiconductor ETF, which holds top AI chip stocks like Nvidia, gained 5% as well.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
The market's response to the news shows that there's room for growth in AI stocks if the facts on the ground warrant it.
This week will see the peak of tech earnings season with "Magnificent Seven" companies like Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Amazon, Meta Platforms, which all report earnings on April 29, and Apple, which reports on April 30.
What to look for from tech earnings week
All four of the companies reporting on Wednesday are the biggest hyperscalers in the world and are investing heavily in AI compute and cloud computing infrastructure. Combined, they are set to spend about $700 billion on capital expenditures this year, much of which will go to AI.
So while Intel had some important updates to share on CPUs, these are the best publicly traded companies to watch for insights into AI usage. In particular, Alphabet and Microsoft will be key to watch.
Alphabet is arguably the most diversified AI company, as it has a leading foundational model in Gemini, it makes AI chips (TPUs), it has a large cloud computing division, and it's a leader in physical AI with the Waymo autonomous driving business. It also generates tens of billions of dollars through its leading digital advertising business.
AI won't be the major driver of Alphabet's financial results, but investors should pay attention to commentary about Gemini, TPU adoption, cloud growth, and its capex plans. Its success with Gemini and AI has been a big reason why the stock has soared over the last year, and it's now the most valuable of the hyperscalers.
Microsoft, meanwhile, was seen as the early leader in AI, but the stock has struggled due to weak adoption for Copilot, its AI assistant, an increasingly strained relationship with OpenAI, and pressure on the stock price as software stocks have plunged on fears of AI disruption. Nonetheless, Microsoft's recent results have been strong. Investors will want to focus on its cloud growth and signs of AI adoption in both Copilot, including programs like Microsoft 365 Copilot, and its OpenAI integrations like Azure OpenAI.
Will chip stocks soar again?
All five of these companies are huge chip customers for companies like Nvidia, Arm, AMD, Micron, and others, and a strong round of numbers could set off another leg up in the semiconductor sector.
Valuations for start-ups like OpenAI and Anthropic have soared, and demand for chips continues to outpace supply. Despite earlier concerns about an AI bubble, adoption of the new technology is spreading, justifying the stock boom. As the reports from big tech companies roll in this week, any promising signs of AI adoption could extend that tailwind.
Should you buy stock in Alphabet right now?
Before you buy stock in Alphabet, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Alphabet wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $498,522!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,276,807!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 983% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 200% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2026.
Jeremy Bowman has positions in Advanced Micro Devices, Amazon, Arm Holdings, Meta Platforms, Micron Technology, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Intel, Meta Platforms, Micron Technology, Microsoft, Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and iShares Trust-iShares Semiconductor ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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