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Exclusive Article
The Semiconductor Sector Is Hitting All-Time Highs: 2 Stocks Leading the ChargeAuthored by Ryan Hasson. Posted: 4/14/2026. 
Key Points
- The popular semiconductor ETF (SMH) is up almost 23.% year to date and trading near its all-time highs.
- The sector is significantly outpacing the broader S&P 500 as AI infrastructure spending continues to accelerate.
- Lam Research and Intel are among the SMH's standout performers in 2026, with LRCX up close to 56% and INTC up almost 76% on the year.
- Special Report: Elon Musk’s $1 Quadrillion AI IPO
The semiconductor sector is on fire. While the broader market has spent much of 2026 navigating volatility, the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: SMH), the most widely followed sector benchmark, has surged more than 20% year to date. The ETF holds many of the largest semiconductor companies listed in the U.S., including NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE: TSM), Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO), Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), and Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX). That performance, at a time when the broader market is only modestly higher, underscores where institutional capital is flowing.
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The driving force behind the sector's outperformance is clear: AI infrastructure spending is accelerating, not decelerating. Hyperscalers continue to pour hundreds of billions of dollars into data-center buildouts, and semiconductors sit at the foundation of every one of those investments. Whether it's advanced logic chips, memory, wafer fabrication equipment, or foundry services, demand is outpacing supply across multiple parts of the sector. With that in mind, here are two top SMH holdings that stand out for their sector strength and recent outperformance. Lam Research: The Equipment Giant Up Over 50% YTDLam Research is one of the world's leading suppliers of wafer fabrication equipment. The company provides the machinery semiconductor manufacturers use to etch, deposit, and clean chips during production — a critical but often overlooked part of the supply chain. Every advanced chip that powers an AI data center has passed through equipment made by companies like Lam Research. As chipmakers push toward ever more advanced nodes and complex architectures like 3D NAND, demand for Lam's tools is accelerating. The stock has surged over 50% year to date, rising from roughly $170 at the start of the year to an all-time high of $267.32 on April 13. The rally is supported by improving fundamentals. In its most recent quarterly report for Q2 2026, posted on Jan. 28, Lam posted earnings per share of $1.27, beating the consensus estimate of $1.17, with revenue up 22.1% year over year. LRCX also offers a modest income component, with a dividend yield of 0.4%. The company has a 10-year streak of dividend increases and a $10 billion share buyback program, authorized in 2024, signaling confidence in its long-term trajectory. Institutional ownership stands at an impressive 85%, reflecting strong conviction from institutional investors. Over the past 12 months, institutions have bought more than $29 billion of Lam shares, compared with almost $15.5 billion in sales. Analysts hold a consensus Moderate Buy rating, and with earnings due on April 22, the next catalyst and potential re-pricing of the stock is imminent. Intel: The Turnaround Trade Up 70% YTDIntel has been generating headlines recently and is experiencing some of the most dramatic momentum in the semiconductor sector. The stock is up about 70% year to date, making it one of the strongest performers both in the sector and in the S&P 500. The rally has been driven by improving fundamentals and earnings, along with a rapid succession of catalysts that have shifted the market's perception of a company many had previously written off. But the real question now is what's next. Earnings are due on April 23, and this report carries unusual weight. After such a dramatic run, the market has priced in considerable optimism. Revenue, foundry progress, and AI segment growth will all be under the microscope. Any miss or cautious guidance could trigger a sharp reaction given the elevated expectations embedded in the stock. The analysts' picture adds important context. Despite the stock's surge, the consensus rating on INTC remains Reduce, based on 37 analyst ratings, and the price target of $48.43 implies more than 25% downside from current levels. That's one of the sharpest disconnects between the market price and analyst consensus in the sector. The April 23 earnings report will go a long way toward resolving whether the market's optimism is justified. |
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