Applied Materials vs. Amkor Technology: Which Artificial Intelligence Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

The article compares two semiconductor industry leaders positioned to benefit from AI growth. Applied Materials manufactures chip-making equipment with strong margins (24.7%) but faces export control risks and higher valuation multiples. Amkor Technology provides assembly and testing services with lower valuation metrics but concentrated customer risk. The author recommends Amkor as the better value despite acknowledging both companies are ideal investments given their critical roles in the AI ecosystem.

07/13/2026, 8:04 AM • The Motley Fool

Does "The Big Short's" Michael Burry Know Something Wall Street Doesn't? He Just Placed Bets Against AI and Sees the "Beginning of the End."

Contrarian investor Michael Burry, famous for predicting the 2008 financial crisis, has placed significant bearish bets against AI stocks and semiconductor companies. He recently shorted Applied Materials, Tesla, Caterpillar, Micron Technology, and the iShares Semiconductor ETF, signaling concerns that massive AI investments may not match long-term revenue opportunities. Burry views Samsung and SK Hynix's $500 billion chip hub investment as 'the beginning of the end' for the AI boom.

07/13/2026, 4:05 AM • The Motley Fool

Global Chemical Vapor Deposition Market Soars: Expected to Reach $69.19 Billion by 2030

The Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) market is experiencing significant growth with a projected CAGR of 10.2% through 2030, driven by semiconductor capacity expansion, advanced electronics production, solar technology investments, and medical device demand. Key trends include increased adoption of plasma-enhanced CVD systems, atomic layer deposition techniques, and thin-film coating technologies. Asia-Pacific leads the market while North America is positioned as the fastest-growing region.

07/07/2026, 4:48 AM • GlobeNewswire

Here's Why This Semiconductor ETF Rewarded Investors in June

The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose 12.6% in June, driven by three key themes: strong AI chip demand and capital spending, Trump's claims of Intel-Apple U.S. chip manufacturing deals, and Micron's blockbuster earnings revealing exceptional memory chip demand with supply substantially below demand. The ETF's broad-based exposure to 30 semiconductor companies, with capped weightings preventing Nvidia dominance, allowed investors to capture gains across multiple semiconductor plays including Applied Materials, KLA, Intel, and Micron, while some positions like Nvidia and Broadcom declined.

07/06/2026, 6:03 AM • The Motley Fool

Applied Materials Is Silently Powering the AI Boom. Here's Why.

Applied Materials, the largest U.S. semiconductor equipment provider, is positioned to benefit from the AI boom through partnerships with major chipmakers like TSMC, Micron, and SK Hynix. The company expects 30% revenue growth in its semiconductor segment for calendar 2026, up from 10.4% year-over-year growth in Q2, driven by a multiyear AI supercycle. However, the stock's P/E ratio has surged to over 50 from the mid-teens a year ago, leaving limited margin of safety despite strong fundamentals.

07/02/2026, 11:16 AM • The Motley Fool

Stock Market Today, July 1: Meta Shakes Up Cloud Sector and Tech Stocks Weigh on Markets

Major U.S. indexes declined on July 1, 2026, as tech profit-taking intensified and manufacturing growth slowed. Meta surged on cloud computing expansion plans, while chipmakers like Nvidia, Micron, and Sandisk fell sharply. The Nasdaq dropped 0.66%, the S&P 500 fell 0.22%, and the Dow slipped 0.03%. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh reaffirmed commitment to lowering inflation amid easing price pressures.

07/01/2026, 5:12 PM • The Motley Fool

Market Indexes Close Out June With a Tech-Fueled Tuesday Rally

Tech stocks led a broad market rally on the final trading day of June, driven by semiconductor strength and AI infrastructure optimism. The Nasdaq Composite rose 1.34%, S&P 500 gained 0.71%, while the Dow added 0.29%. Chip stocks surged with the semiconductor ETF climbing 3.6%, while SpaceX jumped 4.1% on government investment program discussions.

06/30/2026, 1:11 PM • The Motley Fool

Is Axcelis Stock a Buy After Doubling This Year?

Axcelis Technologies, a pure-play ion implantation equipment manufacturer critical to AI chip production, has doubled year-to-date despite modest 3% YoY revenue growth in Q1. Strong sequential growth in memory demand is expected to drive future results, and an upcoming merger with Veeco Instruments will expand the company's AI infrastructure portfolio and create synergies. Analysts suggest the stock rally has room to extend as memory becomes a larger revenue share.

06/30/2026, 4:24 AM • The Motley Fool

Nasdaq Selloff Shows AI Leadership Is Turning Into Market Drag

The Nasdaq is experiencing its fourth consecutive losing session as AI-related stocks face pressure from multiple headwinds: OpenAI's delayed IPO to 2027, surging memory chip costs forcing price increases across the hardware industry, and concerns about the sustainability of AI infrastructure spending. While memory chip makers benefit from tight supply, device manufacturers like Apple are forced to raise prices, signaling margin compression across the tech ecosystem. The Dow, meanwhile, reaches record highs on strength in non-AI sectors like industrials and healthcare, highlighting a significant rotation away from crowded growth stocks.

06/26/2026, 2:03 PM • Investing

This Tech ETF Has More than Doubled in 2026. Is It a Good Buy for the Back Half of the Year?

The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) has surged 108% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 9% gain. While the ETF provides diversified exposure to the semiconductor supply chain through 30 major companies, the article cautions that current growth rates are unsustainable long-term. The main drawback is its 0.34% expense ratio, which is 10 times higher than typical S&P 500 ETFs. The article recommends SOXX as a buy for those seeking semiconductor industry exposure during the AI boom, but warns against expecting similar returns in the future.

06/25/2026, 8:35 AM • The Motley Fool

Sputtering Equipment Market Size to Hit USD 4.19 Billion by 2035 | Research by SNS Insider

The global sputtering equipment market, valued at USD 2.41 billion in 2025, is projected to reach USD 4.19 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 5.83%. Growth is driven by rising semiconductor fabrication demand, thin-film deposition applications, and expanding solar photovoltaic manufacturing. Magnetron sputtering equipment leads the market with 42.25% share, while Asia-Pacific dominates regionally with 45.35% market share.

06/19/2026, 7:30 AM • GlobeNewswire

Small Caps Near Record Highs, Robinhood Rallies 12%: Stock Market Today

U.S. stocks traded higher midday Wednesday with semiconductor equipment names and small caps leading gains ahead of Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's first interest-rate decision. The Russell 2000 jumped 1.2% to a record high. Applied Materials surged 7% after Citi raised its price target, while Robinhood rallied 12.2% on strong trading volumes. Exchange operators fell sharply after Kalshi's Bitcoin futures approval raised competitive concerns.

06/17/2026, 1:33 PM • Benzinga

Applied Materials Advances AI Wearables With SENZ Platform

Applied Materials launched SENZ, an integrated ambient visual platform for AI-powered smart glasses that combines waveguide optics and light engine technology. The company also signed a long-term joint development agreement with EssilorLuxottica to advance next-generation intelligent optical systems for AR and AI-powered smart eyewear. AMAT shares rose 7.58% to $611.30 on the announcement.

06/17/2026, 1:17 PM • Benzinga

Applied Materials Unveils SENZ™, a Fully Integrated Visual System for Next-Gen Smart Glasses

Applied Materials unveiled SENZ™, an integrated ambient visual platform combining waveguide optics, light engine, sensing, and vision correction technology for next-generation smart glasses. The solution aims to reduce time-to-market and manufacturing complexity through strategic partnerships with GlobalFoundries, Qualcomm Technologies, and EssilorLuxottica.

06/17/2026, 10:00 AM • GlobeNewswire

EssilorLuxottica e Applied Materials insieme per sviluppare sistemi ottici di realtà aumentata per gli smart glasses del futuro

EssilorLuxottica and Applied Materials announced a long-term joint development agreement to accelerate the creation of next-generation optical systems for augmented reality and AI-integrated smart eyewear. The collaboration combines EssilorLuxottica's expertise in lenses and smart eyewear with Applied Materials' capabilities in materials engineering and waveguide technologies, aiming to develop scalable, high-performance optical platforms for future wearable devices.

06/16/2026, 12:44 PM • GlobeNewswire