Best 3 Vanguard Stock ETF Picks for the Second Half of 2026

With S&P 500 earnings expected to grow over 20% year-over-year in 2026, the article recommends three Vanguard ETFs for the second half of the year: the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) to capitalize on AI and broader growth trends beyond mega-cap tech; the Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE) to benefit from geopolitical tensions supporting oil prices; and the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) as a quality defensive play with growth exposure through large tech holdings.

07/08/2026, 9:30 AM • The Motley Fool

Ambient Light Sensor Market Size to Worth USD 9.54 Billon by 2035 | Research by SNS Insider

The global ambient light sensor market, valued at USD 3.81 billion in 2025, is expected to grow to USD 9.54 billion by 2035 at a CAGR of 9.63%. Growth is driven by increasing demand for automatic brightness control in consumer electronics, smartphones, tablets, wearables, and IoT devices. The automotive segment is the fastest-growing application with a 13.97% CAGR, while Asia Pacific leads regional growth at 11.30% CAGR.

07/08/2026, 3:30 AM • GlobeNewswire

Apple and Broadcom Forge a Decade-Long Silicon Fortress

Apple and Broadcom have extended their strategic partnership through 2031, securing custom silicon supply for Apple's proprietary AI server chips (Baltra) and connectivity components. The 10-year agreement provides supply chain stability amid semiconductor inflation, with Broadcom gaining predictable revenue (20% of annual top line) and Apple protecting its margins. Both companies are executing significant share buyback programs, with Broadcom trading at ~$371 with a forward P/E of 35.5x and 72% projected earnings growth.

07/07/2026, 4:41 PM • Investing

Michael Burry Just Revealed His Next Big Short, and It's a Bet Against Nvidia, Micron, and AMD

Michael Burry, famous for his 2008 housing market short, has opened a short position against the iShares Semiconductor ETF, betting against major chipmakers including Nvidia, Micron, and AMD. Burry argues that semiconductor valuations are excessive with a P/E ratio of 74.3, more than double the Nasdaq-100 tech index, and questions the sustainability of AI infrastructure spending as businesses curb their AI investments.

07/07/2026, 4:30 PM • The Motley Fool

Credo Technology Group vs. Marvell Technology: Which Technology Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

Both Credo Technology Group and Marvell Technology are benefiting from explosive AI data center demand with impressive growth rates. However, the article recommends Marvell Technology as the better buy due to its larger scale, more diversified customer base, Nvidia backing, and S&P 500 inclusion, while Credo faces significant customer concentration risk despite its impressive 205.7% revenue growth.

07/07/2026, 7:23 AM • The Motley Fool

Power Line Communication Market Size to Worth USD 27.28 Billion by 2035 | SNS Insider

The global Power Line Communication (PLC) market, valued at USD 10.32 billion in 2025, is expected to grow to USD 27.28 billion by 2035 at a 10.23% CAGR. Growth is driven by smart grid modernization, digital utility infrastructure expansion, and increasing adoption of IoT-based smart homes and building automation. Asia Pacific leads with 34.60% market share, while North America remains significant due to advanced utility infrastructure and grid modernization efforts.

07/07/2026, 3:30 AM • GlobeNewswire

Is the SpaceX IPO Officially Overhyped?

SpaceX's IPO set records with a $2.1 trillion valuation, but the article questions whether the stock is overpriced. Trading at 112x sales with $18.7B in revenue and operating at a loss, SpaceX commands a significant premium compared to peers like Nvidia (18.8x) and Amazon (3.5x). While the company has legitimate businesses in rocket launches, Starlink, and xAI, the valuation is built largely on long-term promises. The author recommends current shareholders hold but advises new investors to wait.

07/07/2026, 2:05 AM • The Motley Fool

Broadcom Is 24% Off Its High and Just Unveiled a Custom AI Chip With OpenAI. Time to Buy the Dip?

Broadcom's stock has fallen 24% from its 52-week high despite posting exceptional AI chip growth of 143% year-over-year in Q2, with revenue reaching $10.8 billion. The company and OpenAI unveiled Jalapeño, a custom AI inference chip, and management projects over 200% AI revenue growth this quarter. While the analyst views this as a buyable dip at 19x forward earnings, risks include customer concentration, custom chip pricing limitations, and AI market volatility.

07/06/2026, 4:07 PM • The Motley Fool

1 Analyst Says This Chip Stock Could Soar 625% to Join Nvidia in the $5 Trillion Club

Analyst Trip Chowdhry predicts Intel could reach a $5 trillion market cap (625% upside from ~$690B), joining Nvidia as the only company at that valuation level. However, the article's author expresses skepticism, noting that while Intel has a plausible path through its CPU portfolio and foundry ambitions, achieving Nvidia-like dominance across the AI chip market faces significant competitive and execution headwinds. The author suggests Intel stock has upside potential but the $5 trillion target appears overzealous.

07/06/2026, 2:30 PM • The Motley Fool

The Dow Couldn't Keep Up With Chip Stocks on Monday

Chip stocks led a Monday rally, with the Nasdaq Composite gaining 1.3% and the S&P 500 rising 0.7%, while the Dow Jones remained flat. Broadcom surged 4.4% after extending its Apple chip supply deal through 2031, and AMD jumped 8% on autonomous driving adoption. However, Microsoft fell 1.4% following announcements of 4,800 job cuts, and the Dow was weighed down by declines in Honeywell and Amgen.

07/06/2026, 2:29 PM • The Motley Fool

Why Broadcom Stock Is Rising Today

Broadcom stock rose 3.84% following news of an expanded partnership with Apple through 2031. The agreement includes Broadcom developing and supplying custom ASIC silicon products for multiple generations of Apple products, building on their existing multi-billion-dollar 5G and wireless connectivity deal from 2023.

07/06/2026, 11:16 AM • The Motley Fool

Broadcom’s OpenAI Bet Could Be Bigger Than the Market Expects

Broadcom's partnership with OpenAI to develop custom AI chips (Jalapeño) could unlock a $200 billion revenue opportunity from their 10-gigawatt deployment deal. With Jalapeño's unveiling marking progress on schedule, significant revenue generation expected starting in 2027, and Broadcom's valuation down to 62x P/E (below its 3-year average of 80x), the stock appears well-positioned for long-term growth despite recent post-earnings decline.

07/06/2026, 10:38 AM • Investing

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Are Selling Off, But Taiwan Semiconductor Is Holding Strong. Is It the Ultimate AI Stock?

While many AI stocks have declined significantly, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) has remained resilient, up nearly 50% this year and only 7% below its all-time high. As the dominant foundry operator controlling 72% of global chip foundry revenue and serving major tech companies like Nvidia and AMD, TSMC is positioned to benefit from projected data center capital expenditure growth reaching $3-4 trillion annually by 2030. Though trading at a premium 28x forward earnings valuation, the stock is considered a strong long-term hold for AI exposure.

07/06/2026, 9:23 AM • The Motley Fool

Can Micron Technology Soar 126% and Become the 6th-Largest Public Company? One Wall Street Analyst Thinks So.

Micron Technology has surged nearly 700% over the past year driven by AI demand for memory solutions. One Wall Street analyst predicts a $2,200 price target implying 126% upside and a $2.5 trillion market cap. However, the author warns that historically, game-changing technologies experience bubble-bursting events in early stages, and businesses typically take years to optimize new technologies after adoption.

07/06/2026, 7:06 AM • The Motley Fool

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