Pragmatic Semiconductor appoints Mercedes Johnson to Board of Directors

Pragmatic Semiconductor announced the appointment of Mercedes Johnson, a veteran semiconductor finance executive with four decades of experience, as a Non-Executive Director. Johnson previously served as CFO at Avago Technologies (now Broadcom) and Lam Research, and currently sits on the boards of Synopsys, Teradyne, and Analog Devices. Her appointment is expected to strengthen the company's strategic capabilities as it enters its next growth phase.

11/10/2026, 2:00 AM • GlobeNewswire

5 Companies Buying Back Their Own Stock Hand Over Fist As the Stock Market Sells Off

During market sell-offs, five companies are aggressively buying back their own stock at discounted prices, which allows them to retire more shares and increase shareholder value. PayPal, General Motors, EPAM Systems, Lam Research, and Airbnb have all authorized or executed substantial buyback programs, with share counts declining significantly over the past year.

11/06/2026, 2:47 PM • The Motley Fool

Did IBM Just Tell the Truth About AI?

Lam Research reported strong quarterly results with 22% revenue growth and record services revenue, but stock fell 9% amid cyclicality concerns. IBM beat expectations with 5% revenue growth and strong cash flow, but CEO comments suggest enterprise customers are increasingly focused on AI ROI, indicating potential slowdown in spending. Geopolitical tensions affecting helium and fertilizer supplies add economic headwinds. Analysts debate whether semiconductor oversupply could benefit enterprise AI consulting.

11/04/2026, 7:26 PM • The Motley Fool

Automatic FOUP Opener Market - Global Forecast 2026-2032 | Fab Automation and Contamination Control Drive 5.36% CAGR and a USD 6.04 Billion Opportunity by 2032

The global Automatic FOUP Opener market is projected to grow from USD 4.41 billion in 2026 to USD 6.04 billion by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 5.36%. Growth is driven by increasing fab automation, contamination control requirements, and demand for consistent wafer handling in semiconductor manufacturing. Key trends include AI-enabled predictive maintenance, modular designs, and enhanced interoperability with factory control systems.

11/03/2026, 10:00 AM • GlobeNewswire

Chip Stocks to Buy After Their Worst Day Since June

The semiconductor index fell 6.7% on Oct. 22, its worst day since June, with major chip stocks declining sharply. However, the sell-off appears to be a buying opportunity, as the decline was triggered by supply constraints rather than weak demand. Lam Research reported record revenue and expects industry equipment spending to exceed $200 billion by 2027. Micron, AMD, and Marvell all maintain positive outlooks despite the stock price declines, with none cutting guidance.

10/25/2026, 11:17 PM • The Motley Fool

Lam Research: 3 Key Takeaways for Long-Term Investors

Lam Research reported record quarterly revenue and profitability driven by AI-induced semiconductor demand. The company raised its Aether dry resist technology revenue forecast by $1 billion to $2.5 billion by decade's end, expects its Customer Support Business Group to grow over 30% annually, and projects increased NAND wafer capacity needs due to AI storage architecture shifts toward single-level cell memory.

10/21/2026, 10:18 PM • The Motley Fool

This AI Chip Stock Has Been Billionaire Philippe Laffont's Largest Holding Throughout 2026. Here's What $10,000 Invested Today Could Be Worth by 2030.

Billionaire Philippe Laffont's hedge fund Coatue Management holds Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) as its largest position at nearly 9% of publicly traded U.S. equities. TSMC dominates third-party semiconductor fabrication with 73% market share in advanced chips, supported by strong pricing power and capacity constraints. With management forecasting 25% compound annual revenue growth through 2029 and actual 2026 growth exceeding 35%, analysts project $10,000 invested today could reach $15,200-$19,000 by 2030.

10/15/2026, 4:30 AM • The Motley Fool

Better Semiconductor Equipment Stock: Applied Materials vs. Lam Research

Applied Materials and Lam Research, both semiconductor equipment manufacturers, have experienced significant growth driven by AI chip demand. Despite recent pullbacks of 27-33% from 52-week highs, both companies show strong fundamentals with expected revenue growth of 51-52% and EPS growth of 71-85% in upcoming quarters. With nearly identical valuations and growth prospects, both stocks present attractive buying opportunities as semiconductor equipment spending is projected to reach $229.5 billion by 2028.

09/29/2026, 2:30 PM • The Motley Fool

2 Stocks to Buy That Stanley Druckenmiller Added While Exiting 5 Chip and Photonics Stocks

Stanley Druckenmiller's Duquesne Family Office exited five semiconductor and photonics companies (Micron, Intel, Broadcom, Lattice Semiconductor, Coherent) in Q2 2026 while significantly increasing positions in Amazon and Alphabet. The shift reflects a strategic pivot toward companies funding AI infrastructure buildout rather than component suppliers competing for orders. Druckenmiller maintained and added to positions in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and STMicroelectronics, suggesting selective semiconductor exposure focused on AI-centric players.

08/18/2026, 11:37 PM • The Motley Fool

If I Were in My 20s, I'd Buy This Magnificent ETF and Hold It Until Retirement

The article recommends the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), an ETF tracking the Nasdaq-100 index, as an ideal long-term investment for young investors in their 20s. The Nasdaq-100 is heavily weighted toward technology stocks (70%) and has historically outperformed the S&P 500 with a 10.9% compound annual return over 27 years versus 8.6% for the S&P 500. The article highlights how major tech companies in the index have benefited from the AI revolution, with the top 10 holdings delivering over 500% average returns since 2023.

08/02/2026, 4:15 PM • The Motley Fool

Not Micron, Not Sandisk. This Chip Stock Could Be the Biggest Winner of the AI Memory Boom

Lam Research, which manufactures semiconductor equipment used by memory chip makers, is positioned to be the biggest winner of the AI-driven memory boom. With memory makers planning massive capital expenditure increases (340% combined growth by 2027) and the memory shortage expected to persist until 2029, Lam Research's addressable market is expanding significantly. The company recently beat earnings expectations and projects 52% revenue growth, with analysts projecting potential 50% upside over three years.

07/31/2026, 10:23 AM • The Motley Fool

Got $100? 1 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Memory ETF to Buy Right Now.

The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) offers diversified exposure to the AI memory supply chain, including memory producers, chip designers, and equipment suppliers. Growing demand for high-bandwidth memory in AI accelerators is creating supply shortages expected to persist beyond 2027. While the recent semiconductor sell-off has improved entry points, the ETF trades at a premium valuation (66x earnings) with concentrated holdings, presenting downside risks if AI spending slows or memory supply increases faster than expected.

07/25/2026, 1:11 PM • The Motley Fool

QQQ vs. VGT: Where Should You Invest $1,000 Right Now?

The article compares two tech-focused ETFs: Invesco QQQ (tracking Nasdaq-100) and Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT). QQQ offers better diversification with ~30% non-tech holdings providing downside protection, while VGT is a pure tech play with lower expenses (0.09% vs 0.10%). The author recommends QQQ for its balance amid inflation concerns and geopolitical risks, though both ETFs remain viable for those bullish on AI-driven earnings growth.

07/24/2026, 2:33 PM • The Motley Fool

Had You Bought This Magnificent Vanguard ETF at the Start of January, You'd Be Crushing the S&P 500 in 2026

The Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) has returned 23.3% in 2026, significantly outpacing the S&P 500's 10.3% return. The ETF's strong performance is driven by five trillion-dollar tech companies—Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon—which comprise 50.6% of its portfolio. While AI infrastructure demand remains strong, rising costs and customer concerns about spending sustainability present near-term risks.

07/14/2026, 11:17 AM • The Motley Fool

The Nasdaq's Rough Day: When Good News Is Bad News for Market Indexes

Samsung Electronics reported impressive earnings with 129% revenue growth and a 19-fold profit surge, but investors treated the results as a peak signal for AI demand, triggering a broad semiconductor sector selloff. The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.3% as major chip stocks declined sharply, while the S&P 500 and Dow showed more resilience. SpaceX also fell on its debut as a Nasdaq-100 component, and oil prices rallied following a tanker incident in the Strait of Hormuz.

07/07/2026, 12:17 PM • The Motley Fool