Jensen Huang Told CES 2026 That Memory Is Now the Biggest Bottleneck in AI. Micron and Sandisk Have Outperformed Nvidia's Stock Ever Since.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang highlighted at CES 2026 that memory is becoming the critical bottleneck in AI development as large language models require increasing storage capacity. Memory and storage chip manufacturers Micron Technology and Sandisk have significantly outperformed Nvidia's stock since then, with both companies reporting surging revenues driven by AI infrastructure demand. Both companies are securing long-term customer contracts worth billions to stabilize their typically cyclical business.

07/18/2026, 3:22 PM • The Motley Fool

Prediction: SOXX Is About to Outperform SMH. Here's Why.

The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) is positioned to outperform the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) due to superior portfolio construction. While both are market-cap-weighted semiconductor ETFs with similar holdings, SOXX applies stricter weighting caps (8% for top 5 holdings, 4% for others) compared to SMH's 20% limit. This makes SMH dangerously concentrated with a 30% combined allocation to Nvidia and TSMC, creating significant concentration risk. SOXX's more diversified approach is expected to provide better risk-adjusted returns over the next 6-12 months.

07/18/2026, 3:16 PM • The Motley Fool

2 Vanguard ETFs Using Momentum to Outpace the S&P 500

Two Vanguard ETFs are outperforming the S&P 500 this year: the Information Technology ETF (VGT), up 21% driven by semiconductor companies benefiting from AI demand, and the Energy ETF (VDE), benefiting from Middle East conflicts and elevated energy prices. Both ETFs are concentrated in top holdings but positioned to finish ahead of the S&P 500.

07/18/2026, 2:30 PM • The Motley Fool

Nvidia: Jensen Huang's Company Is Still the King of AI, and the Stock Is a Buy

Nvidia remains the dominant AI chipmaker under CEO Jensen Huang's visionary leadership. The company has strategically positioned itself across the entire AI infrastructure stack through key acquisitions (Mellanox, Groq assets) and product development, including GPUs, CPUs, and LPUs. Trading at 16x fiscal 2028 earnings estimates with strong growth, Nvidia is well-positioned for future AI markets including inference and agentic AI workloads.

07/18/2026, 1:33 PM • The Motley Fool

Go Big or Go Bigger: Is the Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF or S&P 500 Growth ETF the Better Buy?

Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG) is recommended over Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF (MGK) for long-term investors. While MGK offers a slightly lower expense ratio of 0.05% versus VOOG's 0.07%, VOOG's broader diversification across 148 holdings versus MGK's 56 holdings has delivered superior returns across most time periods, with VOOG returning 22.80% over one year compared to MGK's 18.80%.

07/18/2026, 11:36 AM • The Motley Fool

This "Hands-Off" ETF Could Be Your Ticket to Becoming a Millionaire

The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF offers a simple, low-cost way to build wealth through consistent long-term investing in 500 large U.S. companies. With a 0.03% expense ratio and historical 15% average annual returns, investing $500 monthly could yield $1.36 million over 30 years. However, investors should be aware of market volatility, tech sector concentration, and the need for patience and a diversified portfolio strategy.

07/18/2026, 11:18 AM • The Motley Fool

Better Buy: SK Hynix vs. Micron

SK Hynix, now trading on U.S. exchanges via ADR, is compared to Micron as a memory chip investment. SK Hynix leads the HBM market with 56% share and has a strategic partnership with Nvidia, while Micron has a longer track record but entered HBM later. Both companies are benefiting from strong AI infrastructure demand, though the volatile memory chip market poses risks. The article recommends SK Hynix for new investments despite Micron's lower valuation.

07/18/2026, 9:20 AM • The Motley Fool

This Dividend ETF Yields 3.2% and Is Beating the Nasdaq-100 This Year

The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) has returned approximately 20% in 2026, outperforming both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100. The $95 billion fund focuses on companies with at least 10 consecutive years of dividend payments and screens for quality fundamentals. Its concentration in healthcare and consumer staples has benefited from a market rotation away from expensive AI and software stocks, though the fund's long-term job is delivering growing income from durable businesses rather than outrunning growth indexes.

07/18/2026, 8:23 AM • The Motley Fool

Jensen Huang Said Nvidia Will Be the First Customer for HBM4. Here's the AI Memory Stock That Has Reportedly Locked Up 70% of Those Orders.

As AI workloads scale, high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) has become a critical bottleneck. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang confirmed Nvidia will be the primary customer for HBM4 solutions to power its next-generation Vera Rubin architecture. SK Hynix has emerged as Nvidia's preferred partner, reportedly securing 50-70% of anticipated HBM4 orders through a multiyear co-development partnership announced in June, positioning it as a major beneficiary of the memory supercycle.

07/18/2026, 6:15 AM • The Motley Fool

Bitget Melancarkan Cross-Asset Unified Account Pertama dalam Industri Dengan 100 Token Saham AS sebagai Margin

Bitget has launched a Cross-Asset Unified Account that integrates over 370 assets, including 100 tokenized US stocks (rTokens), into a single margin pool. This innovation allows users to leverage tokenized equities alongside cryptocurrencies for trading, borrowing, and portfolio management through one account, representing the third evolution in exchange account architecture focused on capital efficiency.

07/18/2026, 5:27 AM • GlobeNewswire

Bitget 推出行业首个跨资产统一账户，100 种美股代币可作保证金

Bitget has launched a Cross-Asset Unified Account (UTA) that consolidates over 370 qualified assets, including 100 tokenized US stocks (rTokens), into a single margin pool. This innovation allows users to use tokenized stocks as collateral for crypto trading and leverage trading, with eligible collateral receiving up to 95% discount rates. The platform now enables users to hold stock exposure, receive dividends, use rTokens as margin, or stake them for stablecoin loans without closing positions.

07/18/2026, 5:27 AM • GlobeNewswire

Has Nvidia Become a Value Stock?

Nvidia has emerged as a dominant force in the AI revolution with record revenues and profits, yet trades at a surprisingly low valuation compared to peers. With a forward P/E ratio of 23—between typical growth (29) and value (17) stocks—Nvidia appeals to both growth and value investors. The company's strong competitive position, established track record, and early-stage AI market opportunity make it an attractive long-term holding, though cautious investors should note risks from high AI spending levels and sector volatility.

07/18/2026, 4:10 AM • The Motley Fool

Inflation Isn't Just a Trumpflation Problem Any Longer -- There's a New Culprit, and It Has Potentially Dire Implications for Wall Street

U.S. inflation reached 4.2% in May 2026, more than double the Federal Reserve's 2% target. While Trump's tariffs and the Iran war initially drove inflation, the Federal Reserve now identifies AI infrastructure buildout as a significant new inflationary driver. Supply shortages for AI chips and components are creating pricing power for semiconductor companies, but this persistent inflation could prompt rate hikes that threaten the expensive stock market and slow the AI data center expansion.

07/18/2026, 4:06 AM • The Motley Fool

Missed Out on Sandisk's 580% Rally? Here Are 3 Chip Stocks You Can Buy Now.

Despite Sandisk's 580% rally in 2026, analyst recommends three chip stocks as smart buys: Sandisk, Micron Technology, and Nvidia. The memory chip shortage is expected to persist beyond 2027, benefiting memory producers. Nvidia trades at an unusually low 23.7x forward P/E ratio despite 85% revenue growth and expected 42% growth in 2027, presenting a potential undervaluation opportunity.

07/18/2026, 1:10 AM • The Motley Fool

Stock Market Today, July 17: Stocks Slide as Semiconductor Rout Deepens

Major stock indices declined on July 17, 2026, as a semiconductor sell-off deepened amid geopolitical tensions and concerns about AI spending sustainability. The Nasdaq fell 1.40%, S&P 500 dropped 1.01%, and Dow Jones slipped 0.77%. Travelers Companies surged 9% on strong earnings, while chip stocks including Nvidia, AMD, and Intel tumbled. The PHLX Semiconductor Index has fallen over 13% in the past month despite being up 63% year-to-date.

07/17/2026, 5:13 PM • The Motley Fool