Why The iShares Semiconductor ETF Soared 112.8% In The First Half of 2026
The sector is getting supercharged by the AI revolution.
Overview
Shares of the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: SOXX) were up 112.8% in the first half of 2026, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Investors are betting big on the sector as a "picks and shovels" play for the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure cycle, which is now getting supercharged by the recent surge in memory chip stocks.
The semiconductor ETF is up 112.8% this year and almost 300% in the last five years alone, making it one of the best corners of the market to bet on in recent years. Here's why the party continued in 2026, and whether the ETF looks like a buy today.
Details
The early days of the AI revolution were driven by the growth of Nvidia, which is now the largest company in the world by market cap and still a large constituent in the iShares Semiconductor ETF. However, in 2026, the gains were driven by other leading semiconductor companies, such as Micron Technology and Intel, which are among the ETF's largest holdings.
Source
Originally published at www.fool.com.