Ren
Head of AI, Ex-Product Manager, AI Supply-Chain Bottlenecks
Semiconductor earnings have outpaced prices, making the selloff look more like forced positioning than a broken growth case. Since January 2025, the SOX rose about 114% while reconstructed forward earnings rose about 198%; the estimate is approximate. Hedge funds sold global tech at a greater-than-three-standard-deviation pace in October 5-16, a pattern seen near earlier lows, though another sharp flush could come before a reversal. x.comÂ
Semiconductors are not in a bubble, because they trade at 17.1x earnings, below the S&P 500's 19.0x. The last time semis traded under the S&P was 2022, when they bottomed near 13x and then doubled their multiple over 18 months; two years ago they traded at 35x. Micron just guided to $61.5B of quarterly revenue at an 86% gross margin, and supply-chain lead times keep stretching. Bubbles don't trade at a discount to the market. x.comÂ
Semiconductors look relatively cheap against the S&P 500, while their earnings are growing much faster, barring an EPS reset. The selloff looks overdone, though that does not mean it reverses tomorrow. x.comÂ
Semiconductors could capture scarce spot compute's value if its forward curve holds. Compute trades in deep contango, while chip stocks price in little of that value; near-term moves are unpredictable. That makes the sector very bullish. The earlier lab-funding risk looks less acute: Anthropic should hold nearly $200B cash after its IPO and is operating-cash-flow profitable. Even with 2029 capex cuts, chips look cheap if future buyers do not default. x.com x.com x.com x.com x.comÂ
Tech and semiconductor bounces are mainly driven by less urgent hedge-fund selling rather than fresh buying. Per Goldman Sachs, tech is still being sold amid very low activity; there is no sign risk has been added yet. The unwind may be nearing its end, especially as hyperscalers stick to capex plans and Q3 semiconductor earnings look likely to be positive. Less crowded positioning and more normal multiples leave a healthier base for a longer-term rebuild. x.comÂ
Semiconductors are now cheaper than the broader market on forward earnings, provided earnings cuts do not undermine that discount. The sector's forward P/E is about 17 versus roughly 18.6 for the S&P 500. x.comÂ
Some semiconductor stocks have returned to reasonable valuations as fundamentals improve, making recent declines buying opportunities. Many had traded at two to three times their median valuations; the correction brought some back toward normal, while sustained AI spending should benefit suppliers for years. x.comÂ
Semiconductors' parabolic run is likely to end in a bear market, and record ETF inflows may be a contrarian warning. The sector's forward P/E was 12.8 at its 2022 low and 11.5 at its 2018 low, versus the 16.4 cited now in the quoted post. Past parabolic runs saw 43%-55% drawdowns; the previous record inflow came at a top. x.com x.com x.comÂ
War escalation and the midterms will keep investors from increasing gross or net semiconductor exposure. SOXX will take out its July lows before any sustained rally; against a suggested 5% dip and 50% rebound, the path is '5% down then 100% down.' x.com x.comÂ
Semiconductor earnings will be good, supporting a likely run into Q3 results. The group looks oversold, and the Anthropic/CoreWeave news is noise. x.com x.com x.com x.comÂ
Higher rates, stretched valuations and soaring AI buildout costs pressure chip stocks. They have fallen for six straight sessions, their longest losing streak in over 17 months, while the SOX is down 12%. JPM says dip buyers have gone missing, raising concern that the selloff could deepen. x.comÂ
Semiconductor fundamentals have improved as SpaceX and Meta say spending will rise further, while rates have come down. Earlier caution rested on fears that megacaps could not sustain spending and rising rates would slow AI investment; neither worry has played out. Today's selling feels more like stops being hit and investors giving up. x.com x.comÂ
