Latest news with #TSM
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
VXUS Tops $100B as ETF Investors Embrace International Stocks
The Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF (VXUS) crossed a major milestone on Friday, reaching $100 billion in assets under management. It's now the fourth-largest international equity ETF in the U.S., trailing only the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA), the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) and the iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG). VXUS Takes a Broad View Among that group, VXUS is by far the broadest. It tracks the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index, which covers large-, mid- and small-cap stocks from both developed and emerging markets. As of today, the fund holds 8,561 stocks, with emerging markets making up just over a quarter of the portfolio. Top holdings include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM), which represents about 2.5% of assets, followed by Tencent Holdings (TCEHY) at 1.1%, ASML Holding (ASML) and SAP SE (SAP) each around 0.9%, and Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) at 0.7%. VXUS has attracted $9.9 billion in inflows this year, the seventh-highest among all U.S.-listed ETFs. That momentum reflects renewed investor interest as international stocks outperform. Year to date, VXUS is up 19.3%, more than double the S&P 500's 9.3% return. Factors Driving International Resurgence Several factors have driven the resurgence. Concerns about the U.S. trade war and tariffs have shifted attention abroad, while a weaker U.S. dollar has boosted returns for international equities. The U.S. Dollar Index has declined 9% this year, giving a lift to dollar-based investors in unhedged foreign stocks. Invest in Gold American Hartford Gold: #1 Precious Metals Dealer in the Nation Priority Gold: Up to $15k in Free Silver + Zero Account Fees on Qualifying Purchase Thor Metals Group: Best Overall Gold IRA The currency impact is evident when comparing VXUS to hedged strategies. Funds like the Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF (DBEF) and the iShares Currency Hedged MSCI EAFE ETF (HEFA) are up 11.4% this year—solid returns but well below the gains seen in unhedged vehicles like VXUS. After a long stretch of underperformance, international stocks look relatively cheap compared to their U.S. counterparts. For investors seeking low-cost, diversified exposure to equity markets outside the U.S., VXUS remains one of the most comprehensive options available. It charges an expense ratio of just 0.05%.Permalink | © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trending tickers: latest investor updates on Nvidia, Sarepta, Spotify, AstraZeneca and Greggs
Nvidia (NVDA) Shares in the AI darling were trending in pre-market trading after finishing Monday's session almost 2% higher as retail investors remain bullish on the stock. The renewed optimism can be traced to growing expectations that the US may extend its trade truce with China by another 90 days. The original announcement has been a boon for Nvidia, whose fortunes have been closely tied to the evolving US-China trade relations. Earlier this month, in a pivotal move, the Trump administration reversed an earlier decision by lifting a ban imposed in April and allowing Nvidia to resume sales of its H20 GPUs to China. This decision, combined with reports of rising demand for Nvidia's AI chips, has provided support to the company's stock price. Amid increasing demand, Nvidia has reportedly placed an order for 300,000 H20 AI chips with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM). This new order adds to Nvidia's existing inventory of between 600,000 and 700,000 chips. Read more: FTSE 100 LIVE: Markets higher as attention turns to slew of earnings reports Nvidia's H20 chip, which was designed specifically for the Chinese market, complies with US export restrictions and is less powerful than its more advanced AI models like the H100 or the Blackwell series. Sarepta (SRPT) Shares of Sarepta, a developer of gene therapies for rare diseases, jumped over 50% ahead of the US opening bell, after closing 16% higher on Monday, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave it the go-ahead to resume shipments of its key vaccine. The company's stock had taken a hit last week after the death of an 8-year-old boy in Brazil. In response, Sarepta paused shipments of Elevidys for ambulatory Duchenne's muscular dystrophy patients, allowing the FDA time to review safety data. However, after the FDA communicated its decision to lift the voluntary pause on shipments, Sarepta's stock saw a sharp rebound in pre-market rading. Jefferies analyst Andrew Tsai commented on the FDA's decision, saying it "significantly improves Elevidys' sales outlook in the near term." He added that "[Wall] Street will feel relieved about the situation." While the FDA's decision allows shipments to resume for ambulatory patients, the agency has indicated that Sarepta will need to provide additional safety study data before Elevidys can be used for older, non-ambulatory patients. The FDA said in a statement it "will continue to work with the sponsor regarding non-ambulatory patients, which remains subject to a voluntary hold, following two deaths." Spotify (SPOT) Shares in Spotify were down slightly on Tuesday as the music streaming giant prepares to report its second-quarter 2025 earnings before the US market opens. Analysts polled by Zacks expect Spotify to post $4.9bn in revenue for the quarter, reflecting a 20.3% increase year-on-year. Earnings are projected at $2.19 per share, representing a 53.2% jump from the same period a year earlier. Investor sentiment has been buoyed by a combination of strong subscription growth, price increases, and a streamlined cost structure. Shares have risen approximately 120% over the past 12 months, rebounding sharply from 2022 lows, as enthusiasm builds around Spotify's potential in AI-powered content recommendations and advertising innovation. Earlier this month, the stock reached an all-time high of $738.45, although it has since pulled back slightly. Read more: Barclays posts profit beat and announces £1bn share buyback Last week, Oppenheimer analyst Jason Helfstein upgraded his rating on Spotify from "perform" to "outperform", assigning a price target of $800. 'We believe that SPOT will benefit from the secular tailwind of growing digital audio streaming adoption and that the company's subscription economics are better than most believe,' Helfstein wrote in a note to clients. AstraZeneca (AZN.L) Shares in AstraZeneca rose in London trading on Tuesday after the UK's largest listed company by market value reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter earnings and reaffirmed its full-year outlook. The pharmaceutical group posted an 11% rise in revenues to $14.46bn for the three months to the end of June, surpassing analyst expectations of $14.15bn, according to a company-compiled consensus. Core earnings per share came in at $2.17, just above forecasts of $2.16. "Our strong momentum in revenue growth continued through the first half of the year and the delivery from our broad and diverse pipeline has been excellent," CEO Pascal Soriot said in a statement. Pre-tax profit for the period rose to $3.1bn from $2.4bn a year earlier, as AstraZeneca saw strong performance across key therapeutic areas, including an 18% rise in oncology sales. The FTSE 100 (^FTSE) drugmaker, which derives 44% of its revenue from the US, is also ramping up investment in the country. Last week, it pledged to invest $50bn in the US by 2030, joining a wave of multinational pharmaceutical firms positioning themselves ahead of the potential imposition of tariffs on the sector by US president Donald Trump. Sheena Berry, healthcare analyst at Quilter Cheviot, said: 'AstraZeneca continues to deliver strong growth, with its second quarter results showing solid rises in product sales, up 10% overall. "This was primarily driven by 18% growth seen from the oncology portfolio, which has done well as a result of key drugs such as Imfinzi, Tagrisso and Enhertu. The group shows no sign of slowing down either with research and development spend increasing 18% in the quarter. Read more: Stocks to watch this week: Microsoft, Apple, Shell, AstraZeneca and HSBC 'For now, 2025's guidance has been reiterated with sales expected to increase by high single-digits and core earnings to grow by low double-digits. This remains a catalyst-rich period for the group with multiple positive phase III readouts and drug approvals in 2025 to date. "The main pipeline update included in the results is the Avanzar lung cancer trial readout, which is now expected in the first half of 2026, rather than later this year as was expected. However, the long-term outlook remains attractive with the group making progress towards its target of $80bn in total revenue by 2030.' Greggs (GRG.L) Shares were down by 3% as Greggs reported a 14% drop in pre-tax profit for the first half of the year, as winter storms and summer heatwaves kept customers away from its high street shops, adding to an already challenging consumer environment. The bakery chain, known for its sausage rolls and steak bakes, said profits fell to £63.5m in the six months to the end of June, down from £74.1m a year earlier. While total sales rose 7% to £1.03bn, the increase was not enough to offset a decline in margins and footfall. Company-managed shop like-for-like sales rose 2.6%, while franchised locations grew 4.8%. Greggs, which operates more than 2,600 stores across the UK, said the decline in profits 'reflected challenging market footfall and the phasing of cost headwinds that have particularly impacted the first half of the year.' 'These challenges were compounded by heavy snow and strong winds in January and unusually hot weather in June, which had a material impact on consumer behaviour and lowered like-for-like sales,' the company said. More than 200 shops in Scotland and Wales were temporarily closed during Storm Éowyn in late January, when a rare red warning was issued due to hurricane-force winds, heavy rain, and snow. Cost inflation was also a factor, with overall cost pressures running at 5.4% in the first half. Full-year cost inflation is expected to be around 6%. Greggs spent £3m on expanding manufacturing, logistics, and technology capabilities, and completed 108 shop refurbishments, up from 81 a year earlier. Chief executive Roisin Currie described the first half as a 'challenging market' with weak consumer confidence. 'People are saving, not spending,' she said. The interim dividend was held steady at 19p. While full-year sales are expected to remain resilient, profits are forecast to come in 'modestly below the level achieved in 2024.' Mark Crouch, market analyst at eToro, said: 'Greggs' 14% drop in first-half profit caps a bitter 10 months for the UKs favourite baker. "Management blames hot weather for weaker sales, but that doesn't account for a 50% collapse in market value. The more plausible culprit is the timing of Greggs expansion strategy, stretching margins, just as the consumer picture turns more fragile. 'Greggs has long been a reliable read on the UK high street. Its sudden stumble suggests consumers may not just be cooling on sausage rolls, but that appetite across the high street may be waning more broadly. "With inflation easing and real wages recovering, the macro backdrop should, in theory, be supportive. That it isn't showing up in Greggs' numbers, is a red flag. 'Greggs' brand still holds a strong place in the market, but scale isn't helping if margins and volumes can't keep up. The pressure is now squarely on management to regain the initiative, and not just blame it on the weather.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) Surges on Accelerated Demand For AI-Related Semiconductors
Sands Capital, an investment management company, released its 'Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund' Q2 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Technology Innovators focus on pioneering businesses worldwide that serve as key drivers or beneficiaries of significant long-term changes driven by technology. The fund returned 26.0% (net) in the second quarter compared to a 21.9% return for the benchmark, MSCI ACWI Info Tech and Communication Services Index. Easing geopolitical concerns, renewed AI optimism, resilient macroeconomic data, strong corporate earnings, and technical tailwinds boosted the markets for a quick recovery in the quarter. You can check the fund's top 5 holdings to know more about its best picks for 2025. In its second quarter 2025 investor letter, Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund highlighted stocks such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM). Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices. The one-month return of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) was 7.85%, and its shares gained 50.74% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On July 24, 2025, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) stock closed at $241.60 per share, with a market capitalization of $1.253 trillion. Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund stated the following regarding Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter: "Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM), the world's largest producer of leading-edge logic chips, reported strong quarterly results, supported by ongoing demand for AI related semiconductors. Management reiterated its 2025 revenue growth target in the mid-20 percent range, with second-quarter guidance coming in above consensus. The company plans to double capacity for chip-on-wafer on-substrate (CoWoS) packaging this year, noting that demand continues to exceed supply and capacity remains fully booked. TSMC also reaffirmed its long-term goal to grow AI-related revenue at a mid-40 percent compound annual rate through 2029, reflecting its critical position in the semiconductor value chain and sustained momentum in AI infrastructure buildout." A close-up of a complex network of integrated circuits used in logic semiconductors. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is in 9th position on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 187 hedge fund portfolios held Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) at the end of the first quarter, which was 186 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. In another article, we covered Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) and shared the list of AI stocks in the spotlight. Longriver Partners Fund noted Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM)in its Q2 2025 investor letter and views it as the lynchpin of the AI compute stack. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q2 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
TSM, ASML, and LRCX: The 3 Semiconductor Stocks Investors Must Know About
Semiconductor stocks have enjoyed a strong uptick over the past few years as semiconductors are crucial for making some of the market's most exciting themes possible, whether it's generative AI, self-driving cars, or humanoid robots. That said, their importance to these powerful secular trends is now widely appreciated by the market, and therefore many top semiconductor stocks already enjoy fairly elevated valuations. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. However, shares of some of the most essential semiconductor manufacturing and equipment companies, which are crucial to the semiconductor supply chain, still offer a pocket of fairly reasonable valuations within the sector, especially given their indispensable role in the industry. Here, we'll take a look at three top semiconductor equipment and manufacturing stocks — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM), ASML Holding (ASML), and Lam Research (LRCX) — that should all be on investor watchlists looking for exposure to the growth of these dynamic themes at a reasonable price. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM) Taiwan Semiconductor is the world's largest chip maker, with a dominant 60% share of the market. It also manufactures many of the world's most advanced semiconductors and enjoys a significant moat, as producing these chips requires considerable technological and engineering expertise and capital investment. Only a small number of companies globally have the capability to manufacture the most cutting-edge semiconductors, and Taiwan Semiconductor is the preeminent player in this segment of the market, boasting an estimated 90% market share of advanced chips. The company counts some of the world's most prominent semiconductor and technology companies as its customers, including Nvidia (NVDA), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Apple (AAPL). Taiwan Semiconductor's unrivaled capabilities and substantial market share within advanced chips are paying off, as the company increased revenue 38.6% during the second quarter, with CFO Wendell Huang reporting that 'Our business in the second quarter was supported by continued robust AI and HPC-related demand.' There is a lot to like about TSMC's strong business model, yet the stock trades at a reasonable valuation of just 24x 2025 earnings estimates, just a slight premium to the broader market as the S&P 500 (SPX) trades for roughly 22x forward earnings estimates. This appears to be an attractive valuation for a company exhibiting Taiwan Semiconductor's revenue growth and a considerable moat. Is TSMC Stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell? Turning to Wall Street, TSMC earns a Strong Buy consensus rating based on six Buys, one Hold, and zero Sell ratings assigned in the past three months. The average TSM stock price target of $267.57 implies 10.75% upside potential. ASML Holding (ASML) Like Taiwan Semiconductor, ASML Holding (ASML) is an integral link within the global semiconductor supply chain. The Netherlands-based company manufactures photolithography machines for chip manufacturers, including TSMC, Samsung, and Intel (INTC). These are highly complex and expensive systems (with price tags of up to $200 million) that use light to etch circuit patterns onto a silicon wafer, a crucial part of the semiconductor manufacturing process. ASML is the only firm currently providing extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) machines, which are used to make the most advanced chips, giving ASML a powerful moat. ASML also manufactures deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines, used in the production of older chips, and earns revenue from servicing these EUV and DUV machines for its customers. For these reasons, ASML is arguably one of the most important companies in the world. However, it isn't really priced as such. The stock trades for a reasonable 25x 2025 earnings estimates, just a slight premium to the S&P 500. The stock isn't ultra cheap, but it does carry an appealing valuation that the semiconductor industry is heavily reliant on. ASML is a dividend stock, currently yielding 0.92%. While this isn't a high yield, the company has slowly but surely been growing its dividend over time as its earnings power increases. For example, ASML has increased its dividend payout for nine consecutive years and grown it at an attractive 21.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past five years. In addition to the dividend, ASML has also made extensive use of share buybacks to return capital to shareholders. Share buybacks are often beneficial to shareholders, as they reduce the company's share count, thereby increasing earnings per share and concentrating the company's earnings among a smaller pool of investors. They are also often seen as a sign that management believes that the stock is undervalued. Through the first two quarters of 2025, ASML has repurchased approximately 4.6 million shares of the company this year, worth roughly €4.25 billion. Despite its unique capabilities and strong business model (not to mention beating both revenue and earnings estimates), ASML fell sharply after reporting Q2 earnings earlier this month and has yet to recover. The stock is down more than 10% over the past month and 23.5% off of its 52-week high. The recent sell-off was based on the company guiding for lower Q3 revenue than the market expected, and stating it cannot confirm further growth in 2026 due to macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty. While the year ahead may indeed pose challenges, we are confident that over the long term, ASML's equipment and services will continue to be in high demand by the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers, making the stock an attractive long-term opportunity to buy on the dip. Is ASML Stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell? ASML earns a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on four Buys, five Holds, and zero Sell ratings assigned in the past three months. The average ASML stock price target of $863.83 implies 19% upside potential over the coming year. Lam Research (LRCX) Finally, let's examine Lam Research (LRCX), a vital player in the global semiconductor supply chain. The company designs advanced equipment for etching, deposition, and cleaning—critical steps in the chip manufacturing process. Like ASML, Lam also generates recurring revenue from servicing its complex and highly specialized machinery. While it faces competition from names like Applied Materials (AMAT) and Tokyo Electron, Lam operates in a niche with high technological barriers to entry, making it an attractive long-term prospect. Lam Research currently trades at around 24x forward earnings—only a modest premium to the broader market, suggesting a reasonable valuation given its position in the semiconductor ecosystem. In terms of shareholder returns, Lam offers a dividend yield of 0.94%. Though the yield is modest, the company has consistently increased its dividend for 10 consecutive years, with a robust 14.9% compound annual growth rate over the past five years. Additionally, Lam is returning capital through share buybacks, highlighted by its $5 billion repurchase program announced in May. Is LRCX Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold? LRCX earns a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 11 Buys, two Holds, and zero Sell ratings assigned in the past three months. The average LRCX stock price target of $108.75 implies 11.2% upside potential over the coming year. Semiconductor Supply Chain Stocks Offer Long-Term Value I'm bullish on all three of these semiconductor supply chain stocks, as I believe they offer compelling long-term value for investors. Each company plays a critical role in the production of semiconductors that will power transformative technologies such as generative AI, autonomous vehicles, and robotics. Their highly specialized products and services create durable competitive advantages and significant barriers to entry. Yet, despite their strategic importance and strong positioning, all three stocks trade at valuations only modestly above the broader market. Additionally, each company is actively returning capital to shareholders, further enhancing its investment appeal.
Globe and Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
AI Drives 60% of TSM's Q2 Revenues: Will the Growth Momentum Last?
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company 's TSM recently reported financial results for the second quarter of 2025 highlight how artificial intelligence (AI) has become a key growth driver for its business. Revenues from its High-Performance Computing ('HPC') platform, which includes most AI-related demand, increased 14% sequentially and accounted for 60% of second-quarter total sales. Taiwan Semiconductor's second-quarter revenues and EPS surged 44% and 67%, respectively, year over year in the US dollar terms. This robust growth was mainly driven by the strong adoption of TSM's advanced 3nm and 5nm chips used in AI accelerators and data centers. The company is confident that the AI boom will continue supporting growth in the second half of 2025. It estimates full-year revenues to grow by around 30% year over year. Rising AI workloads, on-device computing and sovereign AI projects are creating long-term demand for leading-edge chips. Taiwan Semiconductor's close relationship with cloud and chip companies, along with aggressive investments in advanced nodes like N2 and A16, positions it well to capture this trend. Taiwan Semiconductor's leadership in process technology and growing manufacturing presence across the United States, Europe and Asia help strengthen its position. The company is also expanding its packaging and research & development capabilities to support future AI needs. If AI adoption continues at its current pace, Taiwan Semiconductor could see sustained demand for its leading-edge chips. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 revenues is pegged at $118.18 billion, indicating a 31.1% increase from 2024. How TSM's Rivals Are Responding to the AI Boom Intel INTC and GlobalFoundries GFS are also trying to grow their presence in AI chip manufacturing. Intel is investing heavily in its foundry business, aiming to produce advanced chips. The company is currently focusing on its 18A process, which signifies 1.8nm chips. Intel's 18A process is claimed to have higher performance and efficiency, which will help the company better compete with Taiwan Semiconductor's upcoming N2 chips. GlobalFoundries focuses more on mature nodes. However, the company is witnessing some AI-related demand, especially in edge computing and embedded AI. GlobalFoundries is working to expand capacity in the United States and Europe to attract customers looking for supply-chain flexibility. TSM's Share Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor have risen around 22.9% year to date compared with the Zacks Computer and Technology sector's gain of 10.2%. From a valuation standpoint, TSM trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 23.22, lower than the sector's average of 27.89. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Taiwan Semiconductor's 2025 and 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year increase of 37.5% and 13.1%, respectively. Estimates for 2025 and 2026 have been revised upward in the past seven days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Taiwan Semiconductor currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. #1 Semiconductor Stock to Buy (Not NVDA) The incredible demand for data is fueling the market's next digital gold rush. As data centers continue to be built and constantly upgraded, the companies that provide the hardware for these behemoths will become the NVIDIAs of tomorrow. One under-the-radar chipmaker is uniquely positioned to take advantage of the next growth stage of this market. It specializes in semiconductor products that titans like NVIDIA don't build. It's just beginning to enter the spotlight, which is exactly where you want to be. See This Stock Now for Free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Intel Corporation (INTC): Free Stock Analysis Report GlobalFoundries Inc. (GFS): Free Stock Analysis Report
