NASDAQ:NET News 8 January 2026

January 25, 2026, 8:24 AM EST. S&P 500 Semiconductor Equipment & Materials stocks are up double digits in 2026, standing out amid a flat overall market. Applied Materials, Lam Research, KLA, Teradyne, and Qnity Electronics have surged between 19.8% and 33.4% since January. These companies supply the machinery for chip and display production, benefiting from soaring semiconductor sales driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and data center demand. Semiconductor industry valuations are expected to reach up to $1.8 trillion by 2030, according to McKinsey, surpassing previous estimates. Major chipmakers like Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) plan record capital expenditures, with TSMC's 2026 capex rising to $52-$56 billion, fueling demand for semiconductor fab equipment. This positions semiconductor equipment makers as key beneficiaries of the expanding chip market.