Market Turmoil: 3 Stocks to Steady Any Portfolio

Core Viewpoint - The recent stock market correction has created unease among investors, but top tech stocks like Netflix, Spotify, and the VanEck Semiconductor ETF present opportunities for stability and long-term returns despite market volatility [1]. Group 1: Netflix - Netflix is highlighted as a leading technology stock with a strong track record, boasting over 301 million paying subscribers globally [4]. - The company's profit margins are improving as revenue growth outpaces content production spending, with a year-over-year subscriber growth of 15.9% in Q4 2024 [5]. - Analysts project Netflix's earnings to grow at an average of 24% annually, with a current price-to-earnings ratio of 46 deemed reasonable for its growth potential [5]. Group 2: Spotify - Spotify is recognized for its strong fundamentals, reporting €4.2 billion ($4.67 billion) in revenue, €1.4 billion in gross profit, and €0.9 billion in free cash flow for the three months ending December 31, 2024, reflecting year-over-year increases of 16%, 40%, and 122% respectively [8]. - The company's premium membership revenue grew by 17% year over year, with an 11% increase in its overall premium subscriber base, indicating strong pricing power [10]. - Despite market challenges, Spotify shares have advanced by 25% year to date, making it a potential safe harbor for growth investors [10]. Group 3: VanEck Semiconductor ETF - The VanEck Semiconductor ETF offers stability by investing in a basket of top chip stocks, achieving an average annual return of nearly 25% over the last 10 years, outperforming the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust [14]. - The ETF's largest holdings include Nvidia (just under 20%), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (11%), and Broadcom (just under 8%), with a total of 25 top chip stocks in its portfolio [15][16]. - The fund charges a reasonable expense ratio of 0.35%, providing a source of profits and stability regardless of overall market performance [17].