ZACKS·2025-04-16 09:20Core Viewpoint - The current market conditions present a favorable opportunity to invest in strong semiconductor stocks like ASML and NVIDIA, which are trading at a discount but are expected to benefit from a market rebound due to recent tariff exemptions on high-tech goods [2][3]. Semiconductor Industry Overview - The semiconductor sector has been impacted by President Trump's tariffs, but recent exemptions have led to a recovery in stock prices [2]. - The demand for advanced semiconductor technologies, particularly in AI applications, is driving growth in the industry [8]. ASML Holding N.V. - ASML is the global leader in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems, crucial for manufacturing AI chips, and has a strong competitive advantage due to its monopoly in this technology [4][6]. - The company sold 44 EUV systems last year, which accounted for 38% of its total net system sales of €21.8 billion [5]. - ASML expects first-quarter revenues of €7.5 billion to €8 billion, representing a 46% year-over-year increase, with earnings projected at €5.75 per share, an 85% increase year-over-year [9]. NVIDIA Corp. - NVIDIA holds over 80% of the discrete GPU market, providing a significant competitive edge and driving long-term growth [7]. - The company anticipates a 47.5% growth in earnings for the current year, supported by rising AI data center spending [13]. - Major cloud computing companies are projected to spend $250 billion on AI data center infrastructure, with total AI data center expenditures expected to reach $1 trillion by 2028 [11]. Investment Recommendations - Both ASML and NVIDIA are currently seen as attractive investment opportunities due to their market positions and growth prospects, with ASML's stock having fallen 3% year-to-date and NVIDIA's stock down 17.8% [12][13]. - Analysts have raised ASML's average short-term price target by 42.3% to $953.61 and NVIDIA's by 56.8% to $173.95, indicating strong bullish sentiment for both stocks [12][13].