Seeking Alphaยท2025-09-11 03:40Market Overview - U.S. equities rebounded in Q2 2025 after a correction in Q1, overcoming tariff and growth concerns as well as geopolitical issues [2] - The recovery was driven by a return to AI market leadership, with hyperscalers committing to high levels of AI-driven capital expenditures [2] - Semiconductor companies experienced solid earnings and renewed expectations for widespread AI adoption [2] Company Performance - Broadcom (AVGO) benefited from increased adoption of its custom-designed chips as an alternative to Nvidia's GPUs, leading to a share rally following reduced U.S.-China tariffs [3] - Microchip Technology (MCHP) showed strong financial results, aided by a cyclical rebound and the return of its long-tenured CEO [4] - Meta Platforms (META) saw its shares rise due to continued gains in digital advertising, supported by AI enhancing engagement and monetization [5] Sector Analysis - The IT and financial sectors contributed positively to the portfolio, while health care and energy sectors were the main detractors [17] - Stock selection in industrials, health care, energy, consumer staples, and consumer discretionary sectors negatively impacted relative returns [18] - McKesson (MCK) performed well due to strong fundamentals in U.S. pharma and specialty distribution [5] Portfolio Positioning - New positions included Exxon Mobil (XOM), which is lowering costs and emissions while increasing production, and Boeing (BA), which is ramping up 737 production [7] - Procter & Gamble (PG) was added to the portfolio as a higher-quality name trading at a discount, expected to provide stability [8] - Merck was replaced with AstraZeneca (AZN) due to concerns over Merck's patent expiration on Keytruda [9] Outlook - The market is characterized by elevated geopolitical and policy uncertainty, but there are opportunities for disciplined long-term stock pickers focusing on value stocks [11][12] - The valuation disparity between growth and value stocks has widened, suggesting potential for value recovery following significant underperformance [12][16]