2 Super Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Hand Over Fist in 2026
The Motley Fool·2025-12-08 05:30

Core Insights - The semiconductor industry is crucial for the AI revolution, providing essential components for AI model development [1] - Nvidia's CEO predicts data center operators could invest up to $4 trillion annually by 2030 to upgrade infrastructure for AI demands [2] - Companies like Corning and Micron Technology are positioned to benefit from this spending boom [3] Corning - Corning's stock has increased by 83% this year, driven by high demand for its fiber optic cables, which outperform traditional copper cables in speed and distance [5] - The transition to fiber optics is accelerating as data center operators scale up their infrastructure, with Corning's CEO suggesting the market opportunity could double or triple [6] - In Q3 2025, Corning reported total revenue of $4.27 billion, a 14% year-over-year increase, with its optical communications segment growing by 33% to $1.65 billion, largely due to AI-related demand [7][8] - The optical communications segment generated $295 million in net income, a 69% increase year-over-year, highlighting the significance of AI for Corning's profitability [8] - Corning's stock is trading at a P/E ratio of 35.9, making it relatively attractive compared to AI chip giants like Nvidia and AMD [10] Micron Technology - Micron is a leading supplier of memory and storage chips, with its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) crucial for optimizing GPU performance in data centers [11] - Micron's HBM3E solution offers 50% more capacity and 30% less energy consumption than competitors, making it appealing for data center operators [12] - The company has nearly sold out its entire 2026 supply of HBM3E and is introducing a new HBM4 solution that provides up to 60% more capacity and 20% better energy efficiency [13] - In fiscal year 2025, Micron's total revenue reached $37.3 billion, a 49% year-over-year increase, with its Cloud Memory business unit experiencing a remarkable 257% growth to $13.5 billion [14] - Micron's stock is trading at a P/E ratio of 27.3, making it cheaper than Corning and significantly less expensive than Nvidia and AMD [16]