Tech Trying Investors' Patience, But The Sector's Still a Must-Own

Core Viewpoint - The tech sector, despite a year-to-date decline of nearly 1.8% in the Nasdaq-100 Index, remains a vital investment area, with strong fundamentals and growth potential, particularly in disruptive technologies like AI and robotics [1]. Group 1: Market Performance - The Nasdaq-100 Index has experienced a five-year gain of over 82%, indicating a robust long-term performance despite recent fluctuations [1]. - The tech sector has shown strong returns of 23.33% over the last year and a 5-year compound annual growth rate of 14% [1]. Group 2: Investment Opportunities - Bank of America Research emphasizes the importance of maintaining exposure to disruptive themes such as AI and robotics, which are accessible through ETFs like QQQ and QQQM [1]. - The tech sector's forecasted earnings growth rate for 2026 is the highest among all sectors, justifying the high valuations of some leading ETFs [1]. Group 3: Semiconductor Sector Insights - The Invesco ETFs, while not dedicated chip ETFs, include a variety of semiconductor stocks, which are in high demand due to the growth of AI and the need for advanced computing [1]. - Analyst Vivek Arya notes that the transition from training to inference in AI is increasing demand for leading-edge chips, while supply remains tight in areas like memory and optics [1].