Without Broadcom and Oracle, the "Magnificent Seven" is no longer a good representation of the market's leading growth stocks.Broadcom (AVGO 0.19%) and Oracle (ORCL -5.09%) just delivered exceptional earnings reports and guidance that sent both tech stocks to all-time highs. Over the last five years, Broadcom is up over 925% and Oracle is up over 475% -- outperforming every "Magnificent Seven" stock (Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Tesla) except one -- Nvidia.The "Ten Titans" provide an ...

Core Insights - The semiconductor industry is pivotal in the AI revolution, with companies like Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd (CRDO) and Broadcom (AVGO) playing significant roles in providing the necessary infrastructure for AI workloads [1][2]. Company Overview - Credo is an emerging growth company focused on high-speed connectivity solutions for AI and cloud data centers, while Broadcom is a well-established semiconductor giant with a diversified business model [2][11]. - Credo's strengths include its active electrical cables (AECs), optical Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), and PCIe retimers, which cater to the increasing demand for efficient data center connectivity [2][4]. Growth Potential - Credo is expected to benefit from the rising demand for AECs, which offer over 100 times the reliability of traditional laser-based solutions, positioning it favorably in the market [5]. - The company anticipates revenues exceeding $800 million for fiscal 2026, representing over 85% year-over-year growth, with a non-GAAP net margin projected to approach 40% [7]. - Broadcom's AI semiconductor revenues reached $4.4 billion in fiscal Q2 2025, marking a 46% year-over-year increase, with expectations for further growth in the upcoming quarters [11][12]. Competitive Landscape - Credo's competitive advantage lies in its integrated system-level approach, which enhances innovation cycles and cost efficiency [4][6]. - Broadcom's product offerings, including advanced networking solutions like Tomahawk switches and Jericho routers, are crucial for hyperscale AI deployments, contributing to its strong market position [13][14]. Financial Performance - Credo ended fiscal 2025 with a cash position of $431.3 million and no debt, providing a solid foundation for future growth [7]. - Broadcom expects third-quarter 2025 revenues of $15.8 billion, reflecting a 21% year-over-year increase, although gross margins may contract due to a higher mix of custom AI accelerators [15]. Stock Performance - Over the past three months, CRDO's stock surged by 84.6%, while AVGO's stock increased by 28.6% [9][16]. - In terms of valuation, CRDO is trading at a forward price/sales ratio of 22.56X, compared to AVGO's 18.95X, indicating differing market perceptions [19]. Analyst Ratings - Broadcom currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), while Credo has a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting that Broadcom may be a more favorable investment at this time [22].

Core Insights - Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd (CRDO) is strategically focusing on its Active Electrical Cable (AEC) product line, which has shown double-digit sequential growth in fiscal Q4 2025, with three hyperscalers contributing over 10% to quarterly revenues, indicating a growing market for Credo's solutions [1][2] Group 1: AEC Product Line - The AECs are becoming the "de-facto standard for intra-rack applications" in data centers, driven by their reliability, which is over 100 times better than laser-based optical solutions, and improved signal integrity compared to traditional direct attached cables (DACs) [2][11] - Credo's integrated system-level approach, encompassing SerDes IP, Retimer ICs, and system-level design, enhances innovation cycles and cost efficiency, positioning AECs as a growth engine for future revenues [3] Group 2: Revenue Projections - For fiscal 2026, Credo anticipates revenues to exceed $800 million, reflecting an over 85% year-over-year growth [4][11] - The company's shares have increased by 28.7% over the past month, outperforming the Electronics-Semiconductors industry, which grew by 9.9% [10] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Broadcom and Marvell Technology are also experiencing growth, with Broadcom reporting a 20% revenue increase driven by AI semiconductors, and Marvell expecting revenues of approximately $2 billion for Q2 fiscal 2026, indicating a 57% year-over-year growth [6][9]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q2 2025 was a record $15 billion, up 20% year on year, driven by strength in AI semiconductors and VMware momentum [5][14] - Consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $10 billion, up 35% year on year, reflecting excellent operating leverage [5][14] - Gross margin was 79.4%, better than guidance, with operating income of $9.8 billion, up 37% year on year [14][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Semiconductor revenue was $8.4 billion, growing 17% year on year, with AI semiconductor revenue exceeding $4.4 billion, up 46% year on year [6][16] - Infrastructure software revenue was $6.6 billion, up 25% year on year, driven by the transition to the full VCF software stack subscription [11][17] - Non-AI semiconductor revenue was $4 billion, down 5% year on year, but with sequential growth in broadband, enterprise networking, and service storage [10][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - AI networking revenue grew over 170% year on year, representing 40% of total AI revenue, driven by robust demand from hyperscale customers [6][10] - The company expects AI semiconductor revenue to reach $5.1 billion in Q3 2025, up 60% year on year, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of growth [9][22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its AI semiconductor capabilities, with expectations of significant deployments of custom AI accelerators by customers [8][9] - The strategy includes leveraging Ethernet as the preferred choice for hyperscale customers, with new product launches like the Tomahawk six switch [7][8] - The company aims to maintain a disciplined approach to capital allocation, prioritizing debt reduction and opportunistic share repurchases [21][100] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining the growth rate of AI semiconductor revenue into fiscal 2026, driven by increased demand for inference alongside training [9][91] - The operating environment remains dynamic, with management acknowledging uncertainty regarding export controls on AI technology [105] Other Important Information - Free cash flow for the quarter was $6.4 billion, representing 43% of revenue, impacted by increased interest expenses and cash taxes [18][20] - The company repaid $1.6 billion of debt post-quarter, reducing gross principal debt to $67.8 billion [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the inference commentary and its impact on growth? - Management indicated increased deployment of XPUs and networking, contributing to confidence in growth rates for the upcoming year [26][27] Question: How do you see the AI business sustaining its growth trajectory? - Management confirmed that the AI business is expected to sustain a 60% year-over-year growth rate into fiscal 2026 based on improved visibility and demand [30][91] Question: What drove the strong performance in AI networking? - The growth in AI networking is closely tied to the deployment of AI accelerated clusters, with increased density in scale-up scenarios exceeding expectations [35][38] Question: How is the integration of VMware progressing? - Management noted that the conversion to subscription models is ongoing, with about two-thirds of renewals completed, expecting another year to finalize the process [108]

Core Viewpoint - The Nasdaq Composite index, heavily influenced by technology companies, has seen significant volatility, presenting potential investment opportunities in AI-focused ETFs as individual stock picking may be riskier [1][2]. Group 1: Market Performance - The Nasdaq Composite index gained 28.6% last year but has recently fallen 13.4% from its record high, entering correction territory [2]. - The iShares Future AI and Tech ETF is down 20.6% from its recent high, with shares available for under $40 [3]. Group 2: ETF Overview - The iShares Future AI and Tech ETF, reconstructed in August 2022, focuses exclusively on AI companies, holding only 50 stocks, which leads to potential volatility [4]. - The ETF's top 10 holdings include major AI players such as Broadcom, Nvidia, and Palantir Technologies, with Broadcom's AI revenue increasing 77% year over year to $4.1 billion [5][6][8]. Group 3: Industry Insights - The AI industry is still developing, with Nvidia's CEO predicting next-generation AI models will require 100 times more computing power, indicating a long-term growth trajectory for AI infrastructure [11]. - Major tech companies like Meta Platforms, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Amazon are projected to spend over $300 billion on hardware in 2025, benefiting companies within the iShares ETF [12][13]. Group 4: Investment Strategy - The iShares ETF has delivered a return of 6.1% since its reconstruction, outperforming the S&P 500's 5.1% gain over the same period, suggesting it could be a valuable addition to a diversified portfolio [10]. - Investing in the iShares ETF allows exposure to a range of high-quality AI stocks, potentially leading to significant long-term returns while mitigating risks associated with individual stock performance [14].