Tag: AI stocks

  • Selecting Tech Stocks for Long-Term Growth: A Data-Driven Framework

    Selecting Tech Stocks for Long-Term Growth: A Data-Driven Framework

    In the current market, a strong technology company can still be a weak stock pick if the price is wrong. With artificial intelligence (AI) reshaping profit outlooks, capital expenditures, and market expectations, the selection process demands more than just a famous brand or a good product. A truly long-term stock needs a clear path to higher sales, improved profits, and robust cash flow, all while the share price leaves room for future returns.

    Prioritize Real Growth Over Hype

    The first test is the quality of growth. Companies with steady, consistent sales growth are stronger than those dependent on a single demand spike. While revenue is important, profit growth provides a clearer signal of business health. Equally critical is free cash flow (FCF), which shows how much cash remains after operating expenses and capital investments. For instance, State Street notes that major hyperscalers raised their 2026 capital expenditure estimates by 15% from March to $772 billion, and semiconductor earnings are expected to rise 86% in 2026. However, these figures indicate a powerful AI cycle, not that every chip stock is a sound long-term buy. The real question is whether demand can convert into durable profit.

    Identify a Sustainable Moat

    A tech company needs a lasting competitive advantage that rivals cannot easily replicate. This moat can stem from a strong software ecosystem, high customer switching costs, proprietary chip design, a vast cloud network, or a trusted brand. With AI, a new dimension emerges: companies must demonstrate that their technology solves real customer problems and delivers measurable value. As Charles Schwab points out, investors now look for proof that large AI budgets lead to revenue growth, user adoption, or other tangible returns. Cloud growth and margins also indicate whether AI demand can support profit alongside sales.

    Examine Cash Flow Before the Narrative

    Large tech firms now face enormous capital requirements for data centers, chips, and networks. Charles Schwab reports that the Magnificent Seven could spend over $700 billion on capital expenditure in 2026, having already sold more than $130 billion in debt this year, while their free cash flow has fallen sharply from its 2024 peak. Investors must scrutinize whether a company’s spending is efficient and whether its cash generation can sustain such investments without overleveraging.

    Valuation Is a Core Criterion

    Valuation cannot be ignored. Fidelity’s August 2026 tech screen used cash flow growth and long-term earnings growth, while its valuation screen applied forward price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-cash-flow, and price-to-earnings-growth (PEG) ratios. NVIDIA, Microsoft, TSMC, and Broadcom appeared in the valuation screen, while NVIDIA, TSMC, Broadcom, Micron, and AMD showed up in growth results. A high-quality company can still underperform if its stock price already factors in unrealistic future growth.

    Analyze the Entire AI Supply Chain

    The AI boom extends beyond GPUs to chips, memory, networking, cloud systems, and data center equipment. As workloads become more complex, demand spreads across a wider technology stack. However, this breadth introduces cyclical risks. Semiconductor and memory stocks face sharp cycles and supply shifts, while software companies must show their AI products boost revenue, adoption, and subscriptions. Each segment carries distinct competitive and cyclical risks that require separate evaluation.

    Focus on Durable Returns and Management

    A long-term tech stock needs a business model that supports multi-year growth in sales, margins, and cash flow. Management quality is paramount: a capable team uses capital wisely, maintains a healthy balance sheet, and offers clear guidance. Market concentration adds another concern—Charles Schwab notes that a handful of tech companies now drive more than half of global market earnings growth, heightening concentration risk.

    The best tech stock is not always the fastest grower or the one with the flashiest AI product. The stronger choice combines a durable moat, genuine cash generation, manageable debt, solid earnings prospects, and a share price that doesn’t demand perfection. This standard separates a business with a great future from a stock that has already priced in too much of it.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    1. What should investors look for in a long-term tech stock?
    Investors should assess revenue and earnings growth, free cash flow, competitive advantages, debt levels, capital spending, and valuation.

    2. Is strong AI exposure enough to make a tech stock attractive?
    No. AI exposure can support growth, but investors must determine if that growth translates into sustainable profits and cash flow.

    3. Why is free cash flow important for tech companies?
    Free cash flow shows how much cash a company generates after operating needs and capital investments, helping investors gauge financial strength.

    4. How does valuation affect long-term tech stock returns?
    A high-quality company can still be a poor investment if its stock price assumes extremely high growth, leaving little room for future upside.

    5. Should investors consider the entire AI supply chain?
    Yes. AI growth affects semiconductors, memory, networking, cloud infrastructure, and data centers, but each segment carries different competitive and cyclical risks.

  • Wall Street Hits New Highs as AI Stocks Surge and Oil Prices Slide

    Wall Street Hits New Highs as AI Stocks Surge and Oil Prices Slide

    The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average reached record intraday levels on Tuesday, driven by strong earnings from AI-linked companies and optimism over potential US-Iran talks that pushed oil prices lower.

    The S&P 500 gained 0.58% to 7,644.56, its first intraday record since June. The Dow rose 647 points (1.22%) to 53,825.50, also hitting a new all-time high. The NASDAQ Composite added 1.16% to 26,213.57, supported by technology and semiconductor stocks. Wall Street has recovered from July losses, fueled by robust earnings from major tech firms like Amazon and Microsoft, which reinforced confidence in AI spending. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index climbed about 4% as chip stocks rebounded.

    Palantir Technologies shares surged 17.4% after raising its annual revenue forecast, citing stronger demand for artificial intelligence services. CEO Alex Karp described the quarterly performance as “otherworldly” and linked growth to sovereign AI systems. Caterpillar shares rose 12% after reporting higher second-quarter profit and raising its annual revenue growth forecast, driven by demand from AI data center projects for power-generation equipment. The company also indicated tariff costs would be near the lower end of its earlier estimate.

    Oil prices fell as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled progress in talks with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, stating there was “a chance” of an agreement within two days. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped about 4% to near $76 per barrel, while Brent crude fell to around $80. The S&P 500 energy sector declined 2.5% as crude prices slid, but lower oil costs eased concerns about transport and production expenses for other industries.

    Corporate earnings have broadly exceeded expectations, with 85.2% of S&P 500 companies beating analyst estimates—well above the long-term average of 67.5%. Investors remain focused on whether AI spending can generate sustainable revenue. Eric Parnell, Chief Market Strategist at Great Valley Advisor Group, noted that while AI earnings have performed well, the key question is sustainability. Coherent gained 14% and Lumentum rose 7.8% on reports of potential US limits on Chinese data center components. McDonald’s added 1.2% despite weak results, while Pfizer fell about 1% after its quarterly report. US job openings dropped to 7.36 million in June, below forecasts. Advancing shares outnumbered decliners on both major exchanges, with the NYSE at a 1.36-to-1 ratio and NASDAQ at 2.04-to-1. Investors also awaited SpaceX’s first earnings report since its public listing.

  • Microsoft Earnings Spark Wall Street Rally, Boosting AI and Chip Stocks

    Microsoft Earnings Spark Wall Street Rally, Boosting AI and Chip Stocks

    Wall Street staged a strong recovery on Thursday as robust earnings from Microsoft eased concerns about the profitability of heavy artificial intelligence investments. Technology and semiconductor shares led the rebound, lifting major indices after a sharp selloff in the previous session.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened 1.01% higher, the S&P 500 gained 1.02%, and the NASDAQ Composite climbed 1.67%. The tech-heavy NASDAQ later advanced about 2% as Microsoft and chip stocks extended gains.

    Microsoft Leads Technology Stock Recovery

    Microsoft shares surged roughly 15% after the company reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue, driven by growth in its Azure cloud business. The results reassured investors that its massive AI spending could yield higher returns.

    Semiconductor stocks also rallied, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF rising more than 7%, making technology the strongest S&P 500 sector. Consumer discretionary stocks also posted gains.

    Meta Platforms bucked the trend, falling about 8% after issuing a softer revenue forecast and reporting a sharp decline in second-quarter free cash flow. The company also raised its expected AI infrastructure spending.

    Stephen Evans, Chief Investment Officer at Pave Finance, described the market reaction as “a tale of two AI investment strategies,” noting that one company increased profits while spending heavily, while another allowed costs to erode earnings.

    Economic Growth Slows in Second Quarter

    New data showed the U.S. economy expanded at a slower pace. Gross domestic product increased at a 1.5% annual rate in the second quarter, below the estimated 2% and down from 2.1% growth in the first quarter. The slowdown added pressure as investors weighed high borrowing costs, softer business activity, and shifting consumer demand.

    Jobless claims for the week ended July 25 came in at 197,000, below the expected 200,000 but up 9,000 from the prior week’s revised level. The data indicated that layoffs remained limited despite weaker growth, though investors continued to assess the impact on hiring, wages, and household spending.

    Inflation Keeps Federal Reserve Policy in Focus

    June’s Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index fell 0.1%, while the annual inflation rate stood at 3.7%, matching expectations but remaining above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Core PCE, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.1% month-over-month, with an annual rate of 3.3%, slightly below the expected 0.2% monthly increase.

    The data arrived a day after the Fed kept interest rates unchanged. Investors assessed whether slower growth and persistent inflation could influence the central bank’s September decision. Sameer Samana of Wells Fargo Investment Institute said the Fed “remains patient” and continues to monitor economic conditions, adding that September remains open for action if incoming data supports a policy change.

    Market Breadth Stays Narrow Despite Rally

    The rebound was not broad-based. Shortly after the open, only 243 companies in the S&P 500 traded higher, and only five of the index’s 11 sectors posted gains. Technology shares rose about 4%, while consumer discretionary stocks gained roughly 1.3%, indicating that a small group of large companies drove much of the advance.

    Bond yields remained in focus after the Fed decision. The 30-year Treasury yield held near levels last seen in 2007, after moving above 5.2%. Other yields changed little.

    Wall Street was recovering from Wednesday’s losses, when the Dow fell more than 1,100 points and the NASDAQ 100 entered correction territory. Amazon, Apple, and Coinbase were due to report after Thursday’s close.

  • Oil Surge and AI Stock Sell-Off Push Wall Street Lower Ahead of Fed Decision

    Oil Surge and AI Stock Sell-Off Push Wall Street Lower Ahead of Fed Decision

    US stocks fell sharply Wednesday as rising oil prices and semiconductor losses weighed on major indexes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped about 800 points during morning trading. The S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite also declined before the Federal Reserve’s rate decision.

    Oil prices jumped after a new exchange of attacks involving Iran and US forces in the Middle East, renewing concerns about energy costs and inflation. Investors also watched chip stocks after several sessions of heavy selling.

    Dow Jones Leads Broad Market Decline

    The Dow Jones fell more than 1% as industrial, financial, and consumer shares moved lower. At one stage, the index lost over 800 points. The S&P 500 fell about 0.7%, while the NASDAQ dropped roughly 1%. Market figures fluctuated through the morning as trading remained volatile.

    Declining shares outnumbered advancing stocks on both the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Caterpillar fell as the industrial sector led losses. Consumer staples and healthcare posted small gains, showing limited demand for defensive shares.

    Oil Surge Adds Pressure Ahead of Fed Decision

    Crude oil prices rose after Iran launched missiles toward US forces in Jordan. US Central Command said forces intercepted the missiles. President Donald Trump then said the United States would respond strongly, adding pressure across energy and equity markets.

    Brent crude gained about 6%, while West Texas Intermediate rose close to 7%. Higher oil prices can raise transport and production costs. The latest jump arrived as the Fed prepared to announce its policy decision at 2 p.m. Eastern Time.

    Futures markets placed the highest probability on the Fed keeping rates between 3.5% and 3.75%. Available pricing showed a hold probability near 64%. The remaining probability supported a quarter-point increase. Traders also expected further tightening later in 2026.

    Jay Woods of Freedom Capital Markets said, “Any Fed surprise could cause this sell-off to accelerate.” Investors will review Chair Kevin Warsh’s press conference for details about inflation, employment, and future policy decisions.

    Semiconductor Stocks Extend Weekly Losses

    Semiconductor shares extended a four-session decline as investors questioned returns from large artificial intelligence spending programs. The iShares Semiconductor ETF fell nearly 4% during Wednesday trading. Its weekly loss moved above 10% as selling spread across major chip companies.

    Micron Technology and Advanced Micro Devices each lost more than 6% during the session. KLA fell more than 8%, while NVIDIA also traded lower. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index dropped as investors reviewed spending, revenue growth, and competition from Chinese technology companies.

    Gina Martin Adams of HB Wealth said, “The pressure is shifting from spending plans to returns.” Big Tech earnings will provide more data on revenue from AI investments. Microsoft and Meta will report after Wednesday’s close. Amazon and Apple will release results later this week.

    Truist Securities maintained a positive long-term view on chip demand despite the sell-off. Analyst William Stein said industry contacts still reported strong demand. He also noted that buyers now place larger orders for longer periods. However, current trading showed concern about valuations and near-term earnings.

    Ford Rises as Procter and Gamble Falls

    Ford Motor gained more than 6% after raising its annual profit forecast. The automaker also reported results above market expectations. The increase made Ford one of the stronger stocks during a session dominated by broad losses.

    Procter and Gamble fell almost 3% after reporting weaker revenue than expected. The company also forecast slower sales growth for fiscal 2027. Seagate Technology gained after issuing quarterly revenue and profit forecasts above estimates. These moves created pockets of strength and weakness across the market.

    Investors now face three immediate events: the Fed decision setting policy direction for rates, Warsh’s comments shaping expectations for later meetings, and Big Tech earnings testing whether heavy AI spending has started producing stronger revenue.

  • SpaceX Leads MEXC RealStocks’ Debut Month with Nearly 30% of Trading Volume

    SpaceX Leads MEXC RealStocks’ Debut Month with Nearly 30% of Trading Volume

    MEXC, a leading zero-fee digital asset trading platform, has released the first-month trading insights for its newly launched RealStocks product. The feature allows eligible users to purchase real US stocks and ETFs through a licensed securities broker partner. Launched on June 1, 2026, RealStocks quickly showed distinct trading patterns, with one event-driven name—SpaceX (ticker: SPCX)—capturing massive consensus and AI-related interest spreading beyond the most obvious tickers.

    According to the data, SPCX accounted for 29.70% of June’s total trading volume and 29.06% of trading users, finishing far ahead of every other asset. The simultaneous rise in both metrics indicates that SpaceX attracted not just heavy volume from a narrow group of aggressive traders, but also broad participation from a wide user base placing modest orders—making it the firmest consensus holding of RealStocks’ opening month.

    Seven AI-related assets—AAOI, MU, NVDA, MRVL, DRAM, AVGO, and SNDK—together accounted for 23.67% of total trading volume. These names span GPU compute, memory and storage, data center networking, and optical communications, reflecting how investor interest traveled well beyond the single best-known compute name and followed data center demand into its supply chain—a pattern that echoes the wider AI capital rotation seen across markets in June.

    Three distinct trading structures emerged over the month:

    • Well-known large caps: AAPL, MSFT, INTC, and GOOGL drew broad participation and widened overall user coverage.
    • Core hot assets: SPCX, NVDA, MU, TSLA, SNDK, and MRVL combined wide participation with heavy activity.
    • Narrower industry-chain names: AAOI, DRAM, STRC, and AVGO reached the top 10 by volume without reaching the top 10 by users, meaning fewer traders each contributed more. MRVL exemplifies this split, drawing 2.12% of trading users but 3.15% of volume.

    Similar themes surfaced on both RealStocks and MEXC’s futures products: SPCX, MU, NVDA, SNDK, and MRVL ranked in the top 10 by volume for both. However, concentration diverged sharply. RealStocks’ top 10 assets made up 57.71% of volume versus roughly 84.94% for futures, leaving 42.29% of RealStocks volume spread across everything outside the leaderboard. AAOI, DRAM, TSLA, and AVGO placed high on RealStocks but ranked lower on futures, and STRC has no corresponding futures product.

    “Futures follow the news cycle. RealStocks showed conviction as a portfolio product,” said Vugar Usi, CEO of MEXC. “More than 40% of first-month volume sat outside the top ten names. That is portfolio building, not headline trading. Our users finally got real access to this market and they used it like investors.”

    RealStocks supports USDT funding, charges 0 trading fees, and delivers the ownership rights attached to real shares—including eligible dividend distributions. The product is supported by Atomic Vaults Securities (AVS), a FINRA-registered broker-dealer, providing access to real U.S. equities through regulated securities infrastructure. Over 120,000 users signed up during the first month; more than half of those new accounts went on to make a first deposit. As of July 27, 2026, RealStocks had settled dividends for 154 stocks and ETFs.

    Alongside RealStocks, MEXC offers more than 260 stock and index futures products, tokenized US equities, and a Pre-IPO Launchpad—covering derivatives, on-chain exposure, and early-stage opportunities within a single account.

  • 7 High-Growth US Tech Stocks to Watch in 2026: Key Drivers and Risks

    7 High-Growth US Tech Stocks to Watch in 2026: Key Drivers and Risks

    The US technology sector continues to be shaped by artificial intelligence, cloud software, and semiconductor innovation. Companies delivering consistent revenue and earnings growth remain in focus. These high-growth tech stocks stand out for their strong business momentum and long-term potential.

    Overview

    Seven US tech companies posted verified double- or triple-digit revenue growth in their most recent 2026 quarterly reports. Each stock carries a distinct growth driver, from AI infrastructure demand to NAND storage contracts, rather than a repeated AI narrative. Every pick comes with a specific, company-disclosed risk factor investors should track before buying.

    Revenue separates market leaders from market stories. The strongest US tech companies are proving their growth through earnings rather than expectations. From AI infrastructure to cybersecurity and digital commerce, these seven stocks are backed by measurable performance instead of market hype.

    NVIDIA Stock: Why it Remains a Top High-Growth AI Stock in 2026

    NVIDIA posted first-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue of $81.6 billion, up 85% year over year, with data center revenue up 92%. The Blackwell ramp is still driving that growth, and the Rubin platform is set to contribute revenue for the first time next quarter. The clearest risk sits in the guidance itself: NVIDIA is assuming zero data center compute revenue from China going forward, a quantified exposure rather than a vague valuation concern.

    Palantir Stock: Enterprise AI Growth Makes it a Top Tech Stock in 2026

    Palantir grew revenue 85% year over year in Q1 2026, its fastest pace since 2020, with US commercial revenue up 133%. The company raised its full-year guidance to 71% growth and reported a Rule of 40 score of 145. Operating expenses rose 32% in the same quarter, so any slowdown in commercial deal velocity would hit margins faster than revenue could offset it.

    Shopify Stock: Commerce Growth and AI Innovation Drive 2026 Performance

    Shopify crossed $100 billion in quarterly GMV for the second straight quarter, with revenue up 34%. The Universal Commerce Protocol, now backed by Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Stripe, is the structural story here. Investors should still note that the stock fell 8.7% on the print itself, as rising transaction losses and a price-to-earnings ratio near 135 offset the headline growth.

    Zscaler Stock: Cybersecurity Growth Powered by AI Demand

    Zscaler grew revenue 25% and ARR 25% in its third fiscal quarter, positioning itself as the cybersecurity layer for AI agents. Strip out the Red Canary acquisition, and organic ARR growth drops to 21%, and the company’s own early guidance for fiscal 2027 points to a step down to 16 to 17% growth.

    HubSpot Stock: AI-Powered CRM Growth Supports Long-Term Potential

    HubSpot grew revenue 23% in Q1 2026, with total customers approaching 300,000 and active AI seat users up 90% year over year. The company’s push into agentic tools, including its new Customer, Prospecting, and Data Agents, is driving upmarket deal sizes higher, with deals above $120,000 in ARR up 64%. But pricing and go-to-market changes made in April slowed sales capacity, and management has already guided Q2 growth down to 18%. That is a declaration the company disclosed itself, not a market guess.

    SanDisk Stock: AI-Driven NAND Demand Fuels Revenue Growth

    Revenue more than tripled to $5.95 billion as AI workloads drove NAND demand, and the company locked in $42 billion of long-term supply contracts covering a third of its fiscal 2027 bit shipments. Management has flagged the risk directly: the variable-priced portions of those contracts could erode margins fast if NAND supply outpaces demand.

    Reddit Stock: Advertising and AI Data Licensing Drive Growth

    Reddit rounds out the list with a genuinely different growth driver. Revenue grew 69% in Q1 2026, its seventh straight quarter above 60% growth, powered by advertising revenue up 74% and a data licensing relationship with AI model builders built on more than 25 billion posts and comments. Active advertisers on the platform grew more than 75% year over year, and the company’s own automated campaign product, Reddit Max, is already showing measurable results for advertisers. The gap to watch: US daily active users sit at 53.5 million, approximately half of management’s own stated target of 100 million.

    What is Driving High-Growth US Tech Stocks in 2026?

    None of these seven stocks is growing for the same reason. NVIDIA and SanDisk are riding AI infrastructure demand from opposite ends of the supply chain. Palantir and HubSpot are monetizing AI inside enterprise software. Shopify is building a two-decade-old commerce network. Zscaler is selling security for a threat landscape that did not exist five years ago. Reddit is turning its content archive into a licensing asset.

    Final Thoughts

    Every stock on this list beat growth expectations this year, and every one of them also handed investors a specific reason to stay disciplined. The market has stopped rewarding growth on its own; it now waits to see whether a China exposure, a slowing organic ARR line, or a guided deceleration actually shows up in the next print. The companies that manage their own disclosed risk will separate from the ones that only manage the headline. Watch the risk column as closely as the growth column, because that is where the real verdict gets written.

  • MEXC Launches TradFi Gala: $1,000,000 USDT Prize Pool for Futures Traders

    MEXC Launches TradFi Gala: $1,000,000 USDT Prize Pool for Futures Traders

    Victoria, Seychelles, June 29, 2026 – MEXC, a leading 0-fee digital asset trading platform, has announced the launch of the TradFi Gala, a month-long Futures trading campaign running from June 26 to July 26, 2026 (UTC). With rising demand for AI infrastructure and high-bandwidth memory (HBM), trading activity in AI-related stocks has surged. MEXC’s May data showed Stock Futures volume up 105% month-over-month and MU (Micron) Futures volume skyrocketing 1,002%. The campaign combines zero-fee trading, exclusive new user rewards, and competitive events, offering a total reward pool of 1,000,000 USDT.

    TradFi Gala: Four Reward Opportunities for Traders

    The TradFi Gala features four events targeting both new and existing users:

    • 0-Fee Trading Fest: Zero trading fees on selected Futures pairs including MUUSDT, SKHYNIXUSDT, INTCUSDT, SNDKUSDT, and more.
    • Welcome Power Reward: New users who deposit at least $100 and hold it for 24 hours receive a $200 position airdrop and one chance to pull the Treasure Lever.
    • Treasure Lever Frenzy: Users earn pulls by completing trading tasks, competing for a share of 300,000 USDT, including a $20,000 SKHYNIX position airdrop grand prize.
    • TradFi Trading Rush: Three-tiered challenges distribute 650,000 USDT in Futures bonuses, with separate pools for new users and all participants based on trading volume.

    As AI and semiconductor stocks attract growing investor interest, MEXC continues to expand its TradFi product suite. Users can trade U.S. stocks like Intel, Micron, and SanDisk directly within a single account, benefiting from competitive fees, deep liquidity, and fast execution. The TradFi Gala reinforces MEXC’s commitment to “0 Fees” and “Infinite Opportunities.”

    For more details and to participate, visit the MEXC TradFi Gala page.

    About MEXC

    MEXC is the world’s fastest-growing cryptocurrency exchange, trusted by over 40 million users across 170+ markets. It offers industry-leading 0-fee trading and access to over 3,000 digital assets, along with tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, and precious metals.

    Risk Disclaimer: This content does not constitute investment advice. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile; investors should assess risks carefully before trading.

  • AI Stock Rout Lays Bare the Perils of Wall Street’s $270 Billion Leveraged Betting Machine

    AI Stock Rout Lays Bare the Perils of Wall Street’s $270 Billion Leveraged Betting Machine

    A sweeping sell-off in artificial intelligence stocks has pulled back the curtain on the sprawling world of leveraged investment products, exposing risks that now ripple through a $270 billion market. The downturn, which started with major US tech firms, quickly spread to Asian chipmakers, SpaceX-linked funds, and crypto-related assets, underscoring how interconnected and fragile these speculative vehicles have become.

    Leveraged AI Funds Intensify the Sell-Off

    Investors fled AI stocks this week amid mounting concerns over lofty valuations and surging infrastructure costs. Alphabet shares dropped about 7% in a single session, wiping out roughly $270 billion in market value. The NASDAQ Composite and semiconductor stocks also suffered heavy losses.

    The selling pressure soon crossed into Asia. Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and other chipmakers saw declines as investors reduced exposure. In South Korea, several popular funds offering two or three times the daily returns of major tech stocks lost more than 20% over the week.

    Leveraged ETFs, which use derivatives to magnify daily price movements, now hold over $270 billion globally—more than $200 billion in the US and over $45 billion in Asia. Their daily rebalancing can generate massive buy and sell orders, amplifying market moves. Barclays estimated that recent rebalancing by US leveraged ETFs reached several times its long-term average.

    “If there’s a general desire from unsophisticated retail investors for some attribute that does not actually make them better off, this strategy too will be made available to them.” — Samuel Hartzmark, behavioral finance professor at Boston College

    SpaceX Funds Highlight the Dangers of Concentrated Bets

    Funds tied to SpaceX offered another cautionary tale. After the rocket company’s public debut, leveraged SpaceX products attracted nearly $1 billion. Yet some bullish funds fell about 40% from their launch prices as the stock reversed course.

    These products let investors amplify their bets on SpaceX without buying the underlying shares directly. However, the company’s limited public float and expected index inclusion created technical pricing pressures independent of fundamentals.

    “There is a significant risk that smaller investors will end up feeling the pinch when the fundamentals reassert themselves.” — Christopher Getter, portfolio manager at Simplify Asset Management

    Benchmark indexes also weakened. The S&P 500 lost nearly 2%, while the NASDAQ 100 dropped more than 4%. Selling in big tech stocks further pressured funds tied to AI, semiconductors, and newly listed companies.

    Strategy’s Decline Spreads Pain to Crypto Markets

    The rout extended into crypto via Strategy, the company known for its massive Bitcoin holdings. Strategy has become the centerpiece of several products—leveraged ETFs, common shares, and preferred stock.

    Bullish and bearish leveraged ETFs linked to Strategy have lost more than 90% since their 2024 launches, after attracting billions from traders seeking amplified exposure. Strategy’s preferred shares also fell below their original values.

    The simultaneous decline showed how multiple products can converge on the same risky idea. Investors used different structures, but all depended on Bitcoin demand and Strategy’s ability to raise capital.

    “You get products like these that are marketed to meet perceived demand. There are many financial products out there that do not have a reason to exist, but they are sold.” — Ellen Hazen, F.L. Putnam Investment Management

    The products didn’t start the decline, but their structure supercharged trading activity as AI stocks, SpaceX shares, and crypto assets fell. James St. Aubin of Ocean Park Asset Management summed it up: “Anyone using leverage should understand they are playing with fire.”