Summary · why it matters
Advanced Micro Devices fell 5% and Intel dropped 4% Friday morning before recovering somewhat, leading a selloff across semiconductor stocks as investors questioned returns on heavy AI infrastructure spending. NVIDIA slid 3% and Broadcom slipped 2%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF lost 3% in early trading. The rotation reflects a positioning-driven unwind hitting the most crowded corners of the AI trade, with no company-specific catalyst behind the drops. Global semiconductor stocks have shed $3.3 trillion in market value since June 22, and Taiwan Semiconductor's higher-than-expected capex guidance is feeding worries about margin compression across the supply chain. AMD's price-to-earnings ratio of 162.77x leaves little cushion if AI capex expectations slip, making its triple-digit year-to-date run a prime target in any risk-off tape.