IT Sector Experiences Remarkable Gains
The S&P information technology sector saw significant gains over the week, up 3.44%. It's even more remarkable considering that most S&P sectors ended the week in the red. The primary driver behind this surge was the semiconductor subsector, which achieved an even more impressive weekly performance of 5.00%.
Semiconductors Propel Sector Growth
NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) is a major contributor to the semiconductor subsector's success. On May 22nd, the company released its quarterly results, surpassing market expectations in revenue and earnings, which propelled its stock above the $1,000 mark. It climbed up to $1,064.69 and gained 15.16% for the week. The chip design group and AI superpower has also announced an upcoming 10-for-1 stock split set for June 10th. Stock splits increase the number of shares available in the market without altering the company's overall value. They can enhance trading volume and liquidity, making it easier for investors to buy and sell shares. Lower share prices after a split can also make the stock appear more affordable to small investors, potentially broadening the shareholder base. Finally, stock splits are often viewed as a positive signal, suggesting that the company is confident in its future prospects, which can boost investor sentiment.
Year-to-Date Milestones
The strong rebound of NVIDIA's stock this past week has pushed its annual performance beyond 115%! The company now accounts for more than 7% of the Nasdaq-100 portfolio and over half of the tech-heavy index's year-to-date performance of 12.72%.
Disparities in Tech-Focused Fund Performances
The substantial rise in NVIDIA's stock has resulted in highly varied performances among tech-focused ETFs, depending on the company's weight in their portfolios. Funds with significant allocations to NVIDIA have logically benefited the most. For instance, the Amundi MSCI Semiconductors ESG Screened UCITS ETF (EPA:CHIPM), with a 32.51% allocation to NVIDIA, recorded a stellar weekly performance of 7.39% and an impressive YTD performance of 47.77%. In contrast, funds with lower allocations to the chipmaker, such as the iShares MSCI World Information Technology Sector ESG UCITS ETF USD Inc (ETR:AYEW), which still holds a substantial 17.43% allocation, recorded a more modest weekly performance of 3.25% and a YTD performance of 19.12%.