iShares Semiconductor ETF Surges 90% YTD Fueled by AI Chip Demand
SOXX•SOXX•SOXX•SOXX•iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) surged 90.03% year-to-date in H1 2026, driven by AI infrastructure chip demand and high-bandwidth memory expansion. Other chip ETFs FTXL and PSI returned +100.06% and +94.81% YTD, while energy and South Korea ETFs posted gains up to +760% and +122.90% respectively.
iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) recorded a 90.03% gain through H1 2026, placing it among the top semiconductor funds by return. Only FTXL (+100.06%) and PSI (+94.81%) outperformed SOXX, illustrating the sector’s exceptional rally.
The surge was powered by accelerating AI infrastructure buildout and expanding demand for high-bandwidth memory chips. Data center expansions and AI training workloads lifted sales for leading chip manufacturers, translating into strong ETF performance.
Beyond semiconductors, energy ETFs saw extreme volatility, with tanker shipping funds up +760% YTD after Middle East supply disruptions. South Korea equity ETFs also excelled—EWY climbed +122.90%—on HBM output from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
