iShares Semiconductor ETF vs Western Digital Corp — how do they compare? iShares Semiconductor ETF trades at $527.09, while Western Digital Corp trades at $476.67 (market cap $173.88B). The key difference: Western Digital Corp pays a 0.12% dividend while iShares Semiconductor ETF pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| SOXX | WDC | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Sector/Thematic | Technology |
52-Week High | $655.01 | $746.23 |
52-Week Low | $253.45 | $95.03 |
Market Cap | — | $173.88B |
Enterprise Value | — | $173.35B |
Dividend Yield | — | 0.12% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
SOXX, the iShares Semiconductor ETF, trades at $528.40, up 1.64% on the day, reflecting strong momentum driven by AI infrastructure demand. The technical outlook is bullish, with moving averages supporting an uptrend and key resistance at $533. Recent news highlights surging power demand in South Korea linked to chipmaker expansions and AI data centers, underscoring sector growth catalysts. A 1:3 stock split is scheduled for November 2026, potentially enhancing accessibility.
The ETF's outlook remains positive, fueled by robust AI-driven semiconductor demand and institutional inflows, though risks include potential tariff hikes and market volatility. Analysts are broadly optimistic, citing diversified exposure to top performers like Nvidia and AMD. Investors should weigh near-term overcrowding risks against long-term structural growth in AI and memory markets.
Western Digital (WDC) trades at $477.30, up 2.1% on the day, reflecting strong momentum amid bullish technical signals and consistent earnings beats. The stock exhibits robust fundamentals with a net income margin of 71.97% and ROE of 131.02%, supported by positive cash flow trends. Recent news highlights AI-driven storage demand and institutional accumulation, such as CalSTRS increasing its stake by 64,424.3% in Q2 2026 (SEC filing, September 7, 2026).
Outlook remains favorable with a consensus price target of $676.70 (72% buy ratings), though risks include high valuation multiples and cyclical industry exposure. Earnings growth from AI data expansion is a key catalyst, but investor caution is warranted near all-time highs.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
SOXX provides investors with exposure to U.S. companies that design, manufacture, and distribute semiconductors. It tracks the ICE Semiconductor Index, offering a targeted investment in the technology sector's foundational components, including firms that produce chips, related equipment, and services. SOXX is a key vehicle for investors seeking to capitalize on trends in artificial intelligence, 5G, and other technologies that rely heavily on advanced semiconductor technology.
Read more on SOXX →Western Digital is a vertically integrated supplier of data storage solutions, spanning both hard disk drives and solid-state drives. In the HDD market it forms a practical duopoly with Seagate, and it is the largest global producer of NAND flash chips for SSDs in a joint venture with competitor Kioxia.
Read more on WDC →