
The semiconductor industry is experiencing a split, with edge computing, electronic design automation (EDA), and memory sectors outperforming hyperscaler hardware and merchant silicon. This shift is driven by capital expenditure caution and reduced market opportunities in China. Companies in edge networking, memory, and EDA software are positioned to benefit from growth in AI-driven traffic and margin improvements. Investors are advised to consider ETFs focused on edge computing and networking to avoid risks tied to large-cap hardware stocks, while monitoring GPU pricing, inference costs, foundry quality, and Chinese ASIC developments for sector insights.