AIQ ETF surges 34% YTD, driven by chipmakers and tech giants amid strong AI demand.

The Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (AIQ) has risen 34% year-to-date and 65% over the past 12 months, outperforming the S&P 500. This growth is fueled by strong earnings and capital expenditure from major AI-related companies like NVIDIA, Broadcom, and Alphabet, which are key holdings in the fund. AIQ's unique exposure to foreign chipmakers like Samsung and SK hynix adds differentiation from typical U.S. tech ETFs. Investors should watch NVIDIA's data center margins, hyperscaler CapEx guidance, and Broadcom's AI semiconductor growth as indicators of the fund's future performance, as high valuations mean earnings must continue to justify the price.