Smartphone Chip Stocks Rally Amid Broader Tech Slump
On September 15, 2026, smartphone chip stocks experienced a significant rally despite no new company-specific news. Skyworks Solutions (NASDAQ:SWKS) surged by 11%, Qorvo (NASDAQ:QRVO) rose by 7%, and Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) climbed by 4%. The gains were attributed to expectations around their pending merger, $2 billion buyback program, and anticipated synergies. In contrast, the broader semiconductor ETF SOXX gained only 0.5% while QQQ fell slightly. The rally was narrowly focused on radio frequency (RF) front-end components rather than AI-driven tech stocks. Skyworks has already risen by 41% year to date, raising concerns about potential reversals if AI-linked sectors gain traction again. The performance highlights a shift in investor focus toward handset chip names amid strong demand and lean channel inventories. Skyworks' CEO Phil Brace noted healthy demand during the July call, while Qorvo's fiscal first-quarter results exceeded expectations with High Performance Analog revenue up 50% year over year. Qualcomm also reported robust growth in its automotive segment.
Tickers: $QCOM $QQQ $QRVO $SOXX $SWKS
Topics: rf_components semiconductors stock_prices