AI spending is boosting chipmakers' cash flows before Big Tech sees returns, keeping semiconductor ETFs like SMH, XLK and DRAM in focus.
Magnificent 7 stocks have retreated sharply this year and erased over $2.3 trillion in value. The closely-watched Roundhill Magnificent 7 ETF (MAGS) dropped to $60.80 from the year-to-date high of $71.17.
Hyperscaler stocks like Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Google now trade at compressed valuations, with AI infrastructure costs, particularly in memory, rising. The good news is that AI revenue for hyperscalers is beginning to outpace CapEx depreciation, which should narrow the gap between free cash flow and CapEx in the coming years. AMZN and META offer the most compelling risk-reward, supported by robust forward revenue and margin expansion potential that are currently not priced in.
The Magnificent Seven stocks are among the most popular names for covered call investors.
The Magnificent Seven stocks have become popular covered call candidates for a few reasons.
If you own an ETF tracking the S&P 500 or the Nasdaq-100, the Magnificent Seven are unavoidable.
The Defiance Large Cap ex-Mag 7 ETF (NASDAQ:XMAG) and the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (NASDAQ:MAGS) are photographic negatives of one another.
Roundhill Magnificent Seven Covered Call ETF (MAGY) is a covered call ETF that primarily holds MAGS while writing short-term call options on the underlying ETF. The fund distributes payouts weekly. MAGY underperformed its core holding MAGS over the past year, with fund's option-writing book generating net losses during FY25, while investors additionally incurring additional expense drags. A large portion of FY25 distributions came through return of capital, raising concerns regarding NAV sustainability and distribution quality, while also undermining income predictability.
Stocks are aloft—and on the climb.
Tech earnings strength and rising estimates signal resilience, making tech ETFs attractive despite weak sentiment and geopolitical concerns.
The S&P 500 is down nearly 3% year-to-date, yet three widely held tech ETFs are quietly telling a different story.
The Mag Seven ETF is lagging behind small-caps and equal-weight tech. It would be a mistake, though, to count out tech's heavyweights.