Skip to navigationSkip to main contentSkip to right columnADVERTISEMENTStefon Walters, The Motley FoolThu, June 25, 2026 at 2:55 PM GMT+2 5 min readAny time an ETF can double in value in a handful of years, it's an impressive feat. Based on the Rule of 72, it would take an investment 7.2 years to double in value if it averaged 10% annual returns.Any time an exchange-traded fund (ETF) can double in value in half a year, it's on a generational run. That's been the case so far this year with the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: SOXX). Through market close on June 22, SOXX is up 108%, 12 times higher than the S&P 500's returns in that time.Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »Considering SOXX's huge run-up this year, is it still a buy, or have investors missed the boat? Let's take a look.Image source: Getty Images.Why have chip stocks received so much attention?Semiconductors (chips) are the invisible heroes of the tech world. You might not see them, but any time you're using an electronic device -- whether it's a smartphone, laptop, tablet, TV, or car infotainment system -- you're indirectly interacting with chips.Chips have always been important in the tech world, but semiconductor stocks have recently become some of the most sought-after stocks because they are crucial to the AI ecosystem. Without them, there wouldn't be an AI ecosystem.Semiconductor businesses have seen unprecedented demand, and, in true stock market fashion, where there's a lot of money being made (or to be made), investor interest increases.What you're getting when you invest in SOXXSOXX contains 30 of the world's most valuable and important semiconductor companies, but most of its influence comes from its top holdings, which account for just over 59% of the ETF:Micron: 8.39%Advanced Micro Devices (AMD): 7.48%Nvidia: 7.17%Broadcom: 6.61%Intel: 6.07%Marvell Technology: 5.44%Applied Materials: 4.92%KLA: 4.85%Lam Research: 4.39%Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC): 4.12%Investing in SOXX lets you instantly capture the entire semiconductor supply chain with a single investment. It has pure-play chip designers such as Nvidia, AMD, Broadcom, Qualcomm, and Marvell; hybrid manufacturers such as Micron and Intel; equipment makers such as Applied Materials, KLA, and Lam Research; and the go-to chip foundry, TSMC.It's a one-stop shop for a niche, yet critical, piece of the semiconductor value chain.How SOXX has historically performed against the marketTerms and Privacy PolicyEU DSA contactPrivacy & Cookie SettingsMore Info