Retail investors went all-in on semiconductors last month. According to eToro data, retail buy volume on the platform’s US arm in May 2026 surpassed every other month this year, with chip stocks driving the bulk of activity.
The PHLX Semiconductor Index posted a combined gain of roughly 69.1% across April and May. Micron’s stock surged 187.4% during that same window. Sandisk climbed 166.8%.
The names retail traders are chasing
The most purchased semiconductor stocks on eToro included Nvidia, Micron, Sandisk, Intel, and AMD.
Bret Kenwell, an investment analyst at eToro, described the current environment as a “heyday for retail investors.” But he paired that observation with a warning about what happens when momentum fades.
