AI chip stocks, Intel (INTC), Nvidia (NVDA), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Qualcomm (QCOM), are rising in the premarket trading on Wednesday. The surge came as investors grew more optimistic about AI demand and global trade sentiment. The sector also received a boost from expectations that President Donald Trump’s visit could help increase semiconductor sales in China, one of the industry’s biggest markets.
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Trade NVDA with leverageFor context, QCOM gained about 4%, while INTC, NVDA, and AMD were all up more than 2%. Meanwhile, memory-chip stocks Micron (MU) and SanDisk (SNDK) climbed around 6% and 5%, respectively.
Chip Stocks Gain on AI Demand
Chip stocks are moving higher as investors stay upbeat on rising AI demand. More spending on AI data centers, cloud tech, and AI tools is expected to increase demand for GPUs, memory chips, and other AI chips.
The sector is also gaining support from expectations for stronger global semiconductor sales and improving trade conditions, helping lift overall market sentiment. Notably, Trump is traveling to Beijing on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, alongside a large group of top U.S. business leaders. The delegation includes Jensen Huang from Nvidia, Sanjay Mehrotra from Micron, and Cristiano Amon from Qualcomm from the chip sector. Trump said trade talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping will be the main focus of the visit.
Investors believe the trip could help improve U.S.-China trade relations and potentially support semiconductor sales in China.
What Lies Ahead for Investors?
The outlook for chip investors remains tied to AI demand, trade conditions, and spending on data centers. However, risks remain. Semiconductor stocks have rallied sharply over the past year, leaving valuations elevated for many companies. Any slowdown in AI spending, weaker consumer demand, or renewed geopolitical tensions could increase volatility across the sector.
Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Global Wealth Management, said he remains bullish on the long-term AI investment trend as major technology companies continue to report “strong AI demand, accelerating cloud growth, and higher capex.”
Which Is the AI Best Chip Stock, According to Analysts?
Using TipRanks’ Stock Comparison Tool, we compared leading AI chip stocks to see which one offers the highest upside potential based on Wall Street analyst forecasts. Investors can dig deeper to decide which AI chip stock best fits their strategy. Below is a screenshot for reference.
Among these, NVDA stock has a Strong Buy rating and offers highest upside potential of 25%. In contrast INTC has a Hold rating with a downside risk of over 30%.
