We recently compiled a list of the 12 Small-Cap Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where ACM Research Inc. (NASDAQ:ACMR) stands against the other small-cap semiconductor stocks.
According to Deloitte’s 2025 global semiconductor industry outlook, released on February 4, 2025, the semiconductor industry is set for a much better 2025, with projected sales reaching $697 billion, representing an 11.2% year-over-year growth. This projection suggests the industry is on track to achieve the widely accepted goal of $1 trillion in sales by 2030. Deloitte analysts also highlight that “average” chip stock performance over the past two years has been a “tale of two markets”: Companies involved in the generative AI chip market have outperformed, while those in automotive, computer, smartphone, and communications semiconductors have lagged.
This growth story aligns with the significant expansion the semiconductor industry has experienced over the past decade, largely driven by advancements in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. The entire supply chain, from lithography to equipment and packaging, has benefited from this surge, resulting in unprecedented demand for advanced semiconductors. While the majority of investments in these technologies have come from large-cap companies, small-cap companies are often leading the charge on the innovation front within the emerging technologies, and at the same time, offer diversification away from the crowded large-and-mega-cap stocks.
In November 2024, Francis Gannon, Co-chief Investment Officer at Royce Investment Partners, discussed his thesis on small-caps during an interview with Yahoo Finance. He noted that small-caps have been out of favor for an extended period, with the Russell 2000 reaching its peak three years ago and experiencing negative returns since then. Gannon believes the new Trump administration, reshoring efforts, leading innovation, and a favourable earnings season will significantly boost the small-cap companies, describing this shift as nothing short of a “revolution.”
In summary, semiconductors represent a long-term investment opportunity, with the small-cap segment garnering attention as a hot topic in recent months. Exciting return opportunities are anticipated in the coming years. With that, let’s explore the top 12 opportunities in the small-cap semiconductor space that we have identified for you.
Our Methodology
To identify the 12 small-cap semiconductor stocks to buy now, we screened U.S. listed semiconductor companies with a market capitalization between $300 million and $2 billion. The stocks were then arranged in ascending order of the number of hedge fund holders for each company, based on hedge fund data from Insider Monkey’s database as of Q3 2024.
Note: All pricing and market cap data is as of market close on February 7.
At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
Close-up of a worker wearing protective gear inspecting a silicon wafer in a laboratory.
ACM Research Inc. (NASDAQ:ACMR)
Market Capitalization: $1.4 billion
Number of Hedge Funds: 23
ACM Research Inc. (NASDAQ:ACMR) is a provider of advanced semiconductor equipment, specializing in wet processing technology and products for the semiconductor manufacturing industry. The company’s product portfolio includes equipment for critical processes such as cleaning, etching, and surface treatment, which are essential for producing high-performance chips.
On January 14, 2025, ACM Research Inc. (NASDAQ:ACMR) updated its 2024 guidance and provided an initial revenue outlook for 2025. The company raised its FY 2024 revenue guidance to a range of $755 million to $770 million, compared to the previous range of $725 million to $745 million provided with the Q3 2024 earnings results release. For 2025, it expects full-year revenue to be between $850 million and $950 million, implying a growth of around 25% year-over-year. Management believes that the impact of new U.S. component export restrictions on its tool production and supply chain in Shanghai is manageable. On the same day, Roth MKM analyst reiterated his Buy rating on ACM Research Inc. (NASDAQ:ACMR) and raised the price target to $25 from $20. The analyst was encouraged by the fact that the newly provided revenue growth guidance of +12%-25% YoY for 2025 indicates continued growth despite increased uncertainty from trade restrictions.
Overall ACMR ranks 4th on our list of the small-cap semiconductor stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of ACMR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ACMR but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and Complete List of 59 AI Companies Under $2 Billion in Market Cap.
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.