As the Q1 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the processors and graphics chips industry, including Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) and its peers.

The biggest demand drivers for processors (CPUs) and graphics chips at the moment are secular trends related to 5G and Internet of Things, autonomous driving, and high performance computing in the data center space, specifically around AI and machine learning. Like all semiconductor companies, digital chip makers exhibit a degree of cyclicality, driven by supply and demand imbalances and exposure to PC and Smartphone product cycles.

The 9 processors and graphics chips stocks we track reported a very strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.9% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 4.2% above.

Luckily, processors and graphics chips stocks have performed well with share prices up 56.9% on average since the latest earnings results.

Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO)

Originally the semiconductor division of Hewlett Packard, Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) is a semiconductor conglomerate spanning wireless communications, networking, and data storage as well as infrastructure software focused on mainframes and cybersecurity.

Broadcom reported revenues of $22.19 billion, up 47.9% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with revenue guidance for next quarter beating analysts’ expectations but an increase in its inventory levels.

"Broadcom achieved record revenue, operating profit and free cash flow in Q2 driven by accelerating growth in AI semiconductor revenue and strong operating leverage. Q2 semiconductor revenue from AI of $10.8 billion grew 143% year-over-year, above our forecast, driven by increasing demand for custom AI accelerators and AI networking," said Hock Tan, President and CEO of

Even though it had a relatively good quarter, the market seems discontent with the results. The stock is down 18.1% since reporting and currently trades at $392.49.

Is now the time to buy Broadcom? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q1: Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ: LSCC)

A global leader in its category, Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ: LSCC) is a semiconductor designer specializing in customer-programmable chips that enhance CPU performance for intensive tasks such as machine learning.

Lattice Semiconductor reported revenues of $170.9 million, up 42.2% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 3.6%. The business had a stunning quarter with a significant improvement in its inventory levels and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 23.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $155.45.

Is now the time to buy Lattice Semiconductor? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Slowest Q1: Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM)

Having been at the forefront of developing the standards for cellular connectivity for over four decades, Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) is a leading innovator and a fabless manufacturer of wireless technology chips used in smartphones, autos and internet of things appliances.

Qualcomm reported revenues of $10.6 billion, down 2.2% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. It was a slower quarter as it posted revenue guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations and an increase in its inventory levels.

Qualcomm delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and weakest guidance update in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 41.5% since the results and currently trades at $220.70.

Read our full analysis of Qualcomm’s results here.

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC)

Inventor of the x86 processor that powered decades of technological innovation in PCs, data centers, and numerous other markets, Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a leading manufacturer of computer processors and graphics chips.

Intel reported revenues of $13.58 billion, up 7.2% year on year. This result surpassed analysts’ expectations by 9.6%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter as it also produced a beat of analysts’ EPS and operating income estimates.

Intel scored the biggest analyst estimate beat and highest guidance raise among its peers. The stock is up 108% since reporting and currently trades at $139.00.

Read our full, actionable report on Intel here, it’s free.

AMD (NASDAQ: AMD)

Founded in 1969 by a group of former Fairchild semiconductor executives led by Jerry Sanders, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) is one of the leading designers of computer processors and graphics chips used in PCs and data centers.

AMD reported revenues of $10.25 billion, up 37.8% year on year. This print beat analysts’ expectations by 3.6%. It was an exceptional quarter as it also recorded revenue guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is up 53.9% since reporting and currently trades at $546.80.

Read our full, actionable report on AMD here, it’s free.

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand-wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

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