Citi names Broadcom, Texas Instruments, and Applied Materials top chip picks

Investing.com -- As the semiconductor sector navigates a massive market rally, Wall Street is increasingly looking to separate the core secular winners from short-term cyclical plays. In a fresh assessment of the industry, Citigroup analyst Atif Malik reiterated that a recent pullback in the broader semiconductor group is entirely healthy.

To capitalize on this temporary pause, Malik maintained Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ: AVGO), Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ: TXN), and Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ: AMAT) as the firm's top buy-rated picks in the U.S. semiconductor space. These specific recommendations come as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index has surged 61% quarter-to-date, heavily outperforming the S&P 500's 13% gain.

The first top pick, Broadcom, sits at the center of critical data center demand, which accounts for 34% of total semiconductor demand. This segment continues to show exceptional strength due to the ongoing expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure and the emergence of server CPUs optimized for agentic applications.

In the analog space, Texas Instruments stands out as a defensive play against a shaky global macroeconomic backdrop. While broader industrial and automotive end markets face broader economic pressures, Malik highlighted that TI's specific order trends are tracking "above-seasonal" and "seasonal" benchmarks, respectively.

For investors looking to play the physical manufacturing side, Applied Materials represents Citi's top pick among semiconductor capital equipment makers. Capital equipment stocks saw their calendar year 2027 consensus earnings estimates rise 11% on average, driven substantially by a 13% upward revision for Applied Materials.

This selective positioning comes as the broader industry prepares for shifting dynamics and impending supply constraints over the next two years. Reports of Nvidia de-specing DRAM in its upcoming Vera Rubin platform, alongside supply commentary from Broadcom and Ciena, suggest investor focus is rapidly shifting to 2027 supply bottlenecks.

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