Tech Selloff Deepens; Meta, AMD Announce Major AI Deals

A broad selloff hit semiconductor stocks as concerns mounted over increased competition from China and growing doubts about the sustainability of AI-related demand. Lam Research, Monolithic Power Systems, Marvell Technology ($MRVL), Micron, and onsemi shares all declined in the global market pullback.

Qualcomm ($QCOM) closed at $170.04, up 1.84% on the session, but remains 35% below its peak as the company approaches a crucial earnings report. The 41-year-old chipmaker has given back its entire first-half gain and faces hard questions from investors about its business trajectory.

Meta Platforms ($META) unveiled a $14 billion AI data center venture with BlackRock, marking one of the largest infrastructure deals in the sector. BlackRock-managed funds will own 80% of the planned El Paso facility, while $META retains 20% and will lease back the entire campus.

Advanced Micro Devices ($AMD) secured access to up to 2.5 gigawatts of AI data center capacity from Core Scientific, with more than 500 megawatts of U.S. capacity beginning in 2027. Despite the major infrastructure deal, $AMD stock fell during the session as broader semiconductor concerns weighed on the sector.

AI model revenue crossed $100 billion from zero just two years ago, though Wall Street analysts warned of a structural trap for thousands of companies building on top of the technology.

Datadog ($DDOG) shares reached $252.65 per share after surging 79.7% over the past six months, driven by solid quarterly results. The cloud monitoring platform's strong performance has investors contemplating their next move following the significant run-up.

Palantir Technologies ($PLTR) faces a crucial earnings report on August 3 that could make or break its current valuation level. The data analytics company also confronts challenges in Europe as France moved to replace $PLTR in national security and intelligence contracts with domestic software provider ChapsVision, part of a broader push for digital sovereignty.

Alphabet's ($GOOGL) Google DeepMind has dismantled the team behind its Nobel Prize-winning AlphaFold project as the company's AI strategy shifts toward its Gemini platform. The decision marks a significant strategic realignment for the search giant, which currently holds a market capitalization of $4.1 trillion.

Dell Technologies ($DELL) stock fell after an analyst warned of AI server margin concerns, raising questions about the sustainability of the AI server boom that has driven technology infrastructure spending.

The semiconductor sector faces a critical test as companies navigate concerns about Chinese competition and AI demand sustainability. Palantir's August 3 earnings report will provide key insights into enterprise AI adoption and valuation levels in the data analytics space.

Qualcomm's upcoming earnings report takes on heightened importance given the stock's 35% decline from peak levels. The company must address investor concerns about its competitive position and growth trajectory amid the broader semiconductor sector uncertainty.