Sep 22, 2026 · 22 min
Chip stocks lift Nasdaq as investors weigh broader market strength
Chips Send Nasdaq To New Highs; Micron, Shopify, Biogen In Focus
The session shows how semiconductor leadership can drive indexes higher while diversification and technical discipline remain essential.
- 1Semiconductor strength pushed the Nasdaq to new highs, but performance across major indexes remained mixed.
- 2Micron, Shopify, and Biogen offered distinct technical setups shaped by breakouts, AI sentiment, and uneven fundamentals.
- 3Justin Nielsen’s 29-year IBD anniversary connects the episode’s market analysis to a long-running investing education career.
Don't miss
Justin Nielsen reflects on his 29th anniversary at IBD and how studying William J. O’Neil’s book helped turn his career into a form of teaching.
The brief
Alissa Coram and Justin Nielsen open with a mixed market session: chip stocks lifted the Nasdaq to a new high, while the S&P 500, Dow, and Russell 2000 showed less uniform strength.
The hosts argue that continued leadership from semiconductors and memory stocks would support the rally, making the broader chip sector an important market signal.
Micron cleared a key trading range ahead of earnings, while Shopify’s sharp advance reflected AI-agent developments and Biogen reclaimed resistance despite uneven fundamentals.
The three setups illustrate different forms of technical strength—and why investors may need diversification beyond concentrated AI and chip holdings.
Justin Nielsen marks 29 years at IBD, tracing a path from customer service to investing education after learning from William J. O’Neil’s book.
What was said on this episode
17 statements · 13 positive · 2 negative · 1 mixed · 1 neutral
Investors should respond to current market strength.
“you have to kind of lean into that strength.”
Listen at 2:10
The current market shows substantial strength.
“And right now, there's a lot of strength.”
Listen at 2:33
DRAM ETF momentum may persist after breaking resistance.
“we don't know yet if it will stick, but we're seeing momentum here, no doubt.”
Listen at 5:50
The NeoCloud ETF currently appears promising.
“Looking very promising”
Listen at 5:56
ARKK is leading the market toward new highs.
“RK certainly leading the market out into new high ground.”
Listen at 7:15
Micron has shown strong fundamentals with accelerating quarterly performance.
“not only have we been focused on the incredible fundamental strength that we've seen, the acceleration quarter after quarter”
Listen at 7:41
Micron has produced a powerful technical breakout.
“But no doubt a powerful breakout today within this space.”
Listen at 8:18
Micron will report earnings in eight days.
“earnings are coming out in eight days.”
Listen at 8:30
Previous cycle leaders may regain market leadership.
“I wouldn't be surprised if we do get some of that back to the old leaders.”
Listen at 10:55
Micron’s earnings growth is keeping its forward valuation low.
“it's still the earnings are moving so much faster and keeping this, you know, forward valuation very low.”
Listen at 13:18
Shopify’s Meta partnership is shifting sentiment toward software benefiting from AI agents.
“I think it's really kind of shifting the narrative here for a lot of the worries about software going away to... hey, how can they work with these AI agents? How can they maybe even benefit from some of these AI agents?”
Listen at 15:16
The AI-agent partnership has improved Shopify’s valuation.
“I think that's where the valuation has really shifted on Shopify.”
Listen at 15:30
Companies partnering with AI agents are likely to merit investor attention.
“those that are... doing these partnerships, I think are going to be the ones to watch.”
Listen at 16:13
Biogen’s chart remains potentially actionable after reclaiming its buy point.
“the chart's not broken, I'm going to say this is still potentially actionable.”
Listen at 17:27
Biogen is among the stronger individual medical stocks and is actionable.
“I think Biogen is right up there in terms of that, you know, retaking that buy point to me does make it actionable.”
Listen at 18:52
Portfolios concentrated in chips, AI, and data centers can be overly exposed to AI.
“you can be a little bit too exposed to AI.”
Listen at 19:40
Negative AI headlines can cause AI-related stocks to fall simultaneously.
“you're going to get a lot of those stocks, you know, getting hit at the same time when you have headlines like that.”
Listen at 20:01
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
Books & mentions
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