BREAKING: The semiconductor ETF, $SOXX, is underperforming the Nasdaq 100 ETF, $QQQ, by -12.3 percentage points so far in Q3 2026, on track for its largest quarterly underperformance since Q3 2002. The gap is even wider than the -11.6 percentage-point underperformance recorded i
Why now
Thesis: Semiconductor leadership is breaking down
Catalyst to watch: Earnings or AI capex updates
Main risk: Underperformance may reverse on earnings
Why it matters
Semis underperforming the Nasdaq by the widest margin since 2002 signals rotation away from the AI-chip trade.
Details
BREAKING: The semiconductor ETF, $SOXX, is underperforming the Nasdaq 100 ETF, $QQQ, by -12.3 percentage points so far in Q3 2026, on track for its largest quarterly underperformance since Q3 2002. The gap is even wider than the -11.6 percentage-point underperformance recorded in Q4 2007, during the Financial Crisis. This comes as $SOXX is down -11.7% so far in Q3, while $QQQ is up +0.6%. The current pullback follows +67.4 percentage points of outperformance in Q2 2026, the largest on record, and the 5th consecutive quarter of outperformance. Year-to-date, $SOXX is still up +88%, well above $QQQ's +21% gain. Semiconductor stocks are taking a breather after a historic run.
Related assets & topics
iShares Semiconductor ETF · SOXXNasdaq 100 ETF · QQQNasdaq Composite · ^IXICSemiconductors ETF · SMHSemiconductorsNVIDIA · NVDASources
- x · 2026-09-25 17:04 UTC