One of the strongest corners of the market this year has been the semiconductors industry. Throughout the chip-making market, companies have successfully adapted to the changing needs of the consumer, including an increased demand for small, high-powered chips that enable “Internet of Things” (IoT) devices.
For those that don’t know, the Internet of Things is the growing world of interconnected household and industrial devices. Everyday products and machines can now be embedded with sensor technology to process data or interact with other electronic devices.
For example, consumer-level IoT products include things like Amazon.com, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AMZN) Echo “smart speaker,” wearable motion and activity tracking products, and advanced in-car technology.
On the commercial side of the IoT market, industrial manufacturers have begun implementing sensors into machines to track performance and efficiency.
(Also Read: How to Invest in the “Internet of Things”)
As demand for the microchips that power these IoT devices continues to grow, semiconductor manufacturers with a focus on IoT products will continue to benefit.
With that said, we’ve found three already-strong stocks that are looking to benefit even more from further Internet of Things growth.
STMicroelectronics NV (ADR) (STM)
STMicroelectronics NV (ADR) (NYSE:STM) is a French-Italian semiconductors company that develops circuits and discrete devices for use in microelectronic devices. The company specifically tailors its tiny, low-power technology for use in a wide range of Internet of Things products. It is shaping up to be a year of aggressive earnings growth for this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company; our current consensus estimates call for its EPS to spike over 340% this quarter and 170% this fiscal year. The stock is also sporting a “B” grade for Growth and an overall VGM grade of “B.”
Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (MRVL)
Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:MRVL) is a leading designer, developer and supplier of mixed-signal and digital signal processing integrated circuits. The company’s “EZ-Connect” platform is used by a variety of global customers in the home automation, wearables, automotive, and industrial industries.
After Marvell surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 25% in its most recent quarter, estimate revisions began pouring in for the company’s current-quarter and full-year earnings. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for Marvell’s full-year earnings calls for EPS growth of more than 118%. This has helped the stock gain a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which pairs well with its “A” grade for Momentum and overall VGM grade of “B.”
Microchip Technology Inc. (MCHP)
Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MCHP) is a manufacturer of micro controller, memory, and analog chips. The company is a leader in several IoT-related fields, including automotive and wireless connectivity. This is another Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock, and our current consensus estimates are calling for EPS growth of 26% and revenue growth of 12% this fiscal year. Shares are up over 30% year-to-date, but this stock could break even higher given the right catalyst, and it might have just that.
Indeed, on Monday the company upped its sales and EPS guidance for 1Q18, sending shares higher in after-hours trading.
The Bottom Line on the Internet of Things: Look to Semiconductor Plays
The Internet of Things is one of the most exciting emerging tech markets in the world. Home automation products are fun. In-car technology is cool.
And while these specific products are interesting, the real moneymakers in these situations are the companies that are building the tech that powers these products. The Internet of Things needs semiconductors to function, and as the IoT grows, so too will semiconductor companies.
The best way for investors to cash in on this growing trend is to identify semiconductor companies that are not only investing in the Internet of Things, but are also displaying solid fundamentals and impressive Zacks metrics.
Want more stock market analysis from this author? Make sure to follow @Ryan_McQueeney on Twitter!
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