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Semiconductor stocks remain the backbone of the AI and data center boom, even as geopolitics and uneven spending have tilted the group through recent cycles. Investors hunting durable exposure to chipmaking often focus on names that supply the factories, not just the chips.
One name now moving up that list is ASML (ASML). The company just received a major vote of confidence from Morgan Stanley, which not only raised its price target but also labeled ASML its Top Pick in European semiconductors. The call comes as demand strengthens across memory and logic, with new EUV tool cycles and DRAM transitions pointing to healthier margins heading into 2026.