As a whole, large-cap semiconductor stocks performed impressively in 2025. The performance of the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: SOXX) demonstrates this. This ETF tracks the performance of a basket of U.S.-listed large-cap chip stocks. Overall, SOXX delivered a total return of just under 41% last year, more than double the S&P 500’s 18% return.
However, the semiconductor industry exists within a large global supply chain. Companies from Europe to Asia to the Middle East provide important goods and services that support the industry, making chip stocks in those regions worth investors' attention.
