Chip Stock Investor Podcast

Nicholas Rossolillo; Kasey Rossolillo
  • 4.6 (14)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

Semiconductors are the heart of the modern economy. These small devices that manipulate the flow of electricity run everything from our PCs and smartphones to our cars to manufacturing. The semiconductor industry is at an inflection point of renewed growth, powering new movements like generative AI and electric vehicles. The Chip Stock Investor Podcast explores how semiconductors work, and especially the business of chips. Follow Nicholas and Kasey to learn how chip technology has become the engine of the world, and how to invest in its growth.

  1. 1d ago

    IBM NanoStack CFET: Turning Patents Into Chip Royalties

    IBM just unveiled NanoStack, its take on the CFET transistor architecture that succeeds gate-all-around as the next step in chip scaling — and it could turn IBM's patent portfolio into a real semiconductor royalty business. IBM claims NanoStack delivers up to a 50% jump in compute performance or a 70% gain in energy efficiency versus its 2021 two-nanometer IP. IBM sold its chip manufacturing business to GlobalFoundries back in 2015, yet it still holds one of the largest patent portfolios in the industry, and IP licensing and custom development income made up nearly 10% of IBM's GAAP net income in 2025. We break down IBM's 2025 revenue, R&D spend, and licensing income, then identify who benefits most across the supply chain, including ASML, Lam Research, Tokyo Electron, and Screen Holdings as advanced lithography, etch, deposition, and wafer-cleaning suppliers to Rapidus, the Japanese foundry startup aiming to ramp production by 2027. This is part of our ongoing coverage of the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain and the next 15 years of chip advancement. Full research is available for members at Semiconductor Insider — join at chipstockinvestor.com. Get 15% off your membership with our link: fiscal.ai/csi Content in this video is for general information or entertainment only and is not specific or individual investment advice. Forecasts and information presented may not develop as predicted and there is no guarantee any strategies presented will be successful. All investing involves risk, and you could lose some or all of your principal.

    15 min

  2. 4d ago

    Jensen Called Marvell a $1T Stock — We're Not Buying It

    Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL) stock has surged since Jensen Huang called it the next trillion-dollar company — we ran a reverse DCF on the Q1 FY2027 earnings to see if the rally is justified. Marvell just posted record Q1 fiscal 2027 results, with revenue up 28% year-over-year to $2.4 billion and guidance pointing to 35% growth next quarter. As a fabless chip designer and IP licenser, Marvell is riding two major tailwinds: hyperscaler demand for custom AI chips (ASICs and XPUs) and networking systems that interconnect GPUs across data centers, including a growing partnership with NVIDIA via NVLink. We break down the earnings report, the CFO transition to Dan Durn (formerly of Adobe and Applied Materials), the balance sheet impact of the Celestial AI acquisition, and rising share dilution from recent deals. Then we run a reverse discounted cash flow analysis on Marvell at its current price to determine what growth rate is already priced in, and whether the semiconductor cycle and AI infrastructure buildout can realistically support it. If you're weighing whether Marvell is still a buy after this rally, or looking for better value elsewhere in the semiconductor supply chain, this one's for you. Semi Insider members get access to our full research platform and tools, plus deeper research as it happens. Join at chipstockinvestor.com. Get 15% off your Fiscal.ai membership with our link: fiscal.ai/csi Content in this video is for general information or entertainment only and is not specific or individual investment advice. Forecasts and information presented may not develop as predicted and there is no guarantee any strategies presented will be successful. All investing involves risk, and you could lose some or all of your principal.CSI doesn't own shares of Marvell.

    12 min

  3. Jul 4

    Memory & Optical Stocks Up 100%+ in 2026: Why We're Not Selling (Micron, SK Hynix, SanDisk, Lumentum)

    Memory and optical semiconductor stocks have been the standout trade of 2026, with holdings like Micron, SK Hynix, and SanDisk up well over 100% year-to-date on tight supply and rising pricing. In this mid-year portfolio review, we break down six months of real performance across our memory holdings (Micron, SK Hynix, SanDisk, Western Digital, Seagate, NVE Corp, GSI Technology) and optical networking positions (Lumentum, Coherent, Applied Optoelectronics, Broadcom, Viavi Networks), explain why we're maintaining our allocation despite outsized gains, and walk through the risk management conversation every investor should be having right now. We also dig into the looming supply-side risk from CXMT's IPO in China, how the "Fab Five" equipment makers (ASML, Applied Materials, Lam Research, Tokyo Electron, KLA) and Chinese players like ACM Research fit into the memory cycle, and why Lumentum and Coherent remain our top optical picks for the second half of 2026, backed by NVIDIA's direct investment in both companies. This is a research-backed, data-driven portfolio update built for long-term fundamental semiconductor investors — not stock picking hype. Join Semi Insider for full access to our research platform and tools at https://chipstockinvestor.com. Get 15% off your membership with our data partner Fiscal.ai: https://fiscal.ai/csi. Content is for general information and entertainment only and is not investment advice. CSI owns shares of the companies discussed.

    11 min

  4. Jul 2

    Cybersecurity & Capital Allocation: Is Rubrik (RBRK) a Buy?

    Rubrik (RBRK) stock is down near $70 after peaking above $89 — but its subscription ARR is still growing over 30%. Here's the reverse DCF and margin math behind why the recovery has stalled. Rubrik (NYSE: RBRK) is one of the smaller names in the cybersecurity sector, operating in the data storage and backup security niche — a category distinct from network security players like Palo Alto Networks and Fortinet, or endpoint security leaders like CrowdStrike. In this excerpt from our Semiconductor Insider Live session, Nick and Kasey Rossolillo break down why Rubrik has lagged the broader cybersecurity recovery even as subscription ARR growth stays above 30% and reported revenue grows nearly 40% year-over-year. We dig into the free cash flow story to explain why it has stalled sequentially even as it grows year-over-year. We also explore what that margin compression means for a smaller, AI-infrastructure-dependent company, and how Rubrik's balance sheet ($1.7B cash vs. $1.1B long-term debt) holds up. Finally, we run a reverse discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis to see what growth assumptions are baked into the current stock price and discuss how small and mid-cap software stocks fit into a diversified, long-term portfolio strategy. This is educational content for self-directed investors evaluating semiconductor-adjacent software and cybersecurity plays in 2026. Join Semi Insider: Get access to CSI's research platform, tools, and deeper research as it happens at chipstockinvestor.com Special Discount: Get 15% off your membership with our special link: fiscal.ai/csi Related Episode: We called this back in June — Listen/Watch here If you found this episode useful, please make sure to follow the podcast and leave us a rating! Let us know in the Spotify Q&A below: Do you think Rubrik's margin compression is temporary, or a longer-term concern? Content in this podcast is for general information or entertainment only and is not specific or individual investment advice. Forecasts and information presented may not develop as predicted and there is no guarantee any strategies presented will be successful. All investing involves risk, and you could lose some or all of your principal. CSI owns shares of Rubrik.

    11 min

  5. Jun 30

    Micron's $100 Billion Backlog: Are Take-or-Pay Agreements Changing the Memory Cycle?

    The memory chip industry has historically been plagued by vicious boom-and-bust cycles, but Micron is taking aggressive steps to rewrite the rules. In this episode of Chip Stock Investor, we discuss Strategic Customer Agreements (SCAs). We break down the "take-or-pay" contracts, explaining how they protect Micron from the sudden order cancellations and double-booking panics that burned the industry in 2022 and 2023. With competitors like Samsung and SK hynix also completely sold out of capacity, Micron is actively leveraging its position to lock in upfront cash deposits and secure its long-term financial runway. The Take-or-Pay Mechanism: How Micron's new agreements force customers to either take delivery of the product or pay a pre-agreed minimum cancellation charge to protect Micron's bottom line. A $100 Billion Backlog: Exploring the massive pipeline generated by these SCAs, which are expected to make up about 40% of Micron's total revenue over the next five years. Locked-In Terms: A detailed look at the five-year contracts for hyperscalers (running from calendar 2026 through 2030) and three-year contract terms for automotive customers. Pricing Safeguards: How these contracts are structured using floor prices, ceiling prices for existing products, and fixed rates to stabilize revenue against market volatility. $22 Billion in Upfront Cash: Why tech giants and hyperscalers are depositing billions directly onto Micron's balance sheet to guarantee their spot in line for memory chips. The Albemarle Blueprint: What Albemarle's long-term lithium contracts can teach us about how Micron's SCAs might help them weather future oversupply environments and market downcycles. Resources Mentioned:For a growing library of tools for your analysis of semiconductor companies, visit chipstockinvestor.com. Don't forget to hit follow on Spotify so you never miss an episode!

    17 min

  6. Jun 27

    AppLovin Stock: Is It Time to Buy the Dip?

    AppLovin stock posted 59% revenue growth and a 70% free cash flow margin in Q1 2026—numbers that look more like cheat codes than a real business. We break down what makes the Axon 2.0 machine learning ad engine so efficient, why AppLovin can scale without a traditional sales force, and how targeted digital advertising has become the clearest ROI story in AI so far. We also walk through management's 10-year growth roadmap—from mobile gaming to consumer, e-commerce, and connected TV—and what has to be true for AppLovin to reach $70 billion in annual revenue. Then we run both a five-year and ten-year reverse DCF to show exactly what growth rate is already baked into the current stock price, and whether buying the dip today makes sense for long-term investors. Plus, how they're deploying $1.3 billion in quarterly free cash flow, including nearly $1 billion in share buybacks in Q1 alone. Want real-time portfolio access and deeper coverage on high-growth software and semiconductor stocks? Join Semi Insider at chipstockinvestor.com. Run your own AppLovin research with AI-powered financial tools at fiscal.ai/csi — 15% off any paid plan. Content in this video is for general information or entertainment only and is not specific or individual investment advice. Forecasts and information presented may not develop as predicted and there is no guarantee any strategies presented will be successful. All investing involves risk, and you could lose some or all of your principal.CSI owns shares of AppLovin.

    13 min

  7. Jun 25

    AI Data Center Supply Chains & Indium Phosphide: A Look at Oxford Instruments

    In this episode, CSI is cutting through the social media noise to bring you a vintage Chip Stock Investor breakdown of the semiconductor supply chain. Today, we are putting the spotlight on Oxford Instruments, a small-cap UK company that might be a critical bottleneck in the AI data center networking boom. We explore how the industry is scaling up production for compound semiconductors and specifically look at Coherent's breakthrough with six-inch indium phosphide (InP) wafers. From there, we map out the players making this transition possible and detail why Oxford Instruments' plasma deposition and etch systems are moving out of the R&D lab and onto the commercial manufacturing floor. Episode Chapters & Key Takeaways: The Indium Phosphide Breakthrough: The industry has long been stuck at two- to four-inch wafers due to manufacturing defects, but Coherent has successfully transitioned to six-inch InP wafers. Mapping the Supply Chain: A breakdown of the companies involved in this ecosystem, including Sumitomo Electric for substrates, KLA Corp and Onto Innovation for inspection, and Applied Materials for deposition. Oxford Instruments' Critical Role: Oxford Instruments supplies the plasma deposition and etch technology used by Coherent to create features like laser sources and waveguides. A Shift to Commercial Scale: Historically an R&D business spun out of Oxford University, the company is now seeing its advanced technologies group transition into early-stage commercial production. Strategic Divestitures: Oxford Instruments recently sold its quantum computing and cryogenics segment to Quantum Design to focus heavily on AI data centers and compound semiconductors. Financials & Valuation: Despite recent headwinds like tariffs and US R&D funding delays, the company holds a clean balance sheet and is expecting a return to growth in fiscal 2027. Special thanks to our sponsor, fiscal.ai! Get 15% off any paid plan using our special link: fiscal.ai/csi. Content in this video is for general information or entertainment only and is not specific or individual investment advice. Forecasts and information presented may not develop as predicted and there is no guarantee any strategies presented will be successful. All investing involves risk, and you could lose some or all of your principal.CSI doesn't own shares of Oxford Instruments.

    15 min

  8. Jun 24

    SpaceX IPO, Orbital Data Centers & Investing in Quantum Computing | CSI with Simon Erickson of 7investing

    In this episode of CSI Live, Nick sits down with Simon Erickson from 7investing to unpack the latest breakthroughs in high-tech infrastructure. The conversation kicks off with a look at the massive SpaceX IPO and the ambitious potential for building orbital data centers. From there, the discussion shifts to the primary focus: the rapidly evolving world of quantum computing. Simon breaks down how quantum mechanics could solve incredibly complex problems simultaneously, highlighting the projected $1.3 trillion to $2.7 trillion in economic value the industry could deliver by 2035. The episode covers specific pure-play quantum companies, including IonQ's commercial revenue lead and recent SkyWater acquisition, Infleqtion's neutral atom technology, and Quantinuum's full-stack approach under the Honeywell umbrella. Finally, they detail practical portfolio allocation strategies for early-stage tech and explore the looming national security concerns that could heavily regulate the sector. Check out Semi Insider at chipstockinvestor.com Content in this video is for general information or entertainment only and is not specific or individual investment advice. Forecasts and information presented may not develop as predicted and there is no guarantee any strategies presented will be successful. All investing involves risk, and you could lose some or all of your principal.CSI owns shares of Honeywell and Quantinuum.

    32 min
See All (459)

4.6
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Semiconductors are the heart of the modern economy. These small devices that manipulate the flow of electricity run everything from our PCs and smartphones to our cars to manufacturing. The semiconductor industry is at an inflection point of renewed growth, powering new movements like generative AI and electric vehicles. The Chip Stock Investor Podcast explores how semiconductors work, and especially the business of chips. Follow Nicholas and Kasey to learn how chip technology has become the engine of the world, and how to invest in its growth.

Information

  • Creator
    Nicholas Rossolillo; Kasey Rossolillo
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    459
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Nicholas Rossolillo; Kasey Rossolillo
  • Show Website
    Chip Stock Investor Podcast

You Might Also Like