19 January 2026
The global semiconductor industry remains strong – arguably the most robust we have seen in over three decades. This strength is supported by cutting-edge innovation, rising revenues and robust capital spending. While risks remain, the outlook for 2026 appears constructive, with demand for artificial intelligence (AI) applications showing few signs of slowing. Beyond AI, the non-AI markets could be poised for positive revisions as cyclical recovery gains traction after several years of consolidation.
The semiconductor market is valued at over US$500 billion1 and is projected to surpass US$1 trillion by 20302. Growth is being fuelled primarily by AI, especially in data centres, alongside accelerating demand from automotive and industrial sectors. Regionally, the focus is on Asia Pacific, which has the largest market share.
While fluid as more companies update their plans, capital expenditure among major data-centre hyperscalers is forecast to rise 30% in 2026 and 15% in 20273, supported by strong free cash flow generation, healthy earnings and favourable returns on investment (ROI). This trend suggests continued momentum for the industry.
The PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index (SOX) experienced sharp declines in April 2025 following tariff-related uncertainty, but the recovery was swift. Historically, when the SOX bottoms, it has outperformed the S&P 500 over one- and two-year periods – a pattern worth noting for long-term investors4.
Current “weather outlook” for semiconductors and AI-related industries
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For illustrative purposes only.
AI-driven demand is broad-based and shows little sign of slowing, even as we stay mindful of risks such as supply-chain constraints and evolving regulations.
We also continue to see multi-year tailwinds for AI beneficiaries outside of the semiconductor space. Within advertising, AI is being leveraged to expand monetization and create more efficient campaigns. Hyperscale companies report record backlogs as enterprises sign larger and longer deals to support internal AI efforts. Consumer applications like ChatGPT and Gemini should continue to see more usage, while enterprise use-cases should help to push ROI even higher in 2026 and beyond. More broadly, AI is expected to drive an explosion of data over the next decade, driving demand for solutions to manage data in a secure way. Overall, we see increasing opportunities for AI beneficiaries as the technology proliferates further into day-to-day life.
While we believe the outlook for the semiconductor and AI beneficiary industries remains positive, several challenges warrant attention:
Power management
Data centres consume vast energy, raising efficiency concerns. AI generates large datasets, requiring robust safeguards for data security. Moreover, rapid factory expansion in lightly regulated regions could pose sustainability issues.
Debt capital
We expect an increase in debt issuance to finance capital spending through 2026. While overall leverage remains reasonable, and we do not anticipate significant changes, we continue to monitor developments.
Trade tensions
Recent signs of easing between the US and China are encouraging. Our globally diversified exposure provides flexibility to adjust allocations should conditions change.
While global growth concerns and geopolitical risks remain on the radar, they key uncertainty heading into 2026 could be investor sentiment toward semiconductors if AI momentum slows. That said, we expect company fundamentals to stay resilient throughout the year. Our long-term view remains constructive on the extended semiconductor industry and on sectors benefitting from AI adoption.
1 Source: Bloomberg, NXP Semiconductor company reports, and Manulife Investment Management, data as of November 2025.
2 Source: Bloomberg, NXP Semiconductor company reports, and Manulife Investment Management, data as of November 2025.
3 Source: Hyperscale capital expenditure forecasts; FactSet and Manulife Investment Management, data as of November 2025.
4 Source: SOX historical outperformance before and after major declines; SOX outperformance relative to S&P 500; Manulife Investment Management and FactSet Research Systems, data as of November 2025.
2026 Mid-year outlook: Global Semiconductor
The semiconductor sector remains a key enabler of the global economy, underpinning artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and electrification. As highlighted in our earlier insights, it represents a broad ecosystem supported by structural demand and real infrastructure investment. Following strong year-to-date performance, we see growing conviction that momentum can extend into the second half of 2026 and into 2027, driven by earnings strength, sustained capital investment, and early-stage AI adoption.
2026 Mid-Year Outlook Series: GEDI
Against a highly uncertain backdrop in the first half of 2026, Manulife’s Global Equity Diversified Income (GEDI) Fund (‘the Fund’) posted resilient performance with relatively lower volatility. This result was driven by the Fund’s four investment pillars, which favour an income-centric approach, coupled with global diversification across growth, value, and income equities. In this 2026 Mid-Year Outlook, Paul Kalogirou, Head of Client Portfolio Management, Asia & Global Multi-Asset Solutions, explains how the Fund’s unique structure allows for consistent income generation and potential upside across the market cycle, while also identifying key opportunities and risks for the second half of the year.
2026 Mid-year Outlook Series: Diversified Real Assets
Global supply chains are resetting under deglobalisation and geopolitics, shifting from global efficiency to more expensive regional resilience, embedding higher structural costs. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a new demand driver, accelerating investment in power, infrastructure, and materials. Against this backdrop of structurally higher inflation and dual demand pressures – from both supply-chain rewiring and AI capital expenditure – we believe real assets may play an increasingly important role in portfolios, offering exposure to long-term secular growth and AI trends.
2026 Mid-year outlook: Global Semiconductor
The semiconductor sector remains a key enabler of the global economy, underpinning artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and electrification. As highlighted in our earlier insights, it represents a broad ecosystem supported by structural demand and real infrastructure investment. Following strong year-to-date performance, we see growing conviction that momentum can extend into the second half of 2026 and into 2027, driven by earnings strength, sustained capital investment, and early-stage AI adoption.
2026 Mid-Year Outlook Series: GEDI
Against a highly uncertain backdrop in the first half of 2026, Manulife’s Global Equity Diversified Income (GEDI) Fund (‘the Fund’) posted resilient performance with relatively lower volatility. This result was driven by the Fund’s four investment pillars, which favour an income-centric approach, coupled with global diversification across growth, value, and income equities. In this 2026 Mid-Year Outlook, Paul Kalogirou, Head of Client Portfolio Management, Asia & Global Multi-Asset Solutions, explains how the Fund’s unique structure allows for consistent income generation and potential upside across the market cycle, while also identifying key opportunities and risks for the second half of the year.
2026 Mid-year Outlook Series: Diversified Real Assets
Global supply chains are resetting under deglobalisation and geopolitics, shifting from global efficiency to more expensive regional resilience, embedding higher structural costs. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a new demand driver, accelerating investment in power, infrastructure, and materials. Against this backdrop of structurally higher inflation and dual demand pressures – from both supply-chain rewiring and AI capital expenditure – we believe real assets may play an increasingly important role in portfolios, offering exposure to long-term secular growth and AI trends.