

Recent Profit-Taking in Nvidia
Nvidia has shown signs of profit-taking after a significant post-earnings surge, suggesting a potential downturn in the semiconductor sector.
Use of SMH ETF for Protection
The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) is proposed as a tool to hedge against further declines, reflecting concerns over the sector's recent rapid gains.
Continued Optimism Despite Volatility
Despite the potential for short-term losses, there is still a positive outlook for the semiconductor and AI industries in the coming years.
Strategic Options Trade
A specific options strategy involving SMH calls and puts has been outlined to manage risk while potentially profiting from a downturn in semiconductor stocks.

The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) is an exchange-traded fund that seeks to replicate the price and yield performance of the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index5. This index tracks the overall performance of companies involved in semiconductor production and equipment5. Nvidia is one of the top holdings in SMH, with a significant weighting, which means that its stock performance can have a considerable impact on the ETF's performance.
If Nvidia's stock experiences a substantial pullback, it could weigh heavily on SMH, potentially causing the ETF's value to decrease. Conversely, if Nvidia's stock continues to perform well, it could contribute to SMH's overall growth. As such, investors who are considering investing in SMH should keep an eye on Nvidia's performance, as it can significantly influence the ETF's trajectory.

Nvidia's stock performance has seen a significant rise due to the accelerated demand for artificial intelligence (AI). The stock has moved more than 500% higher since January 2023, which has pushed many stocks in the semiconductor space into overbought territory in May. This parabolic move higher for Nvidia, driven by its strong Q1 earnings and the booming data-center business, has raised concerns about the stock's "over ownership" and the possibility that investors have become conditioned to NVDA's massive earnings beats.
The first sign of potential profit taking in Nvidia since its monster post-earning pop indicates a breather in this red-hot sector. With Nvidia having a massive weighting in the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH), a 15% pull back in the stock could weigh heavily on the ETF. This makes the semiconductor sector ripe for a bearish strategy, and now might be the time to hedge for further downside in the sector, although the original author is still optimistic on the semiconductor space and AI overall in 2024 and beyond.