AI infrastructure-linked stocks such as Broadcom recorded significant gains this year, rising 44% on the back of robust demand for advanced semiconductors supporting AI workloads. Analysts observed that hyperscalers continue to prioritize specialized compute hardware even as broader cloud capital expenditure growth is expected to moderate in 2026. Market participants noted rising enterprise demand for AI-ready networks and storage systems, which has supported valuations across the semiconductor supply chain. Despite shifting investment cycles, infrastructure-focused firms remain central to long-term AI deployment strategies.