Chip Stock Investor Podcast

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.

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.

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.

Micron stock gets the full Chip Stock Investor checklist treatment in this Semi Insider Live session. We walk through revenue trends, operating margin, free cash flow, per-share profit growth, and balance sheet strength—then compare Micron's net-cash position to Broadcom's debt-heavy structure to show how to evaluate leverage using debt-to-equity and EBITDA-to-interest coverage ratios.
This is Part 3 of our How CSI Invests series, where we break down the exact quantitative framework we use to vet semiconductor and tech stocks before they earn a spot in our portfolio. We also revisit why "we missed the takeoff" criticism misses the point of disciplined investing—and why Micron's revenue consistency is still an open question over a full cycle.
Want the full investment thesis checklist, real-time portfolio access, and deeper coverage like this? Join Semi Insider at chipstockinvestor.com.

In this episode of Chip Stock Investor, Nick and Kasey analyze NextPower (formerly Nextracker), evaluating its transition from specialized solar tracking to broader power generation and distribution. The discussion breaks down NextPower's recent acquisitions in power converters, battery electric storage systems (BESS), and industrial maintenance robotics.
We also examine the macro environment impacting the solar market, including international competition from Chinese firms like Architec and Trina Solar, as well as domestic policy deadlines approaching on July 4, 2026.
Key Topics Covered:
Business Evolution: NextPower's growth from a Flex spin-off into an integrated solar technology provider facing patent litigation with GameChange Solar.

Financial Outlook: An analysis of the fiscal year 2027 revenue guidance of $3.8 billion to $4 billion, and why profitability may see a near-term dip during this investment year.

Data-Driven Valuation: A walkthrough of NextPower using the Reverse DCF Calculator, demonstrating a discounted fair value of approximately $80, compared to its current trading price near $120.

Sector Alternatives: Why Amphenol remains our preferred choice for broad exposure to solar tracking hardware, power conversion, and battery assemblies.

New Feature AnnouncementThis episode demonstrates the newly implemented price alert functionality on the Reverse DCF Calculator. Available on the Semi Insider research dashboard, this tool allows you to build a margin of safety and receive automated alerts driven by fundamental data, not chart drawing.
For data-driven research, weekly blog articles, our free weekly newsletter, and full access to the Semi Insider toolset, visit chipstockinvestor.com.