6 Hot Semiconductor Stocks

Investors can find growth in semiconductors and related equipment, as these
components have become essential to the gadgets, smartphones and other
technologies we use on a daily basis. Luckily for the industry, a spike in
consumer spending, followed by a seasonal boost in the market , is making these
semiconductor stocks shine right before the coming of the new year. I watch more
than 5,000 publicly traded companies with my Portfolio Grader tool, ranking
companies by a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. And this week,
Ive got six semiconductor stocks to buy. Here they are, in alphabetical order.
Each one of these stocks gets an "A" or "B" according to my research,
meaning it is a "strong buy" or "buy." ARM Holdings (NASDAQ: ARMH ) is a
developer of microprocessors, physical intellectual property and related
technology. Year-to-date, ARMH has gained 31%, compared to a gain of 5% for the
Dow Jones in the same time. ARMH gets a "B" for operating margin growth and
an "A" for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more
information, view my complete analysis of ARMH stock . Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC
) is a manufacturer of semiconductor chips that has posted a gain of 16% since
the start of 2011. INTC gets a "B" for sales growth, a "B" for earnings
growth, a "B" for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased
during the past month and an "A" for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader
tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of INTC stock. KLA-Tencor
Corp. (NASDAQ: KLAC ) is involved with process control and yield management
solutions for companies in the semiconductor business. Year-to-date, KLAC stock
has climbed 26%. KLAC stock gets a "B" for sales growth, an "A" for
operating margin growth, a "B" for earnings growth, an "A" for cash flow
and an "A" for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more
information, view my complete analysis of KLAC stock. Maxim Integrated Products
Inc. (NASDAQ: MXIM ) designs, develops, manufactures and markets numerous analog
circuits. In the last year, MXIM stock is up 11%, compared to smaller gains by
the broader markets. MXIM stock gets an "A" for operating margin growth, a
"B" for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall
Street and an "A" for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more
information, view my complete analysis of MXIM stock . Novellus Systems Inc.
(NASDAQ: NVLS ) develops products used for the production of semiconductors.
NVLS stock has jumped 27% since Jan. 1. NVLS gets a "B" for operating margin
growth, a "B" for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased
during the past month, an "A" for cash flow and an "A" for return on
equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete
analysis of NVLS stock . Xilinx Inc. (NASDAQ: XLNX ) designs, develops and
markets programmable platforms. XLNX has gained 11%, year-to-date. XLNX stock
gets a "B" for cash flow and an "A" for return on equity in my Portfolio
Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of XLNX stock . Get
more analysis of these picks and other publicly traded stocks with Louis
Navellier's Portfolio Grader tool, a 100% free stock-rating tool that measures
both quantitative buying pressure and eight fundamental factors.