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Advanced Micro Devices (Nasdaq: AMD) slipped as much as 3% on Monday, a sharp reversal for one of this year’s hottest AI plays.

The plunge came as traders took profits and rotated out of crowded semiconductor bets.

AMD stock briefly dropped more than 3% in midday trade before paring some losses, leaving AMD still down roughly 2% on the day.

AMD stock: Sector rotation and profit‑taking drive a sharp one‑day move

AMD’s slide came after a powerful run that has left the stock highly sensitive to shifts in risk appetite.

The shares traded around $257 intraday, versus a recent high near $267, with volumes running above normal as short‑term traders locked in gains.

By comparison, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) inched lower by only about 0.1% on Monday, underscoring that AMD’s drop was steeper than the broader chip basket even as semiconductors as a group softened.

Market data show the Philadelphia Semiconductor indices have surged by double digits in recent weeks, fuelled by the AI trade, before stalling as investors reassess stretched valuations.

In that context, desks described Monday’s move as classic profit‑taking rather than a reaction to fresh, company‑specific bad news: capital rotated into more defensive or value‑oriented names.

Peers also reflected the cooler tone. Intel, which has had a volatile month on AI and foundry, has swung sharply in recent sessions, while Micron and other memory names have also given back part of their recent AI‑driven gains.

The pattern reinforces the idea that investors are trimming exposure across the most crowded semiconductor trades after a blistering start to 2026, not singling out AMD alone.

Stretched expectations and what comes next

The pullback sits against a still‑impressive backdrop.

Over the last 12 months, AMD’s share price has risen more than 120%, powered by optimism around its data‑center CPUs and Instinct AI accelerators, and by a broader belief that it can narrow the gap with Nvidia in high‑end GPUs.

Even after Monday’s wobble and a roughly 19% slide over the past month, the company retains a market value north of $400 billion and trades on a rich multiple that bakes in years of strong earnings growth.

Investors are looking ahead to AMD’s next quarterly report and any updates on its AI roadmap, particularly the ramp of its MI350 and MI400 accelerator families and progress in winning cloud and enterprise customers.

Analyst commentary in recent days has remained broadly positive on the multiyear AI thesis, but notes have also highlighted headwinds from US export controls on advanced chips to China. ​

For traders, the question is whether Monday’s drop marks the start of a deeper de‑rating in high‑beta chip names or a routine shake‑out after a parabolic move.

For longer‑term investors, the 3% slide is less about a sudden change in AMD’s story and more about timing and risk tolerance.

If upcoming earnings and product news confirm that AI‑driven revenue and margins are on track, the recent pullback could look like a healthy reset in an ongoing uptrend.

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