We recently compiled a list of the 12 Small-Cap Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where MaxLinear Inc. (NASDAQ:MXL) stands against the other small-cap semiconductor stocks.

According to Deloitte’s 2025 global semiconductor industry outlook, released on February 4, 2025, the semiconductor industry is set for a much better 2025, with projected sales reaching $697 billion, representing an 11.2% year-over-year growth. This projection suggests the industry is on track to achieve the widely accepted goal of $1 trillion in sales by 2030. Deloitte analysts also highlight that “average” chip stock performance over the past two years has been a “tale of two markets”: Companies involved in the generative AI chip market have outperformed, while those in automotive, computer, smartphone, and communications semiconductors have lagged.

This growth story aligns with the significant expansion the semiconductor industry has experienced over the past decade, largely driven by advancements in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. The entire supply chain, from lithography to equipment and packaging, has benefited from this surge, resulting in unprecedented demand for advanced semiconductors. While the majority of investments in these technologies have come from large-cap companies, small-cap companies are often leading the charge on the innovation front within the emerging technologies, and at the same time, offer diversification away from the crowded large-and-mega-cap stocks.

In November 2024, Francis Gannon, Co-chief Investment Officer at Royce Investment Partners, discussed his thesis on small-caps during an interview with Yahoo Finance. He noted that small-caps have been out of favor for an extended period, with the Russell 2000 reaching its peak three years ago and experiencing negative returns since then. Gannon believes the new Trump administration, reshoring efforts, leading innovation, and a favourable earnings season will significantly boost the small-cap companies, describing this shift as nothing short of a “revolution.”

In summary, semiconductors represent a long-term investment opportunity, with the small-cap segment garnering attention as a hot topic in recent months. Exciting return opportunities are anticipated in the coming years. With that, let’s explore the top 12 opportunities in the small-cap semiconductor space that we have identified for you.

Our Methodology

To identify the 12 small-cap semiconductor stocks to buy now, we screened U.S. listed semiconductor companies with a market capitalization between $300 million and $2 billion. The stocks were then arranged in ascending order of the number of hedge fund holders for each company, based on hedge fund data from Insider Monkey’s database as of Q3 2024.

Note: All pricing and market cap data is as of market close on February 7.

At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

MaxLinear Inc. (NASDAQ:MXL)

Market Capitalization: $1.4 billion

Number of Hedge Funds: 18

MaxLinear Inc. (NASDAQ:MXL) is a provider of high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductor solutions for broadband, mobile and wireline communications, data center, and industrial applications. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing integrated circuits (ICs) that enable high-speed data transmission and processing. Its customers primarily include electronics distributors, module makers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and original design manufacturers (ODMs).

In its February 3, 2025 Investor Presentation, MaxLinear Inc. (NASDAQ:MXL) emphasized its strategic focus on high-growth markets, including broadband access, connectivity, and infrastructure. The company aims to capitalize on the increasing global demand for high-speed internet and data services. MaxLinear projects its serviceable addressable market (SAM) to expand to over $11 billion by 2027, up from approximately $4 billion in 2020, driven by both organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

On January 29, 2025, MaxLinear Inc. (NASDAQ:MXL) reported its Q4 2024 results with net revenue of $92.2 million, a 14% sequential increase but a 26% decline year-over-year. Adjusted loss per share was $0.09, an improvement from the previous quarter’s loss of $0.36, though down from the year-ago quarter’s EPS of $0.01.

The company remains optimistic about its growth prospects for 2025, benefiting from the rising global demand for high-speed connectivity that fuels the adoption of its advanced broadband and networking solutions. The proliferation of data-intensive applications, cloud services, and emerging technologies necessitates robust infrastructure, positioning MaxLinear Inc. (NASDAQ:MXL)’s products as essential components in modern communication networks and supporting a positive long-term growth outlook.

Overall MXL ranks 7th on our list of the small-cap semiconductor stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of MXL as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MXL but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and Complete List of 59 AI Companies Under $2 Billion in Market Cap.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.