I found it interesting to see the distribution of which areas of the globe have both the most semiconductor firms and their values.
The Netherlands has one of the most important firms in this space: ASML. Sure, there are far more capitalized firms and far more well-known ones. Still, if you understand the idea that “you have to make the tools that make the tools,” ASML is the leading manufacturer of cutting-edge lithographic machines (Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography semiconductor machines) that make the actual dies at the bleeding edge of sub-10 nm size.
As of Dec. 30, 2024, American firms account for 71.5% of the industry’s global market cap, even though most advanced chips are not actually produced in the United States.
Instead, America’s leadership stems from its expertise in chip design, intellectual property (IP), and software tools. These areas account for much of the value chain’s profitability.
