The Greater Depression is at America’s Doorsteps

History may be repeating itself with terrifying accuracy. This move can save you.

The Roaring 1920s defined an era of excess that led to the Great Depression. Halfway through the 2020’s, the crash signals from 100 years prior are frighteningly similar to today.

Look at the terrifying parallels:

• Valuations: In 1929, the Shiller P/E ratio (a key measure of stock valuation) peaked at 30. Today, it hovers near 40, resulting in phantom wealth that only exists on paper.
• Margin Debt: The money borrowed to risk on speculation in the markets has hit a new all-time high of $1.18 trillion. When markets dip, decades of your contributions to a 401(k), IRA, or pension can be wiped out within minutes.
• The Wealth Gap: In 1929, the top 0.1% owned 25% of the wealth. Today, economists at Saez & Zucman confirm wealth gap levels have reached 1929’s peaks. Extreme inequality breaks an economy dependent on consumer spending.

AI trading algorithms at the major institutions analyze danger and can sell-off at any moment of weakness, which could send us straight into ‘The Greater Depression’. 

Wise investors know this and are diversifying into hard assets to prepare for history repeating itself.

You can choose to follow the route of the wise. Physical Gold is the equalizer. It’s your safest measure against a market that could collapse at any moment.

Download a FREE copy of our 2026 Preservation Guide and discover the IRS loophole that allows you to transfer your retirement savings into physical gold tax-free and without penalties.

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This Week’s Exclusive Story

Which Semiconductor Equipment Stock Has More Upside in 2026?

Authored by Nathan Reiff. First Published: 1/26/2026. 

At a Glance

• Three key makers of semiconductor manufacturing equipment have rallied by at least 65% in the last year, making them prime targets for investors in 2026.
• Of these, ASML and Lam Research have unique corners of the fabrication market that could prove essential as AI chip demand continues to grow.
• Applied Materials has so far lacked the same niche focus, which could be partially responsible for its recent minor revenue dip.

As earnings season picks up for semiconductor stocks, investors will want to assess which companies might be best positioned for a bump. Outside of the biggest players like NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA) and TSMC (NYSE: TSM), the field is crowded with players across market capitalizations. Among the companies below the $1 trillion threshold, three stand out for stellar growth in recent years—ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ: ASML), Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT), and Lam Research Corp. (NASDAQ: LRCX). Comparing these firms can help investors determine which might be a standout in the new year.

ASML’s Dominance in Lithography Is Unquestioned, But How Much Will It Return?

ASML doesn’t fabricate chips itself; it builds the photolithography tools other firms use to make semiconductors. It is a notable non-U.S. semiconductor stock at a time of elevated tariff and trade uncertainty. The company has also performed very well over the past year, with shares rising roughly 80%.

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ASML is well positioned to remain the leader in 2026 thanks to its critical lithography products and ongoing development of new offerings. Its high-NA extreme ultraviolet (EUV) machine is the most advanced lithography tool to date, and ASML plans to scale production of these machines over the next two years. The company has effectively cornered a key segment of the semiconductor manufacturing market and maintains a substantial technological advantage over competitors.

One concern for investors is ASML’s near-term upside: analysts project only about 2% upside. Still, despite the rally, ASML’s price-to-earnings ratio of 55.4 is well below the sector-wide average of 78.5.

Applied Materials’ Revenue and Chinese Market Headwinds Linger

Like ASML, Applied Materials supplies equipment and software used to manufacture semiconductor chips rather than fabricating chips itself. Unlike ASML, AMAT does not have a single niche that guarantees an indispensable role across the industry. That said, growing demand for memory products amid constrained supply could accelerate AMAT’s growth in coming quarters.

Revenue performance is a key consideration. In the last reported earnings period, Applied Materials’ revenue declined 3.5% year-over-year (YOY), while many peers reported significant growth. A major factor in that weaker performance is AMAT’s exposure to the Chinese market, which continues to face headwinds from trade restrictions. Those challenges are likely to persist for now.

Still, Applied Materials has introduced a new product that could help it gain share in advanced packaging for AI chips, and 22 out of 33 analysts rate AMAT a Buy. However, after a near 65% gain over the past 12 months, analysts expect some pullback, forecasting roughly an 11% downside.

Lam Research Benefits From Recurring Revenue, But Can the Recent Rally Continue?

Lam Research supplies wafer fabrication equipment used to manufacture semiconductor products, with tools that have become increasingly important as AI chip designs grow more complex.

Because of the nature of its products, Lam stands out for high-margin recurring revenue, which helps insulate the company from cyclical slowdowns—though such slowdowns appear unlikely in the near term given strong AI-driven demand. In the most recent quarter, Lam reported $5.3 billion in revenue, up nearly 28% YOY. As clients upgrade to newer versions of Lam’s tools, the company should continue to see upgrade-driven sales growth.

One risk is that Lam’s recent surge—an impressive 168% gain in 2025—may have priced in a lot of the good news. Analysts now expect shares to cool somewhat, forecasting around a 12% decline despite generally bullish ratings.

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