The semiconductor industry is incredibly important to today's artificial intelligence (AI) market. Without chips, none of the successes investors see today would be possible. As a result, looking at the chip industry is a great way to stay neutral and benefit from the general increase in technology usage.
Two of the most important companies in the chip realm are Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM -0.32%) and ASML (ASML -2.84%). Each of these two titans has been a fantastic investment in 2026, with TSMC rising 42% and ASML increasing 76%.
But which is the better buy now? Let's find out.
Image source: Getty Images.
ASML has a rare technological monopoly
TSMC is a client of ASML and one of the only ones it has. ASML makes extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines and is the only company in the world with this technology.
While various companies in China are chasing ASML's technology, the reality is that there are decades' worth of investments and technology that have made ASML what it is today. Lithography machines are used to lay the microscopic electrical traces on microchips and are incredibly expensive. They are also about the size of a bus and take a dedicated crew and incredible logistics to install. Without ASML's product, none of the technology we enjoy today would be possible.
NASDAQ: ASML
Key Data Points
TSMC is one of ASML's biggest clients because it uses ASML's machines in its chip fabrication process. TSMC has risen to become the world's largest logic chip manufacturer by a wide margin.
The Motley Fool found that about 72% of global semiconductor revenue is generated by TSMC's factories. TSMC is an impossible company to replace because its sales have allowed the AI race to continue without creating too much of a bottleneck in the logic chip industry.
NYSE: TSM
Key Data Points
Both are vital companies that are more important than most, but because there are other logic chip fabricators out there, ASML wins in the business segment for its technological monopoly.
Winner: ASML
TSMC's growth is smoother
Because ASML relies on fewer than 100 machine sales from quarter to quarter, its results are more lumpy and can lead to growth spikes. However, TSMC's growth has been consistently higher over the past few years.
TSM Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth) data by YCharts
Next year, Wall Street analysts expect TSMC to deliver 34% growth, while ASML produces 26%.
That gives TSMC a clear win in the growth category, tying up the score.
Winner: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
ASML stock is expensive
Because both of these companies are growing at a faster-than-market pace, I think valuing the stocks using the forward price-to-earnings ratio is a smart move. From this perspective, TSMC once again shines as the better stock.
TSM PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts
Clearly, most of ASML's stock gains this year have driven the valuation into parabolic territory, which isn't sustainable. Meanwhile, TSMC is within its normal valuation range and has a reasonable price tag. This gives me more hope looking ahead to next year, as TSMC trades below 20 times forward earnings when 2027 estimates are used.
TSM PE Ratio (Forward 1y) data by YCharts
This is another clear-cut win for TSMC, giving it the overall win as well.
Winner: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
ASML is still a fantastic company and a strong stock pick, but it is just too expensive to buy when there's a great option like TSMC trading at relatively low prices. We'll see how the next year pans out, but I'm confident that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing will dramatically outperform ASML from now until the end of 2027.
