Nasdaq Futures Slide as AI Chip Stocks Sink Despite Samsung Earnings; SpaceX Debuts in Nasdaq-100

U.S. stock futures were mixed on Tuesday as technology shares came under pressure, with semiconductor stocks leading declines amid growing concerns over whether the artificial intelligence-driven rally can maintain its momentum despite another strong earnings report from Samsung Electronics.

Nasdaq-100 futures dropped 0.9% before the opening bell, while S&P 500 futures slipped 0.15%. Dow Jones futures outperformed, rising 0.16% as gains in Microsoft, Salesforce, and IBM supported the blue-chip index after it closed above the 53,000 mark for the first time.

Chipmakers weighed heavily on sentiment after Samsung Electronics posted a 19-fold surge in second-quarter operating profit, beating market expectations. However, Samsung shares still fell sharply in South Korea, raising fresh questions about whether AI-related earnings growth can justify massive investments made by hyperscale technology companies.

The cautious outlook dragged U.S. semiconductor stocks lower. Micron Technology fell 5.6% in premarket trading, while Western Digital dropped 6.2%, Sandisk lost 5.2%, Intel declined 4%, Marvell Technology slipped 4.5%, and Qualcomm eased 2.4%.

Market analysts said investors are becoming increasingly focused on the long-term sustainability of AI profits rather than near-term demand. The sector has been one of Wall Street's strongest performers this year, but recent profit-taking and concerns over stretched valuations have increased volatility.

Another closely watched AI-related event arrives later this week when SK Hynix's U.S. listing begins trading on the Nasdaq, providing another gauge of investor appetite for semiconductor stocks.

Meanwhile, SpaceX shares slipped 1.7% in premarket trading as the aerospace company prepared to join the Nasdaq-100 index. The decline came after several brokerages initiated coverage following the expiration of an industry-mandated quiet period.

Outside the technology sector, Fiserv jumped 7.1% after reports that the payments company has held talks with major U.S. banks, including JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America, about selling its debit payments infrastructure business. Rivian Automotive fell 7.6% after announcing a 75-million-share offering despite forecasting second-quarter revenue above analysts' expectations.

Investors are also awaiting the release of the Federal Reserve's latest meeting minutes on Wednesday, offering further insight into Chair Kevin Warsh's policy direction. According to LSEG data, traders currently expect at least one 25-basis-point interest rate hike before the end of the year.