By Jared Blikre
Publication Date: 2026-05-22 15:59:00
The bull market still runs on chips, but cybersecurity stocks have stolen the spotlight in May, breaking out to record highs while semiconductors recover from their latest pullback.
The First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF (CIBR) is up about 25% this month, beating both the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) and the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV). CIBR has also hit seven straight intraday records after recently clearing its October high.
That flips the usual tech script.
Semiconductors have been the backbone of this bull market, and the chip trade is still doing plenty of heavy lifting. SOXX is up nearly 80% this year and more than 60% this quarter, even after falling just over 10% from its May 11 peak to its May 19 low.
Buyers rushed back in fast. But the strongest tech line on the chart this month belongs to cybersecurity.
Comparing the move to the…
