Why, in Q2, investors rushed for AI bottlenecks

According to data from the investment platform eToro, investors targeted energy suppliers and manufacturers of memory chips during the previous quarter

British investors' enthusiasm for the artificial intelligence (AI) boom increased in the second quarter (Q2) of 2026, and they seem to be strategically positioning their assets to take advantage of impending challenges.

According to data from the investment platform eToro, during Q2, the majority of its investors purchased semiconductor stocks, especially those of memory chip manufacturers.

For the AI and technology trade, memory is a major bottleneck. The analysis shows that while ownership of Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:MRVL) increased by 90% in Q2 compared to Q1, ownership of memory hardware manufacturer Sandisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) increased by 185%.

EToro is a source.

In Q2, investors grew more assured.

Investors were more inclined to add money to their portfolios in Q2 than they were in Q1, according to research from the retirement company Scottish Widows.

According to the company's most recent investment pulse survey of 2,000 UK-based retail investors, average portfolio contributions increased by 47%, from 2,413 between January and March to 3,554 between April and June.

According to Scottish Widowss managing director of investments Manuel Pardavila-Gonzalez, "Investors have shown real resilience this quarter, increasing their contributions even as global conflict has escalated and the UK political landscape has shifted expectations." "Most people are staying the course rather than making snap decisions, even as the cost of living continues to rise. They are not responding to alarmist headlines or short-term noise."

As investors top up their portfolios and utilize their ISA allowance around the end of the tax year on April 5, he continued, Q2 frequently witnesses a seasonal spike in investing.

Additionally, a change in allocations abroad was noted by the survey. Allocations to North America rose from 16% to 21%, in line with eToros' findings that US tech stocks were highly appealing to British investors last quarter, even though UK-held investments continued to be the largest single allocation at 57% (down from 62% in Q1).

In a similar vein, 35% of respondents cited artificial intelligence (AI) as their favorite investment theme, followed by clean and renewable energy infrastructure (25%).

Last quarter, retail investors looked elsewhere.

Retail investors took advantage of other AI bottlenecks last quarter besides memory.

Another key component of the AI puzzle is energy. A surge in clean power and energy infrastructure stocks, such as GE Vernova (NYSE:GEV), Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE), and NuScale Power (NYSE:SMR), was indicative of the increasing power demands of AI data centers.

"Retail investors are still interested in energy, but their perspective is changing," stated Akoner. "Investors seem to be shifting their focus to low-carbon infrastructure, clean power, and nuclear-linked energy, even though traditional oil and gas names are heavily represented among the fallers."

Akoner went on to say that the shift away from fossil fuels in order to increase each nation's energy security is another boost to clean energy stocks, in addition to AI's rising power demands.

It should come as no surprise that investors focused on the space economy in Q2 given SpaceX's successful initial public offering (IPO) during the quarter.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB), AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS), and Ondas (NASDAQ:ONDS) were among the 20 stocks whose ownership on eToro increased the most during the quarter. Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ:LUNR), a manufacturer of space infrastructure, was the fourth-biggest riser among UK users, with holders rising 62%.

Scottish Widows Pardavila-Gonzalez thinks investors should stick with it, but it's unclear if they will maintain their current tech optimism in the future.

He stated, "The principles of investing remain the same and it's important not to let short-term volatility derail long-term plans, even though we expect more of the same uncertainty in the next quarter."