In a notable portfolio shift, quantitative trading giant Renaissance Technologies, led by Jim Simons, completely liquidated its stake in the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH). According to regulatory filings, the firm sold off its entire holding of 369,490 shares, which was valued at approximately $141.66 million. This move is significant given the semiconductor sector's strong performance throughout the first half of the year.
It is important to note that this information comes from a delayed 13F filing, which discloses positions held as of June 30, 2026, and was filed on August 13, 2026. Therefore, this trade occurred at some point during the second quarter. During that same period, Renaissance also notably increased its holdings in individual semiconductor-related companies like Nvidia and Broadcom.