Stocks within the printed circuit board (PCB) sector are showing strength against the broader market's decline.

As of the latest update, DTECH (01377) surged 10.14% to HK$4.388, DELTON (01989) rose 8.08% to HK$1.365, KB LAMINATES (01888) gained 6.56% to HK$5.44, and KINGBOARD HLDG (00148) increased by 3.54% to HK$6.145.

The catalyst for this move appears to be a series of positive first-half 2026 earnings pre-announcements from several key PCB manufacturers released on the evening of July 13th, showing significant year-on-year and sequential growth.

Specifically, Shengyi Electronics anticipates its first-half net profit attributable to shareholders to be between 1.082 billion and 1.137 billion yuan, representing growth of 104% to 114%. Hudian expects its net profit to range from 2.83 billion to 3 billion yuan, an increase of 68.17% to 78.28%. Shennan Circuits forecasts a net profit between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion yuan, up 54.41% to 69.12%.

This positive sentiment is further supported by developments in the AI chip space. Recent market rumors suggested a potential delay for Nvidia's Rubin Ultra chip until 2028. However, on July 11th, Morgan Stanley released notes from a non-deal roadshow with Nvidia's management, where CEO Jensen Huang denied the delay rumors and confirmed the chip is on schedule for release next year.

Analysts at Galaxy Securities note that demand for high-end PCBs from AI chips is expected to continue expanding. They also point to ongoing price increases by leading copper-clad laminate manufacturers, which is contributing to a re-rating of PCB company valuations. The firm recommends focusing on leading companies involved in AI-related PCB production.