With May kicking off, the stock market maxim "sell in May and go away" is top of mind, especially after a lackluster start to 2025. Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White already identified some of the names that usually buck this trend, but there are even more solid opportunities this month for those looking to build up their portfolios.

Semiconductor giants Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ:AMAT) and Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:AVGO) are featured on White's list of best S&P 500 (SPX) stocks to own in May, dating back 10 years. AMAT and AVGO settled May higher nine times over the last decade, averaging 6.3% and 7.2% gains, respectively.

AMAT was last seen trading near breakeven at $150.77, and carries a 21.9% year-over-year deficit. The equity just bounced off an April 4, 52-week low of $123.95, however, to conquer support at the 20-day moving average -- a trendline that is containing today's pullback.

Meanwhile, AVGO has already started its May ascent, up 3.8% to trade at $199.81 -- its highest level since March -- amid upbeat earnings results from Meta Platforms (META) and Microsoft (MSFT). The shares boast a 61% year-over-year lead, and are pacing for their seventh daily gain in eight sessions.

Options traders are divided on the equities. AMAT's 50-day put/call volume ratio of 1.96 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) ranks higher than 97% of readings from the past year, signaling an appetite for bullish bets.

These traders are less confident in AVGO, though. This is per its 10-day put/call volume ratio at the ISE, CBOE, and PHLX that stands higher than all other annual readings. This means an unwinding of pessimism could create additional tailwinds for Broadcom stock in the weeks ahead.