Emerging Markets (EM) Information Technology (IT) stocks posted a standout quarter, outperforming developed market tech by more than 14 percentage points and beating the MSCI ACWI Index by roughly 10. The chart above captures this divergence, highlighting how EM IT companies are benefiting from a unique combination of innovation depth, global relevance, and more attractive valuations.
Much of this strength came from Asia’s physical tech leaders. TSMC continues to dominate global chip fabrication, Samsung Electronics is still the global leader in memory and rebounded after a tough 2024, and Delta Electronics remains essential in power supply and cooling for AI servers and smartphones. There really wouldn’t be companies such as NVIDIA or Apple without companies like these.
Beyond core hardware, companies such as Tencent are leveraging AI to boost WeChat revenue, while CATL’s leadership in EV batteries has translated into strong share gains. Even in health care, innovation is accelerating: Mindray’s partnership with Tencent AI Lab to co-develop AI-assisted diagnostics highlights the breadth of opportunity.
As global investors reassess the sources of growth and innovation, EM’s IT sector rally may signal its renewed role in global innovation. ∎