B. Riley Just Upgraded On Semiconductor to Buy and Nearly Doubled Its Price Target. Is This the Chip Comeback of 2026?

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By David Moadel Published

Quick Read

  • ON Semiconductor (ON) stock received a Buy upgrade from B. Riley with a $115 price target, more than doubling from $64, as analyst Craig Ellis bets the cyclical trough is behind the company and disciplined execution in power semiconductors, silicon carbide for EVs, and industrial automation will drive gains.

  • B. Riley upgraded On Semiconductor ahead of Q1 2026 results on May 4, betting that automotive and industrial end markets reaccelerate while the company’s gross margins recover from a 38% trough.

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B. Riley Just Upgraded On Semiconductor to Buy and Nearly Doubled Its Price Target. Is This the Chip Comeback of 2026?

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An analyst firm just made the bull case for On Semiconductor (NASDAQ:ON | ON Price Prediction). B. Riley analyst Craig Ellis upgraded On Semiconductor stock to Buy from Neutral, lifting the firm’s price target to $115 from $64. That’s a near-doubling of the target and one of the more aggressive conviction calls on a U.S. chipmaker this spring.

The call lands as ON Semiconductor shares have already been running hot, with the stock trading around $98 intraday. For retirement-focused investors, the upgrade reframes ON stock as a cyclical recovery story tied to power semiconductors, silicon carbide for EVs, and industrial automation.

Ticker Company Firm Action Old Rating New Rating Old Target New Target
ON ON Semiconductor B. Riley Upgrade Neutral Buy $64 $115

The Analyst’s Case

Ellis framed the upgrade around execution for On Semiconductor. B. Riley expects in-line to selectively better quarterly results from specialty materials and chip names despite persisting geopolitical risks. In short, the analyst thinks the cyclical trough is behind ON, and that disciplined cost structure plus product wins should drive the next leg higher.

Management’s own commentary supports that pivot. On Semiconductor CEO Hassane El-Khoury told investors onsemi saw “increasing signs of stabilization” in its key markets.

Company Snapshot

On Semiconductor designs intelligent power and sensing chips across three segments: Power Solutions, Analog and Mixed-Signal, and Intelligent Sensing. The company is leaning into silicon carbide and vertical gallium nitride (vGaN) power semiconductors, as well.

The numbers show a business absorbing a cycle. On Semiconductor’s full-year 2025 revenue came in at $5.995 billion, down 15% year over year, while free cash flow hit a record $1.418 billion. Management authorized a new $6 billion, three-year share repurchase program.

Why the Move Matters Now

On Semiconductor stock carries a heavy trailing P/E ratio of 307x, but its forward P/E ratio of 31x reflects expected earnings recovery. The market cap sits near $35 billion, with consensus split at 11 Buy ratings and 23 Holds.

On Semiconductor’s Q1 2026 guidance calls for revenue of $1.435 billion to $1.535 billion and EPS of $0.56 to $0.66, signaling sequential stabilization. For context on the broader sector setup, see our recent semiconductor recovery coverage.

What It Means for Your Portfolio

B. Riley’s On Semiconductor stock price target raise to $115 is a clear bet that automotive and industrial end markets reaccelerate in 2026. If that thesis plays out, ON stock could benefit from operating leverage as margins normalize off the 38% non-GAAP gross margin trough.

Yet, the risks are real. Barclays flagged high automotive and China exposure when it initiated On Semiconductor stock at Equal-Weight, and geopolitical tensions could pressure demand. Insider selling, including CFO activity in April, adds a cautionary signal.

For long-term investors, the revised outlook warrants a closer look at On Semiconductor stock, even as near-term volatility remains a real risk. Moderate position sizing and watching for whether On Semiconductor’s Q1 2026 results confirm the stabilization narrative on May 4 may be the prudent approach.

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About the Author David Moadel →

David Moadel is financial writer specializing in stocks, ETFs, options, precious metals, and Bitcoin. David has written well over 1,000 articles for leading online publications, helping investors understand markets, income strategies, and risk.

His work has appeared in The Motley Fool, InvestorPlace, U.S. News & World Report, TipRanks, ValueWalk, Benzinga, Market Realist, TalkMarkets, Finmasters, 24/7 Wall St., and others.

With a master’s degree in education, David has taught at the elementary, high school, and college levels. That teaching background shapes his writing style: clear, educational, and practical. David has also built a loyal social-media audience by providing trustworthy financial content on YouTube, X/Twitter, and StockTwits.

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