What could have been a devastating year for semiconductor manufacturers in the wake of a global pandemic and an escalating trade war with China wound up being just the opposite. What Happened? The telecommunications, automotive, computing, and Manufacturing sectors are being transformed with new digital technologies. During the third quarter of 2021, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported semiconductor shipments reached an all-time high with global sales totaling $144.8 billion, an increase of 27.6 percent from the third quarter of 2020. Here are the six top-performing chip stocks of 2021: 1. NVIDIA Corporation currently trading at $258.75, boasting 89.95 percent gains from Jan. 10, 2021. 2. Axcelis Technologies, Inc. trading at $64.64, is up an astounding 110.07 percent from Jan. 10, 2021. 3. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. is trading at $125.34 showing 29.07 percent growth from Jan. 10, 2021. 4. Applied Materials Inc. is at $143.42, an increase of 46.39 percent from Jan. 10, …