Technology stocks lagged the overall market over the last year. What is interesting is that there is a consensus among Wall St. firms that technology is poised for a solid 2013. The continued sales growth of smartphones (90% of all phones purchased in the past year were smartphones) and tablets is driving semiconductor sales. The technology team at Oppenheimer notes in a new report that sentiment has improved and expectations are high. They also note that semiconductor stocks have done tremendous over the past three years, and 2013 looks to be more of the same.

Since smartphones and tablets continue to be the top driver of growth, Oppenheimer believes that the stocks most closely aligned with that growth will prove to be the big winners. In the report, the analysts detail the seven stocks to buy that fit the bill, and could provide investors with yet another winning second quarter. The following are seven stocks to buy now.

Broadcom Corp. (NASDAQ: BRCM) tops the stocks to buy. With 32% of total sales from industry giants Samsung and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), second quarter earnings may be outstanding. The Oppenheimer price target for the stock is $45. The Thomson/First Call estimate is 10% lower at $40.

Linear Technology Corp. (NASDAQ: LLTC) makes the list. This top-rated analog semiconductor stock also pays shareholders a nice 2.90% dividend. The Oppenheimer price objective is $43, but the Wall St. consensus is lower at $37.

Maxim Integrated Products Inc. (NASDAQ: MXIM) is on board. Oppenheimer notes this wireless chip leader has a strong and focused management team. Their price target for the stock is $38. The consensus is $35.

Microsemi Corp. (NASDAQ: MSCC) joins the Oppenheimer list. With a robust semiconductor product line and worldwide sales, the price target for this name is $28. The consensus target is $26.

RF Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ: RFMD) makes the list, and it was one of our top names under $10 to buy. The Oppenheimer price target for this wireless upstart is $7. The consensus target is at $6.50.

Semtech Corp. (NASDAQ: SMTC) is a stock to buy now. It has newly unveiled components that will allow higher resolution video streaming, and the Oppenheimer price target is $41. The consensus target is $38.

Skyworks Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: SWKS) rounds out the Oppenheimer list of top stocks to buy. This maker of wireless semiconductors has benefitted from the surge in the global LTE market and derives a quarter of its revenue from Samsung and Apple. The Oppenheimer price target is $32, and the consensus is at $30. A move to either target level would represent a more than 35% increase from current trading levels.

With numerous companies ready for their next generation products to be unveiled, it looks like investors can feel comfortable in the growth trajectory of these stocks. We know from experience that technology seemingly knows no bounds, and products that are new this year will be so 2013 before you know it.

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