Core Viewpoint - Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) is experiencing positive growth driven by rising AI adoption and increased investment in advanced semiconductors and wafer fab equipment, despite facing challenges in market share in China and exposure to Intel [2][3]. Financial Performance - In fiscal Q3 2025, Applied Materials generated nearly $8 billion in operating cash flow and $5.7 billion in free cash flow, with capital spending of $2.3 billion primarily for the new EPIC Center [4]. - The company returned $1.4 billion to shareholders through cash dividends, maintaining a strong dividend growth record [4][5]. Dividend Policy - Applied Materials has raised its dividend for eight consecutive years, with an average annual growth of around 15% over the past decade, returning close to 90% of free cash flow to shareholders [5]. Market Position - The company is well-positioned at key technology inflection points, particularly in leading-edge logic, DRAM, and advanced packaging, as next-generation technologies move toward volume production [3]. Analyst Insights - Mizuho raised its price target for Applied Materials to $245 from $205, citing an improved outlook for wafer fab equipment spending, while maintaining a Neutral rating due to concerns about market share loss in China and exposure to Intel [2].

Core Insights - NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) and Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) are key players in the semiconductor and AI sectors, with NVIDIA leading in AI chip design and Applied Materials in chip manufacturing [1][2] NVIDIA (NVDA) Performance - NVIDIA's revenues surged 62% year over year to $57 billion in Q3 fiscal 2026, with earnings per share (EPS) increasing by 60% to $1.30 [3][10] - The Data Center segment generated $51.22 billion in revenues, accounting for 89.8% of total sales, marking a 66% year-over-year increase [5] - NVIDIA's new GPU architectures, Hopper 300 and Blackwell, are gaining traction, with the Blackwell Ultra and Vera Rubin platforms expected to enhance its market position [4] - A partnership with OpenAI is anticipated to drive long-term demand for NVIDIA's GPUs, reinforcing its dominance in the AI chip market [6] Applied Materials (AMAT) Performance - Applied Materials is a major manufacturer of semiconductor fabrication equipment, benefiting from strong demand in foundry-logic, DRAM, and NAND products [7] - The advanced packaging business is projected to grow from $1.5 billion to $3 billion, driven by high-bandwidth memory (HBM) demand [8] - A restructuring of the pricing program is expected to contribute to a 120-basis point gross margin expansion for fiscal 2026, allowing for increased R&D investments [9] Growth Outlook Comparison - NVIDIA's fiscal 2026 estimates indicate a revenue growth of 62% and EPS growth of 55.2%, with projections for fiscal 2027 showing further growth of 42.2% and 52.9% respectively [13][14] - In contrast, Applied Materials is expected to see only 2% revenue growth and a 1.4% EPS increase in fiscal 2026, with projections for fiscal 2027 at 10.3% and 17.9% respectively [14] Valuation and Investment Perspective - NVIDIA shares have increased by 34.7% year to date, while Applied Materials shares have risen by 57.6% [17] - On the valuation front, Applied Materials has a forward P/E of 26.18, slightly below NVIDIA's 26.54 [18] - Overall, NVIDIA is viewed as a better investment option due to stronger growth momentum and competitive advantages in AI computing [20]

Core Insights - Applied Materials Inc. is experiencing a significant surge in its Growth score within Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings, driven by ongoing growth in AI capital expenditure spending [1][3] - The company's Growth score has increased from 68.29 to 98.2 in just one week, reflecting a strong quarterly performance with $6.8 billion in revenue, surpassing consensus estimates of $6.67 billion [3] - Year-over-year growth was modest at 3%, but the company's guidance for the current quarter is optimistic, projecting revenues of $6.85 billion, exceeding estimates of $6.76 billion, and adjusted earnings between $1.98 to $2.38 per share, significantly above the estimate of $2.13 per share [4] Company Overview - Applied Materials supplies essential equipment, software, and services to the semiconductor industry, playing a critical role in the global AI value chain [5] - The company serves major clients in the semiconductor sector, including Intel Corp., Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd., and Micron Technology Inc. [5] Stock Performance - The stock ranks highly in Momentum, Growth, and Quality within Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings, indicating a favorable price trend across short, medium, and long-term periods [6]

Group 1 - Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) is recognized for its significant share buyback activity, having reduced its share count by 31% since the end of 2015 [1] - The stock has experienced a strong performance, increasing over 50% in 2025, driven by high demand for semiconductors, particularly commodity types [1] - Since the end of 2015, Applied Materials has appreciated by 1,200%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500, which rose by 229% during the same period [1] Group 2 - Applied Materials provides essential equipment, software, and services that assist manufacturers in producing semiconductors and other electronic devices [2]

17 December 2025 U.S. Semiconductors and Semiconductor Capital Equipment Bernstein Semi Cycle Tearsheet: Why overcomplicate it? Stacy A. Rasgon, Ph.D. +1 213 559 5917 stacy.rasgon@bernsteinsg.com Alrick Shaw +1 917 344 8454 alrick.shaw@bernsteinsg.com Arpad von Nemes +1 917 344 8461 arpad.vonnemes@bernsteinsg.com How quickly narratives shift…The steam has come out of the AI trade in recent months as investors more fully wonder when the music might stop (or if we're there already). Memory has come off of one ...

Core Opinion - The opinion on Applied Materials (AMAT) has shifted from a hold rating to a buy rating, indicating a more favorable outlook for the company [1]. Company Summary - Applied Materials is recognized for its significant role in the technology sector, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing [1]. - The analyst has a background in engineering and a strong interest in tech stocks, which may influence the positive assessment of Applied Materials [1].

Core Viewpoint - The opinion on Applied Materials (AMAT) has shifted from a hold rating to a buy rating, indicating a positive outlook for the company's stock performance [1]. Company Summary - Applied Materials is recognized for its significant role in the technology sector, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing equipment [1]. - The analyst has a background in engineering, which influences the focus on tech stocks, suggesting a strong understanding of the industry dynamics [1]. Investment Perspective - The upgrade to a buy rating reflects confidence in Applied Materials' future performance and potential for growth in the tech market [1].

Group 1 - China's Hainan Free Trade Port officially launched its zero-tariff operation on December 18, expanding the range of zero-tariff goods to over 6,600 items, enhancing consumer experience for travel and shopping [2] - The Ministry of Commerce has reintroduced export license management for steel for the first time in 16 years to strengthen monitoring and analysis of steel product exports [2] - A giant underwater gold mine has been discovered in Shandong Province, with proven gold reserves of over 3,900 tons, accounting for approximately 26% of the national total [2] Group 2 - The State Administration for Market Regulation emphasizes the need to strengthen the construction of a unified national market and promote fair competition [3] - The U.S. has initiated a military sale to Taiwan valued at approximately $11 billion, marking one of the largest military sales [3] - The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission has issued guidelines for holding central enterprises accountable for investment violations, effective from January 1, 2026 [3] Group 3 - The China Securities Regulatory Commission is advancing the "14th Five-Year" plan for the capital market, focusing on comprehensive reforms and high-level opening-up [4] - A-share indices showed divergence, with the Shanghai Composite Index closing up 0.16% while the Shenzhen Component Index and ChiNext Index fell by 1.29% and 2.17%, respectively [4] - The Hong Kong stock market is undergoing a narrow consolidation, with the Hang Seng Index closing up 0.12% [4] Group 4 - Morgan Stanley predicts that chip stocks will remain one of the best-performing sectors in the U.S. stock market next year, highlighting Nvidia, Broadcom, and Astera Labs as top picks [5] - Insurance asset management institutions have registered 83 asset-backed plans this year, totaling approximately 344.56 billion yuan [5] - Domestic GPU companies, Moore Threads and Muxi Co., have recently listed on the STAR Market, attracting significant investment from insurance funds [5] Group 5 - A wave of IPOs is expected in the Hong Kong capital market, with several companies starting public offerings on December 18 [6] - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced that the photovoltaic industry will enter a critical phase in 2026, focusing on capacity regulation [8] Group 6 - The State Council has issued guidelines to strengthen electronic cigarette regulation and combat illegal tobacco-related activities [9] - The upcoming New Year's holiday is projected to significantly boost the domestic tourism market, with flight bookings increasing by approximately 46% year-on-year [9] - The total scale of bank wealth management products reached a historical high of about 34 trillion yuan by the end of November [9] Group 7 - The People's Bank of China will issue 40 billion yuan in central bank bills in Hong Kong on December 22, with a maturity of six months [18] - The U.S. Treasury Department reported an increase in Japan's holdings of U.S. Treasury securities to $1.2 trillion in October [18]

Applied Materials has been one of the semiconductor industry's quietest success stories. ...

Mizuho raised the firm’s price target on Applied Materials (AMAT) to $245 from $205 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares. The firm sees upside to 2026 wafter fab equipment estimate. The improving WFE outlook is positive for the company, the analyst tells investors in a research note. However, Mizuho sees challenges for Applied Materials given its China share loss and Intel exposure. Claim 50% Off TipRanks Premium and Invest with Confidence Unlock hedge-fund level data and powerful investing tools d ...