Why Applied Materials Stock Crashed Today

Core Insights - Applied Materials reported strong fiscal Q3 earnings, with earnings per share (EPS) of $2.48 and sales of $7.3 billion, exceeding analyst expectations of $2.36 EPS and $7.2 billion in sales [1][3] - Despite the strong Q3 performance, the company issued a disappointing Q4 guidance, projecting adjusted EPS of $2.11 and a sequential sales decline of approximately 8% to around $6.7 billion [4][5] Financial Performance - Q3 sales increased by 8% year over year, and operating profit margin improved by nearly 2 percentage points [3] - Net income grew by only 4%, with EPS growth matching sales growth at 8% [3] - GAAP EPS was reported at $2.22, significantly lower than the adjusted EPS of $2.48 [3] Future Outlook - The company attributed the lowered Q4 guidance to a "dynamic macroeconomic and policy environment," which has created increased uncertainty and lower visibility [5] - Concerns were raised regarding the "digestion of capacity" in China, which had previously stocked up on semiconductor manufacturing equipment [5] - Purchasing activity from leading-edge customers is described as "lumpy," further complicating sales growth [5] Valuation Considerations - With a trailing P/E ratio of 23, Applied Materials stock may not appear overly expensive; however, potential sales shrinkage raises concerns about the stock's valuation [6]