Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-10-28 06:49Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that Applied Materials (AMAT.US) is favored by multiple analysts due to its potential benefits from AI and data center construction [1] - Analysts predict that data centers currently consume about 4% of the total U.S. energy supply, which is expected to rise to 12% by 2028, indicating significant growth in energy demand driven by AI and data centers [1] - The investment firm Heartland Opportunistic Value Equity Strategy has established a position in Applied Materials, highlighting its status as the largest and most diversified supplier of capital equipment, services, and solutions in the semiconductor manufacturing sector [1] Group 2 - Applied Materials holds a 21% market share in wafer fabrication equipment, a result of decades of organic and inorganic growth, positioning it as a global leader in critical manufacturing processes [1] - The company is expected to benefit from increasing demand for advanced packaging and complex manufacturing processes due to rising chip architecture complexity, which will boost wafer fabrication equipment spending [1] - Based on mid-cycle earnings per share, the stock price of Applied Materials could reach the low $300s, representing significant upside potential from its current price of approximately $170 [1]