Applied Materials Stock Performance
Applied Materials shares traded at $507.03, reflecting a daily gain of approximately 0.95% per SID market data. Over the trailing one-month period, AMAT rose 8.69%, though the stock remains down 15.42% over the past three months, suggesting recent recovery from a broader pullback. On a one-year basis, the stock has gained 95.82%, substantially outperforming the broader semiconductor equipment sector. Technically, AMAT trades above both its 50-day moving average of $489.84 and its 200-day moving average of $440.02, indicating a sustained uptrend according to Massive/Polygon data. However, the 14-day relative strength index stands at 74.6, placing the stock in overbought territory above the conventional 70 threshold. Average daily volume is approximately 7.49 million shares. The stock carries a beta of 1.677, signaling significantly higher volatility relative to the broader market, consistent with its position in the cyclical semiconductor equipment industry.
Applied Materials Valuation Analysis
Applied Materials currently carries a market capitalization of approximately $295.5 billion, positioning it among the largest semiconductor equipment companies globally per SID market data. The stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.66, which reflects a premium valuation relative to the broader Technology sector. The PEG ratio stands at 3.01, indicating that the current P/E significantly exceeds the company's expected earnings growth rate, suggesting the stock may be priced for elevated future expansion according to SEC filings and consensus estimates. AMAT's price-to-book ratio of 13.59 further underscores the premium investors assign to the company's asset base, driven by its leadership in semiconductor fabrication equipment. The dividend yield sits at 0.49%, providing modest income return as the company prioritizes capital reinvestment and share repurchases. Collectively, these metrics position AMAT at a valuation premium that reflects high market expectations for sustained revenue and earnings growth in the semiconductor cycle.
Smart Money Activity for AMAT
Applied Materials registers a composite smart money score of 48 out of 100, reflecting a neutral overall signal per SID market data. Institutional positioning is notably strong, scoring a perfect 25 out of 25, indicating substantial and sustained holdings by major fund managers as disclosed in 13F institutional filings. Congressional trading activity is also elevated at 17.6 out of 25, suggesting notable legislative interest in the semiconductor equipment space. In contrast, insider activity presents a cautious signal, scoring 0.0 out of 25. SEC Form 4 filings reveal six insider transactions over the past 90 days, comprising five sales and just one purchase, reflecting a pronounced sell bias among company executives and directors. Dark pool activity registers at 5.7 out of 25, indicating relatively low levels of off-exchange institutional block trading. The divergence between strong institutional conviction and consistent insider selling creates a mixed signal for investors evaluating internal corporate sentiment versus broader institutional demand for AMAT shares.
Applied Materials Earnings Outlook
Applied Materials has delivered three consecutive quarterly earnings beats according to company earnings reports. In the most recent quarter reported in August 2026, AMAT posted earnings per share of $3.50 against analyst estimates of $3.39, representing a positive surprise of $0.11. The prior quarter, reported in May 2026, showed EPS of $2.86 versus expectations of $2.68, a beat of $0.18 or approximately 6.7%. The February 2026 quarter similarly exceeded forecasts, with actual EPS of $2.38 compared to the $2.20 consensus estimate. The sequential trajectory from $2.38 to $2.86 to $3.50 demonstrates meaningful quarter-over-quarter earnings acceleration, with the latest quarter reflecting approximately 22.4% sequential growth. Looking ahead, the upcoming quarter carries an analyst consensus estimate of $2.25 per share. The sustained pattern of outperformance relative to estimates signals strong operational execution amid robust demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
Wall Street Analyst Ratings for AMAT
Wall Street consensus on Applied Materials remains predominantly constructive per SID consensus data. Among the most recent analyst actions, UBS reiterated a Buy rating in September 2026, while Mizuho maintained an Outperform rating in August 2026. RBC Capital also reiterated its Outperform stance following the August earnings report, and B. Riley Securities maintained a Buy rating. Morgan Stanley represents the most cautious voice among recent coverage, reiterating an Equal-Weight rating in September 2026, maintaining its relatively neutral positioning. Notably, none of the five most recent analyst updates involved downgrades; all were reiterations of existing ratings, reflecting stable conviction levels across the coverage universe according to Wall Street analyst reports. The predominance of Buy and Outperform ratings — four out of five recent actions — indicates broad sell-side confidence in Applied Materials' positioning within the semiconductor capital equipment cycle, supported by the company's consistent earnings outperformance and market share leadership in key deposition and etch technologies.
