Yahoo · Oct 7, 2026
4 Top Chip Stocks With Dependable Earnings to Ride the AI Boom
NVIDIA, Applied Materials, TSMC and Lam Research pair strong EPS consistency with durable growth as AI fuels chip and equipment demand.
AM
NYSE · AMAT
Applied Materials, Inc.
Technology · Semiconductors
$530.27
Down-$9.62 (-1.81%)
Updated Oct 7, 2026, 9:15 PM
SID Score
8.0/10
Composite research score
Smart Money
48/100
Neutral
- Market cap
- 295.46B
- P/E ratio
- 37.66
- Dividend yield
- 0.34%
- 52-week range
- $255.96 – $739.67
- Volume
- 4.88M
- Avg. volume
- 7.49M
Price performance · AMAT
AMAT price history
1M range · 21 trading sessions · Daily adjusted prices
Prices through Oct 6, 2026
AMAT closed at $530.27 after 21 trading sessions, up 12.16% for the selected period.
- Last close
- $530.27
- Period change
- +12.16%
- Period low
- $415.38
- Period high
- $542.28
Daily close
View OHLC price history
| Date | Open | High | Low | Close | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 6, 2026 | $546.00 | $546.00 | $526.52 | $530.27 | 4.88M |
| Oct 5, 2026 | $540.99 | $545.814 | $533.59 | $542.28 | 4.65M |
| Oct 2, 2026 | $543.205 | $547.25 | $535.10 | $540.04 | 6.08M |
| Oct 1, 2026 | $516.65 | $533.88 | $515.51 | $529.30 | 6.09M |
| Sep 30, 2026 | $513.82 | $515.42 | $506.78 | $511.38 | 6.27M |
| Sep 29, 2026 | $504.71 | $513.28 | $499.17 | $512.01 | 7.16M |
| Sep 28, 2026 | $482.20 | $487.45 | $471.38 | $486.76 | 6.09M |
| Sep 25, 2026 | $478.885 | $487.68 | $476.36 | $485.00 | 5.21M |
| Sep 24, 2026 | $463.79 | $474.80 | $460.55 | $474.25 | 4.17M |
| Sep 23, 2026 | $471.23 | $474.90 | $461.00 | $474.38 | 4.59M |
| Sep 22, 2026 | $457.90 | $472.49 | $453.34 | $472.46 | 5.81M |
| Sep 21, 2026 | $455.945 | $468.51 | $452.655 | $464.24 | 9.49M |
| Sep 18, 2026 | $421.69 | $445.00 | $420.00 | $444.57 | 14.3M |
| Sep 17, 2026 | $427.575 | $428.54 | $413.56 | $417.40 | 6.93M |
| Sep 16, 2026 | $429.73 | $430.74 | $411.51 | $415.38 | 5.51M |
| Sep 15, 2026 | $429.85 | $429.99 | $416.76 | $421.17 | 5.64M |
| Sep 14, 2026 | $422.20 | $432.51 | $419.60 | $424.21 | 8.06M |
| Sep 11, 2026 | $461.19 | $464.57 | $452.70 | $456.49 | 4.32M |
| Sep 10, 2026 | $455.40 | $460.86 | $450.56 | $454.01 | 4.84M |
| Sep 9, 2026 | $466.66 | $474.04 | $463.78 | $468.85 | 3.95M |
| Sep 8, 2026 | $464.02 | $472.89 | $458.1518 | $472.79 | 6.31M |
Latest AMAT news
The latest Smart Investors Daily articles mentioning AMAT.
Stock researchCompany · Overview
Company
Market Activity
Research & News
AMAT research
Overview
Company profile and research snapshot.
Company profile
Applied Materials is the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment manufacturer in the world. It has a broad portfolio spanning nearly every corner of the WFE ecosystem. Applied Materials holds leading market share in deposition, which entails the layering of new materials on semiconductor wafers. It is more exposed to general-purpose logic chips made at integrated device manufacturers and foundries. It counts the largest chipmakers in the world as customers, including TSMC, Intel, and Samsung.
Visit company websiteAnalyst outlook
Consensus and target data currently published for this company.
- Consensus
- Buy
- Average target
- $255.27
- Implied upside
- —
- Analysts
- 26
| Date | Firm | Rating | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 28, 2026 | Morgan Stanley | Equal-Weight | — |
| Sep 1, 2026 | UBS | Buy | — |
| Aug 25, 2026 | Mizuho | Outperform | — |
| Aug 14, 2026 | RBC Capital | Outperform | — |
| Aug 14, 2026 | B. Riley Securities | Buy | — |
News briefing
Generated Oct 7, 2026, 9:02 PM
Why Is AMAT Down Today? Mixed Signals in AI Chip Sector Weigh on Stock
Applied Materials declined 1.81% today despite a flurry of positive developments in AI chipmaking partnerships and industry momentum. The selloff appears driven by broader semiconductor sector consolidation and profit-taking rather than company-specific headwinds, as AMAT remains a central beneficiary of AI-driven chip complexity expansion.
Bottom line: Applied Materials' modest 1.81% decline appears tactical rather than fundamental, occurring amid a backdrop of positive partnership announcements and sustained AI industry momentum. Investors should view this pullback as potential entry opportunity, though valuation multiples warrant monitoring; the company's strategic positioning in chipmaking innovation and equipment demand remains intact for long-term AI infrastructure plays.
Yahoo · Oct 7, 2026
Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. LRCX and KLAC: Can AI-Driven Chip Complexity Unlock Further Upside?
Is AMAT a good stock to buy? We came across a bullish thesis on Applied Materials, Inc. on Astute Optics – US’s Substack. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on AMAT. Applied Materials, Inc.’s share was trading at $530.27 as of October 6th 2026. AMAT’s trailing and forward P/E were 36.01 and 23.42 respectively […]
Yahoo · Oct 7, 2026
Intel (INTC) Ties AI Chipmaking Push To Faster Next Generation Process Rollout
Intel (NasdaqGS: INTC) and Applied Materials agreed to work together on next-generation chipmaking and packaging focused on AI workloads. The collaboration will use Applied Materials' new EPIC Center alongside Intel's process R&D to speed up commercialization of new logic nodes. Both companies aim to address performance, power efficiency and rapid iteration needs for data center and AI-focused semiconductor production. Intel's decision to tap Applied Materials' EPIC Center for AI-focused...
Yahoo · Oct 7, 2026
Zacks Industry Outlook Applied Materials, Lam Research and FormFactor
Applied Materials, Lam Research and FormFactor have been highlighted in this Industry Outlook article.
AI research layers
Interpretive context generated from the platform’s current data sources.
Applied Materials Stock Performance
Applied Materials shares closed at $530.27, reflecting a 0.95% gain in the most recent session, per SID market data. Over the trailing one-month period, AMAT has appreciated by 24.4%, though the three-month return stands at negative 2.2%, indicating recent volatility within the broader recovery trend. On a one-year basis, the stock has gained $109.37, underscoring sustained strength in semiconductor equipment demand. Technically, AMAT trades well above its 50-day moving average of $487.22 and its 200-day moving average of $437.12, representing premiums of approximately 8.8% and 21.3%, respectively, according to Massive/Polygon data. The 14-day RSI has reached 95.1, signaling extreme overbought conditions that historically precede consolidation phases. The stock carries a beta of 1.677, indicating significantly higher volatility relative to the broader market. Average daily volume stands at approximately 7.49 million shares, supporting adequate liquidity for institutional positioning.
Applied Materials Valuation Analysis
Applied Materials currently commands a market capitalization of approximately $295.5 billion, positioning it among the largest semiconductor equipment firms globally, per SID market data. The stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.66, which represents a premium relative to historical norms for the capital equipment sector. The PEG ratio stands at 3.01, according to SEC filings and consensus growth estimates, suggesting the current earnings multiple exceeds the company's projected earnings growth rate. AMAT's price-to-book ratio of 13.59 reflects substantial market premium over tangible asset value, consistent with investor expectations for continued margin expansion and technology leadership. The company maintains a modest dividend yield of 0.49%, indicating management prioritizes capital reinvestment and share repurchases over direct shareholder distributions. These valuation metrics collectively place Applied Materials at an elevated standing within the Technology sector, where forward growth assumptions in AI-driven semiconductor demand remain a critical variable for justifying current multiples.
Smart Money Activity for AMAT
Applied Materials registers a composite smart money score of 48 out of 100 with a neutral overall signal, per SID market data. Institutional positioning scores a perfect 25 out of 25, reflecting strong conviction among large fund managers who continue to maintain or increase allocations to the stock. In contrast, the insider activity component scores 0.0 out of 25, driven by a notably bearish insider transaction pattern. According to SEC Form 4 filings, there have been six insider trades over the past 90 days, comprising five sales and only one purchase. This selling pattern suggests corporate insiders may view current price levels as an opportunity to realize gains. Dark pool activity registers at 5.7 out of 25, indicating below-average off-exchange institutional accumulation. Congressional trading activity scores 17.6 out of 25, reflecting notable interest from lawmakers in their disclosed portfolio transactions, per 13F institutional filings. The divergence between institutional enthusiasm and insider selling creates a mixed signal that warrants monitoring as the stock enters overbought territory.
Applied Materials Earnings Outlook
Applied Materials has delivered a consistent pattern of earnings beats across its three most recent reported quarters, according to company earnings reports. In the fiscal quarter reported on August 13, 2026, AMAT posted earnings per share of $3.50 versus the consensus estimate of $3.39, representing a positive surprise of $0.11. The May 2026 quarter showed EPS of $2.86 against expectations of $2.68, a beat of $0.18, while the February 2026 quarter delivered $2.38 versus the estimated $2.20, also exceeding forecasts by $0.18. This sequential earnings trajectory demonstrates meaningful quarter-over-quarter acceleration, with EPS rising from $2.38 to $3.50 across three quarters, representing approximately 47% sequential growth. The upcoming quarter carries analyst estimates of $2.25 per share. The sustained outperformance relative to consensus expectations reflects strong execution in advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales amid elevated industry capital expenditure cycles driven by AI infrastructure buildouts.
Wall Street Analyst Ratings for AMAT
Wall Street consensus on Applied Materials leans constructively bullish, with the majority of recent analyst actions reaffirming positive ratings, per SID consensus data. On September 1, 2026, UBS reiterated its Buy rating, while Mizuho maintained an Outperform designation on August 25, 2026, according to Wall Street analyst reports. RBC Capital and B. Riley Securities both reaffirmed bullish stances on August 14, 2026, with Outperform and Buy ratings respectively, following the company's strong quarterly earnings release. Morgan Stanley remains the notable outlier, maintaining its Equal-Weight rating as of September 28, 2026, suggesting a more cautious stance on risk-reward at current valuations. Across the five most recent analyst actions, four firms hold bullish ratings while one maintains a neutral position, producing an 80% bullish skew. No analyst has downgraded AMAT during this period, and all five actions represented reiterations of prior ratings rather than initiations or changes, indicating stable institutional conviction in the company's fundamental trajectory.
