Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) Given "Overweight" Rating at Cantor Fitzgerald

Key Points

• Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an Overweight rating on Applied Materials and kept a $575 price target, implying about 27.8% upside from the prior close.
• Other analysts have also been mostly constructive: JPMorgan raised its target to $515, while the broader analyst consensus remains a Moderate Buy with an average target of $466.52.
• Applied Materials recently reported better-than-expected quarterly results, with EPS of $2.86 and revenue of $7.91 billion, and it also raised its Q3 outlook amid continued semiconductor and AI-related demand.

Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT - Get Free Report)'s stock had its "overweight" rating reiterated by equities researchers at Cantor Fitzgerald in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday,Benzinga reports. They presently have a $575.00 target price on the manufacturing equipment provider's stock. Cantor Fitzgerald's price objective would suggest a potential upside of 27.76% from the stock's previous close.

Several other brokerages also recently weighed in on AMAT. KGI Securities raised shares of Applied Materials to an "outperform" rating and set a $425.00 target price for the company in a report on Friday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating and issued a $502.00 price objective (up from $454.00) on shares of Applied Materials in a research note on Friday, May 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Applied Materials from $400.00 to $515.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, May 15th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Applied Materials from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, May 23rd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus set a $530.00 price objective on shares of Applied Materials in a research report on Friday, May 15th. Twenty-seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $466.52.

Applied Materials Stock Performance

Applied Materials stock traded up $1.83 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $450.08. 1,083,621 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,267,963. The stock has a market capitalization of $357.34 billion, a PE ratio of 42.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 2.51 and a quick ratio of 1.80. Applied Materials has a 12-month low of $153.47 and a 12-month high of $462.40. The business's 50-day moving average is $393.29 and its 200-day moving average is $331.12.

Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 14th. The manufacturing equipment provider reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.68 by $0.18. Applied Materials had a net margin of 29.31% and a return on equity of 36.97%. The business had revenue of $7.91 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.68 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.39 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. Applied Materials has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 3.160-3.560 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Applied Materials will post 12.02 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Applied Materials news, CAO Adam Sanders sold 268 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $434.22, for a total value of $116,370.96. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 4,280 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,858,461.60. This represents a 5.89% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Applied Materials

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Financial Freedom LLC acquired a new stake in Applied Materials in the first quarter worth about $28,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Applied Materials in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Applied Materials by 218.8% in the 1st quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 102 shares of the manufacturing equipment provider's stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC purchased a new stake in Applied Materials during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Finally, MBM Wealth Consultants LLC acquired a new position in Applied Materials during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Institutional investors own 80.56% of the company's stock.

Trending Headlines about Applied Materials

Here are the key news stories impacting Applied Materials this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Applied Materials reported better-than-expected fiscal Q2 results, with revenue and EPS both topping forecasts, reinforcing confidence in demand for its chip equipment. Applied Materials (AMAT) Is Up 11.8% After Raising Q3 Outlook And Expanding AI Packaging Alliance
• Positive Sentiment: The company raised its Q3 revenue outlook, signaling management sees continued strength in semiconductor capital spending and AI-related demand. Applied Materials (AMAT) Is Up 11.8% After Raising Q3 Outlook And Expanding AI Packaging Alliance
• Positive Sentiment: Applied Materials expanded its AI packaging innovation efforts by teaming with Broadcom and SCREEN Semiconductor Solutions, which could strengthen its position in advanced chip manufacturing for AI systems. Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) Partners with Broadcom on Advanced Chip Packaging Technologies for AI Systems
• Positive Sentiment: The new SCREEN partnership at the EPIC Center adds another collaboration focused on advanced wafer cleaning, a development that could improve yields and accelerate next-generation chip production. Applied Materials Partners with SCREEN To Bring Advanced Wafer Cleaning Technologies to EPIC Center
• Neutral Sentiment: A small insider sale by CAO Adam Sanders was disclosed, but the transaction was limited in size and does not appear material to the stock’s outlook. Applied Materials NASDAQ: AMAT CAO Sells $116,370.96 in Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: A short-interest update showed no meaningful change in reported short positioning, so it is unlikely to be a major driver for AMAT today. Applied Materials stock and company data
• Negative Sentiment: A market commentary piece warned that strongly trending momentum stocks can reverse, which may temper sentiment after AMAT’s recent run-up. Intel, AMD, and Other Momentum Stocks Look Unstoppable. Look Again.

About Applied Materials

Applied Materials, Inc is a U.S.-based supplier of equipment, services and software used to manufacture semiconductor chips, flat panel displays and other advanced materials. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, the company designs and sells capital equipment and related technologies that enable production of integrated circuits, display panels and materials used across the electronics supply chain.

Applied Materials' offerings include process equipment and factory software that support critical steps in device fabrication, such as deposition, etch, implantation, inspection and metrology, as well as systems for packaging and advanced heterogeneous integration.

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