G&S Capital LLC Purchases 3,827 Shares of Applied Materials, Inc. $AMAT

Key Points

• G&S Capital increased its Applied Materials stake by 399.5% in the second quarter, purchasing 3,827 additional shares for a total of 4,785 shares valued at approximately $3.46 million. Institutional investors collectively own 80.56% of the company.
• Analysts remain broadly positive, with 27 analysts rating the stock Buy or Strong Buy and a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating. The average price target is $603.23, with recent targets ranging as high as $850.
• Applied Materials reported quarterly EPS of $2.86 and revenue of $7.91 billion, exceeding estimates, while maintaining a quarterly dividend of $0.53 per share. Despite strong AI and semiconductor demand, the stock’s elevated valuation and recent insider selling present potential risks.

G&S Capital LLC lifted its holdings in Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT - Free Report) by 399.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,785 shares of the manufacturing equipment provider's stock after acquiring an additional 3,827 shares during the period. G&S Capital LLC's holdings in Applied Materials were worth $3,460,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Freedom LLC bought a new stake in Applied Materials in the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Applied Materials by 34.8% during the second quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 93 shares of the manufacturing equipment provider's stock worth $67,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares during the period. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Applied Materials in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Applied Materials by 218.8% in the first quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 102 shares of the manufacturing equipment provider's stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Applied Materials in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. 80.56% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

AMAT has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Weiss Ratings restated a "buy (b-)" rating on shares of Applied Materials in a research report on Wednesday, June 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $645.00 price objective on shares of Applied Materials in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on shares of Applied Materials from $650.00 to $850.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, June 29th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Applied Materials from $510.00 to $770.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, June 26th. Finally, Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Applied Materials from $540.00 to $720.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-six have given a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $603.23.

Applied Materials Stock Performance

Shares of Applied Materials stock opened at $525.61 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $417.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 1.61. Applied Materials, Inc. has a twelve month low of $154.46 and a twelve month high of $739.67. The company's fifty day moving average is $561.46 and its 200 day moving average is $441.34. The company has a quick ratio of 1.80, a current ratio of 2.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22.

Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 14th. The manufacturing equipment provider reported $2.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.68 by $0.18. The business had revenue of $7.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.68 billion. Applied Materials had a return on equity of 36.97% and a net margin of 29.31%.Applied Materials's revenue for the quarter was up 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.39 EPS. Applied Materials has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 3.160-3.560 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Applied Materials, Inc. will post 12.17 EPS for the current year.

Applied Materials Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 20th will be given a dividend of $0.53 per share. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 20th. Applied Materials's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 19.91%.

More Applied Materials News

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

• Positive Sentiment: AI and semiconductor demand remain key bullish catalysts. Jim Cramer highlighted Applied Materials alongside Lam Research and KLA as beneficiaries of data-center memory bottlenecks and expected demand for chipmaking equipment. The company’s broad technology portfolio and exposure to AI infrastructure continue to support the long-term growth case. Jim Cramer semiconductor equipment analysis
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst earnings expectations have improved. A report indicated that an analyst raised the fiscal 2027 EPS forecast, while pre-earnings estimates call for approximately $9 billion in quarterly revenue and $3.39 in EPS. These expectations imply continued year-over-year growth and could support the shares if management delivers or raises guidance. Applied Materials EPS forecast update
• Positive Sentiment: Applied Materials expanded its chip-innovation ecosystem. UC Berkeley will join the company’s EPIC Center, giving researchers access to industry-scale equipment and process-integration capabilities. The collaboration could accelerate semiconductor research and commercialization, although the financial benefit is longer term. UC Berkeley joins Applied Materials EPIC Center
• Neutral Sentiment: Options markets are anticipating a significant earnings-related move. Traders expect substantial volatility around Thursday’s results, as investors assess revenue, EPS, margins, orders and fiscal 2026 guidance. Applied Materials expected earnings move
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and competitive risks are limiting enthusiasm. William Blair initiated coverage with a Market Perform rating, citing strong AI-driven fundamentals but arguing that valuation and competition cap upside. With a trailing P/E near 49, the stock may require an earnings beat and constructive outlook to regain momentum. William Blair Applied Materials rating

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Applied Materials news, insider Prabu G. Raja sold 50,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $505.28, for a total transaction of $25,264,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 356,642 shares in the company, valued at approximately $180,204,069.76. This trade represents a 12.30% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Omkaram Nalamasu sold 24,263 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $593.43, for a total transaction of $14,398,392.09. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 146,916 shares in the company, valued at $87,184,361.88. This trade represents a 14.17% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 278,088 shares of company stock valued at $169,654,805 over the last 90 days. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Applied Materials Profile

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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