PensionDanmark Pensionsforsikringsaktieselskab Raises Stake in Applied Materials, Inc. $AMAT

PensionDanmark Pensionsforsikringsaktieselskab grew its stake in Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT - Free Report) by 6.7% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 181,875 shares of the manufacturing equipment provider's stock after acquiring an additional 11,347 shares during the quarter. Applied Materials comprises approximately 1.1% of PensionDanmark Pensionsforsikringsaktieselskab's investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest position. PensionDanmark Pensionsforsikringsaktieselskab's holdings in Applied Materials were worth $131,496,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of AMAT. Apella Capital LLC boosted its holdings in Applied Materials by 14.8% in the 2nd quarter. Apella Capital LLC now owns 3,744 shares of the manufacturing equipment provider's stock valued at $2,707,000 after purchasing an additional 483 shares during the last quarter. Prodigy Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Applied Materials during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $289,000. 55 North Private Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of Applied Materials by 12.8% during the 2nd quarter. 55 North Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,283 shares of the manufacturing equipment provider's stock valued at $928,000 after buying an additional 146 shares during the period. Clark Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Applied Materials by 5.2% in the second quarter. Clark Asset Management LLC now owns 3,218 shares of the manufacturing equipment provider's stock valued at $2,327,000 after acquiring an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fermata Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Applied Materials in the second quarter valued at approximately $242,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.56% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP Timothy M. Deane sold 8,621 shares of Applied Materials stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $590.76, for a total value of $5,092,941.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 134,631 shares in the company, valued at $79,534,609.56. The trade was a 6.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Thomas J. Iannotti sold 9,250 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $599.77, for a total transaction of $5,547,872.50. Following the transaction, the director owned 40,559 shares of the company's stock, valued at $24,326,071.43. This trade represents a 18.57% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 278,088 shares of company stock worth $169,654,805. Corporate insiders own 0.30% of the company's stock.

Applied Materials Price Performance

Shares of AMAT opened at $527.48 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $418.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 49.53, a PEG ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 1.61. Applied Materials, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $154.46 and a fifty-two week high of $739.67. The company has a quick ratio of 1.80, a current ratio of 2.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $557.69 and its 200 day moving average price is $437.00.

Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 14th. The manufacturing equipment provider reported $2.86 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 the consensus estimate of $7.68 billion. Applied Materials had a net margin of 29.31% and a return on equity of 36.97%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.39 earnings per share. Applied Materials has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 3.160-3.560 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Applied Materials, Inc. will post 12.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Applied Materials Announces Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on AMAT shares. TD Cowen raised their target price on Applied Materials from $525.00 to $700.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $525.00 price target on shares of Applied Materials in a research note on Friday, May 15th. HSBC reissued a "buy" rating and set a $683.00 price objective on shares of Applied Materials in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Applied Materials from $500.00 to $520.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, May 15th. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Applied Materials from $570.00 to $705.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-six have assigned a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $603.23.

Key Stories Impacting Applied Materials

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

• Positive Sentiment: AI and semiconductor demand remain major tailwinds. Citi analysts identified Applied Materials as a top pick following a semiconductor selloff, arguing that the AI upcycle is still in its early stages. AMAT supplies deposition, etch, inspection and packaging equipment needed to manufacture advanced AI chips. Citi Analysts See Golden Opportunity in Semiconductor Selloff
• Positive Sentiment: Investors are positioned for earnings growth. Wall Street expects year-over-year earnings improvement when Applied Materials reports on Aug. 13. Analysts and financial commentators point to growing demand for memory, logic and advanced packaging equipment, while the consensus price target cited in recent coverage implies meaningful upside. The company’s latest reported quarter also exceeded earnings and revenue estimates. Applied Materials Reports Next Week
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst sentiment is broadly favorable but not unanimous. Several reports describe AMAT as a Buy and highlight potential upside, but Erste Group Bank AG downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold. The mixed recommendations may limit enthusiasm after the stock’s recent rebound.
• Negative Sentiment: Michael Burry’s disclosed short position is pressuring AI-related stocks. Burry has reportedly bet against Applied Materials and other AI-linked semiconductor names while warning of a potential 1987-style market reversal. His comments have increased concern that elevated AI valuations and semiconductor momentum could unwind. Applied Materials Faces Fresh Scrutiny After Michael Burry Short Bet
• Negative Sentiment: Earnings create near-term event risk. AMAT has rallied sharply from its late-July low, raising the bar for the upcoming report. Even an earnings beat could trigger profit-taking if guidance or AI-related demand fails to exceed elevated expectations.

Applied Materials Company 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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