Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) is a leading company in the semiconductor industry, providing equipment, services, and software for the manufacturing of semiconductor chips. The company plays a crucial role in the electronics supply chain, serving major tech companies worldwide. Competitors include Lam Research and KLA Corporation, both of which also operate in the semiconductor equipment sector.
On February 12, 2025, Needham maintained its "Buy" rating for AMAT, with the action being "hold." At this time, AMAT's stock price was $180.89. This rating comes just before the company is set to announce its first-quarter fiscal 2025 results on February 13. The anticipation surrounding these results is high, given the company's strong performance history.
Applied Materials expects net sales to be around $7.15 billion, with a possible variation of $400 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is slightly higher at $7.16 billion, marking a 6.7% increase from the same quarter last year. This growth is expected to be driven by the company's Semiconductor and AGS segments, which have shown robust performance.
The company projects non-GAAP earnings to range between $2.11 and $2.47 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $2.28 per share, reflecting a 7% growth from the previous year's quarter. Despite a slight downward revision by a penny over the past 60 days, AMAT has a strong track record of exceeding earnings expectations, having delivered an earnings surprise of 6.4% in the last reported quarter.
Currently, AMAT's stock price is $180.89, reflecting a decrease of 1.26% or $2.31. The stock has traded between $178.31 and $181.53 today. Over the past year, AMAT has seen a high of $255.89 and a low of $158.96. With a market capitalization of approximately $147 billion and a trading volume of 4,996,466 shares, AMAT remains a significant player in the NASDAQ exchange.
