Applied Materials Gets Premarket Lift After Topping Estimates, Forecasting AI-Backed Growth

Shares of semiconductor equipment manufacturer Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT) saw a significant boost in premarket trading Thursday after the company reported first quarter earnings and guidance that handily surpassed Wall Street estimates.

Buoyed by robust demand for its advanced manufacturing tools and improved conditions across key end markets, Applied Materials offered an optimistic outlook for the current quarter that positioned the stock for further gains.

Applied Materials Gets Premarket Boost After Promising Earnings

Applied Materials Inc. reported better-than-expected first-quarter financial results Thursday, sending its stock price higher in premarket trading. The semiconductor equipment manufacturer posted earnings per share of $2.13 on revenue of $6.71 billion. Analysts had expected EPS of $1.90 on revenue of $6.48 billion.

For the current quarter, Applied Materials expects EPS between $1.79 and $2.15 on revenue ranging from $6.33 billion to $6.50 billion. The outlook exceeded Wall Street forecasts, with analysts predicting second-quarter EPS of $1.78.

Demand for the company’s AI-enabled tools used in advanced chipmaking supported the positive guidance, along with improving conditions in markets like personal computers and smartphones.

Shares rallied on the results, which analysts said reflect Applied Materials’ diversified business lines and position it to benefit from upcoming technology advances. The company said its packaging revenues tied to high-bandwidth memory chips will quadruple. Analysts from J.P. Morgan and Jefferies expressed optimism due to the firm’s exposure to multiple secular growth trends in the semiconductor industry and signs of a strong recovery, respectively.

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Stock Price Movement

Shares of Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT) closed at $187.66 Wednesday and jumped 12.03% to $210.23 in premarket trading Thursday following the company’s release of better-than-expected first-quarter financial results and an optimistic second-quarter outlook. Applied Materials also announced a quarterly cash dividend of 32 cents per share, payable on June 15 to shareholders of record as of May 25.

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Disclaimer: The author does not hold or have a position in any securities discussed in the article.