Applied Materials, Inc.

(NASDAQ Global Select)
Bullish +75

Blue Capital Inc. Invests $2.78 Million in Applied Materials, Inc ...

πŸ“ˆ Blue Capital Inc. acquired 10,818 shares of Applied Materials valued at $2.78 million in Q4, making it the firm's 16th largest position.

πŸ“Š Applied Materials reported Q1 earnings of $2.86 EPS and $7.91 billion revenue, beating analyst estimates for both metrics.

πŸš€ Revenue grew 11.4% year-over-year with a net margin of 29.31% and return on equity of 36.97%.

πŸ“… Q3 2026 guidance is set between $3.16 and $3.56 EPS, while analysts forecast full-year earnings of $12.10.

πŸ’° The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.53 per share payable on September 10th to shareholders of record on August 20th.

πŸ“ˆ Citigroup raised its price target to $710.00 and Argus increased its objective to $500.00 with 'buy' ratings.

🏒 Eighty percent point five six percent of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

πŸ’Ό CEO Gary E. Dickerson sold 71,727 shares worth approximately $42.6 million in a transaction on June 16th.

πŸ“‰ Insider Prabu G. Raja sold 50,000 shares for $25.3 million on June 4th, reducing his ownership by 12.3%.

πŸ”§ Applied Materials provides equipment and software for semiconductor chip manufacturing including deposition, etch, and inspection.

Bullish Signals
  • Applied Materials beat earnings expectations with $2.86 EPS compared to the consensus of $2.68.
  • Revenue reached $7.91 billion, exceeding analyst estimates of $7.68 billion by a significant margin.
  • The company delivered strong profitability with a net margin of 29.31% and a return on equity of 36.97%.
  • Major analysts including Citigroup and Argus raised their price targets significantly while maintaining 'buy' ratings.
  • Blue Capital Inc. increased its investment in the company, signaling institutional confidence in the stock.
  • The firm provided clear forward guidance for Q3 2026 EPS ranging from $3.16 to $3.56.
  • Analysts anticipate full-year earnings of $12.10, suggesting continued growth potential.
Risk Factors
  • CEO Gary E. Dickerson sold 71,727 shares worth approximately $42.6 million, representing a 4.06% decrease in his ownership.
  • Executive Prabu G. Raja sold 50,000 shares for $25.3 million, reducing his stake by 12.3%.
Full Analysis
Blue Capital Inc. increased its stake in Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) by acquiring 10,818 shares valued at approximately $2.78 million during the fourth quarter, representing about 2.0% of the firm's portfolio and making it the company's 16th largest position. Several other institutional investors also adjusted their holdings in the semiconductor equipment provider, with Highline Wealth Partners raising its position by 48.7% and multiple smaller funds establishing new stakes totaling roughly $103,000 combined. Applied Materials recently reported strong quarterly results for the quarter ended May 14th, beating analyst expectations with earnings per share of $2.86 versus a consensus of $2.68 and revenue of $7.91 billion against an expected $7.68 billion. The company achieved a net margin of 29.31% and a return on equity of 36.97%, with revenue growing 11.4% year-over-year. For the upcoming quarter, the firm has provided guidance for Q3 2026 EPS between $3.16 and $3.56, while analysts currently anticipate full-year earnings of $12.10. The stock received significant bullish attention from major equity research firms, with Citigroup raising its price target to $710.00 and Argus increasing its objective to $500.00, both issuing 'buy' ratings. Despite a recent insider selling activity where CEO Gary E. Dickerson sold 71,727 shares and executive Prabu G. Raja sold 50,000 shares, the company maintains a robust dividend yield of 0.3% with an ex-dividend date of August 20th. The consensus analyst rating remains 'Moderate Buy' with a price target around $489.16.