Applied Materials, Inc.

(NASDAQ Global Select)
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Bullish +75

Boston Trust Walden Corp Trims Stock Position in Applied Materials, Inc ...

AI-generated analysis

πŸ“‰ Boston Trust Walden Corp reduced its AMAT stake by 29.1% in Q1, selling 116,624 shares while retaining 284,603 shares valued at $97.3 million.

πŸ“ˆ Several smaller institutional investors increased positions in Q4, including Highline Wealth Partners (+48.7%) and Dogwood Wealth Management (+52.4%).

🏦 Hedge funds collectively own 80.56% of Applied Materials' outstanding stock as of the latest filings.

πŸ“Š Susquehanna Financial Group raised its price target to $900 with a 'positive' rating, while Cantor Fitzgerald set a target of $850.

πŸ’° Raymond James Financial established a $650 price objective in a recent research report dated June 10th.

πŸ“‰ Senior Vice Presidents Timothy Deane and Omkaram Nalamasu sold shares worth approximately $20 million combined in late June.

πŸ“ˆ Applied Materials reported Q1 revenue of $7.91 billion, beating estimates of $7.68 billion by 3%.

πŸ’΅ The company posted earnings per share of $2.86, exceeding the consensus estimate of $2.68 by $0.18.

πŸ“ˆ Revenue grew 11.4% year-over-year to reach $7.91 billion during the reported quarter.

🎯 Q3 2026 earnings guidance is set between $3.16 and $3.56 per share by management.

πŸ’° A quarterly dividend of $0.53 per share was declared with an ex-dividend date of August 20th.

πŸ“‰ Insider selling over the last 90 days totaled 278,088 shares worth $169.7 million.

Bullish Signals
  • Applied Materials beat quarterly revenue expectations with $7.91 billion reported against a consensus of $7.68 billion.
  • Earnings per share of $2.86 exceeded analyst estimates of $2.68, demonstrating strong profitability.
  • Susquehanna Financial Group raised its price target to $900 and upgraded the rating to 'positive'.
  • Cantor Fitzgerald increased its price target to $850 with an 'overweight' rating from analysts.
  • Revenue grew 11.4% year-over-year, indicating sustained demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
  • The company achieved a high return on equity of 36.97% and a net margin of 29.31%.
  • Analyst consensus remains 'Moderate Buy' with 27 buy ratings versus only 8 hold ratings.
  • Management provided clear Q3 2026 guidance ranging from $3.16 to $3.56 EPS.
Risk Factors
  • Senior Vice Presidents Timothy Deane and Omkaram Nalamasu sold a combined total of 32,884 shares worth over $169 million in the last 90 days.
  • Boston Trust Walden Corp significantly trimmed its position by 29.1% in the first quarter.
Full Analysis
Boston Trust Walden Corp significantly reduced its stake in Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) by 29.1% in the first quarter, selling 116,624 shares to hold a remaining position of 284,603 shares valued at approximately $97.3 million. While this major institutional investor trimmed its exposure, several smaller hedge funds and advisory groups increased their positions during the fourth quarter, with Highline Wealth Partners boosting holdings by 48.7% and Dogwood Wealth Management growing theirs by 52.4%. Despite these mixed institutional moves, hedge funds collectively maintain a dominant 80.56% ownership of the company's outstanding stock. Analyst sentiment remains robust for Applied Materials, with major brokerages raising price targets and maintaining positive ratings following recent financial results. Susquehanna Financial Group increased its target from $575 to $900 with a 'positive' rating, while Cantor Fitzgerald raised its target to $850 with an 'overweight' designation. The consensus among 27 buy-rated analysts versus 8 hold ratings is a 'Moderate Buy,' reflecting strong confidence in the semiconductor equipment provider's strategic position and future growth prospects despite the recent insider selling activity. Financially, Applied Materials delivered a solid quarterly performance with revenue of $7.91 billion, beating analyst expectations of $7.68 billion by 3%. The company reported earnings per share of $2.86, surpassing the consensus estimate of $2.68, and achieved a net margin of 29.31% alongside a return on equity of 36.97%. Revenue grew 11.4% year-over-year, and the firm has provided Q3 2026 guidance ranging between $3.16 and $3.56 per share, indicating continued operational strength in the semiconductor manufacturing sector. Corporate insiders have recently sold a notable volume of stock, with Senior Vice Presidents Timothy Deane and Omkaram Nalamasu collectively offloading shares worth over $169 million over the last 90 days. These transactions represent decreases in their individual ownership percentages but do not necessarily signal a lack of confidence given the strong financial backdrop. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.53 per share, payable on September 10th to shareholders of record on August 20th, maintaining a low payout ratio of roughly 20%.