Live: Applied Materials Q2 Earnings Tonight – Can the Stock Continue Its Meteoric Run?
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Quick Read
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Applied Materials rides an AI memory capex cycle driven by high-bandwidth memory buildouts and leading-edge logic at 2nm nodes, but elevated valuations near a forward P/E of 36, and China export-control headwinds create execution risk into tonight’s earnings.
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This live blog is being updated by Thomas Richmond, a 24/7 Wall St. contributor. You’ll get expert analysis of Applied Materials’ earnings. Simply stay on this page, and new updates will appear below automatically. We expect AMAT’s earnings to be released shortly after 4:00 p.m. ET.
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Applied Materials Q2 Earnings Coverage Wrap-Up
That wraps up our initial coverage of Applied Materials’ Q2 results. Thank you for stopping by!
Check out management’s earnings call tonight for more updates.
Why AMAT's Forward Guidance Mattered More Than the Q2 Beat Tonight
The real catalyst for Applied Materials tonight sat in the Q3 outlook: revenue of ~$8.95 billion +/- $500 million and non-GAAP EPS of ~$3.36 +/- $0.20, well above the run-rate Wall Street modeled.
The bigger tell is the calendar-year framing. Management lifted semiconductor equipment industry growth to more than 30% in calendar 2026, up from the ‘over 20%’ guide issued in February.
Applied Materials has a history of guiding conservatively, then beating, so a raise of that magnitude signals genuine confidence in HBM, Gate-All-Around, and advanced packaging demand. A bearish reaction would require China commentary on the call to undercut the math.
Applied Materials' Recent Analyst Price Targets
Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT | AMAT Price Prediction) trades at $440.56 at the close. The consensus 12-month target sits at $444.24, essentially in line with spot, while 31-analyst panel pegs the average at $453.26 with a range of $280 to $550. Buy-side coverage skews heavily positive: 29 Buy ratings, 7 Holds, and no Sells.
Recent Price Target Updates
| Firm | Analyst | Rating | Price Target | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trefis | Team Coverage | Bullish | $800 (long-term) | May 14, 2026 |
| Citigroup | Not disclosed | Buy | $520 | May 13, 2026 |
| Street Consensus (31 firms) | Aggregate | Buy | $453.26 | May 12, 2026 |
| Citi (prior note) | Not disclosed | Buy | Raised on WFE surge | May 12, 2026 |
| Quant Model | Fuse | High Confidence | $516.81 | May 14, 2026 |
What It Signals
Citi’s $520 target implies meaningful upside from current levels, while consensus sits closer to the stock’s current price, suggesting the Street is digesting the AI-driven re-rating. With shares up 70.11% year-to-date and 154.63% over one year, tonight’s earnings and tomorrow’s analyst notes should determine whether higher targets become the new floor.
AMAT Q2 Earnings Are Out - Stock Jumps 8% as AI Chip Demand Stays Strong
Applied Materials ($AMAT) reported another strong quarter, beating Wall Street expectations on both revenue and earnings as AI-driven semiconductor demand continued powering growth. Shares are up 8% on the news.
The company posted adjusted EPS of $2.86, ahead of the $2.68 consensus estimate, while revenue came in at $7.91 billion versus expectations for $7.69 billion.
The quarter extended Applied’s strong earnings streak, with EPS climbing 20% year over year and revenue rising 11%. Results also accelerated sequentially, with revenue up 13% quarter over quarter as demand remained strong across advanced logic, DRAM, and AI infrastructure spending.
Investors have increasingly treated Applied Materials as one of the core picks-and-shovels beneficiaries of the AI buildout. Management previously reiterated expectations for more than 20% semiconductor equipment industry growth in calendar 2026, driven by spending on high-bandwidth memory, advanced packaging, and leading-edge chip manufacturing.
Shares entered earnings near a 52-week high after rallying more than 60% year-to-date, and options markets had implied roughly a 7% post-earnings move heading into the night’s results.
Applied Materials Q2 Earnings Tonight Have to Justify the AI Re-Rating
Applied Materials has beaten estimates for four straight quarters, but the stock’s reaction has still been volatile, swinging anywhere from a 14% drop to an 8% rally on earnings day. That makes tonight’s results less about the beat itself and more about whether management can reinforce the bigger AI and semiconductor equipment growth story.
With shares trading near a 52-week high of $448.45 and the stock up 157% in the past year, expectations already look strong. Investors will likely focus on whether management confidently reiterates its target for 20%+ semiconductor equipment market growth in calendar 2026. If that outlook weakens even slightly, the recent re-rating could unwind quickly.
Investors are watching Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) ahead of fiscal Q2 2026 results due after the bell today. After a 70.11% year-to-date run, Q2 earnings tonight need to validate the AI capex story.
Riding the AI Memory Wave Into a Stretched Setup
Last quarter, Applied delivered non-GAAP EPS of $2.38, beating the $2.2069 consensus by 7.84%. Revenue of $7.01 billion topped estimates by 1.92% even as it slipped 2.15% year over year. The standout was DRAM, which climbed to 34% of Semiconductor Systems revenue from 27% a year earlier on HBM buildouts.
Shares have surged 10.33% in the past month and 154.63% over the past year, pushing the stock to $446.49 and a trailing P/E near 45. Polymarket traders give a 92.9% probability of a beat tonight.
Management Guidance for Q2 FY2026
| Metric | Q2 FY2026 Guidance | Q1 FY2026 Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | ~$7.65B +/- $500M | $7.01B |
| Non-GAAP EPS | ~$2.64 +/- $0.20 | $2.38 |
| Calendar 2026 Semi Equip Growth | Over 20% | FY2025 revenue $28.37B |
HBM, China, and 2026 Calendar Year Targets
Tonight, I’ll be watching whether DRAM momentum holds. CEO Gary Dickerson described HBM visibility as extending “through multiple quarters given customers’ capacity plans” on the last call, and DRAM revenue hit record levels in Q1. If the mix climbs further above 34%, it confirms Applied is capturing the AI memory capex cycle alongside leading-edge logic at 2nm Gate-All-Around nodes.
China remains a swing factor. The region accounted for $2.10 billion, or roughly 30% of total revenue, even after Applied paid a $253 million BIS settlement tied to export controls. Any softening commentary on license requirements or tariff retaliation would pressure the calendar 2026 setup.
Applied Global Services is also worth watching, where operating margins expanded 300+ basis points to 28.1%. That installed-base annuity is what justifies the multiple when systems revenue lumps around.
One yellow flag: CFO Brice Hill sold 5,000 shares at $361.21 on February 17, and Director Judy Bruner disposed of 6,469 shares across three trades in late February.
Thomas Richmond is a financial writer and content strategist with 5+ years of experience covering stocks and financial markets. He has published over 250 articles focused on individual stock analysis, helping investors better understand business fundamentals, stock valuations, and long-term opportunities.
Thomas previously served as a Content Lead at TIKR, a stock research platform, where he helped scale the company’s blog to hundreds of articles per month and contributed to a weekly newsletter reaching more than 100,000 investors.
He specializes in breaking down complex companies into clear, actionable insights for everyday investors, with a focus on fundamentals-driven research.
His work has also been featured on platforms including Seeking Alpha and Sure Dividend.
Outside of work, Thomas enjoys weight lifting and soccer.
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