Zacks Research Cuts Earnings Estimates for Applied Materials

Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) – Analysts at Zacks Research cut their Q2 2026 EPS estimates for Applied Materials in a note issued to investors on Monday, October 21st. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the manufacturing equipment provider will post earnings per share of $2.56 for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $2.57. The consensus estimate for Applied Materials’ current full-year earnings is $8.49 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Applied Materials’ Q3 2026 earnings at $2.64 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $10.44 EPS.

Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 15th. The manufacturing equipment provider reported $2.12 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.02 by $0.10. Applied Materials had a net margin of 27.74% and a return on equity of 39.99%. The business had revenue of $6.78 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.68 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.90 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year.

Several other research firms have also weighed in on AMAT. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on shares of Applied Materials from $260.00 to $230.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 16th. Dbs Bank downgraded shares of Applied Materials from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, September 16th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Applied Materials from $275.00 to $270.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 16th. StockNews.com cut shares of Applied Materials from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, September 14th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Applied Materials from $240.00 to $217.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 16th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Applied Materials presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $229.14.

Applied Materials Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of Applied Materials stock opened at $182.70 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $151.27 billion, a PE ratio of 21.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 1.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 2.86 and a quick ratio of 2.09. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $194.71 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $208.75. Applied Materials has a 52-week low of $129.21 and a 52-week high of $255.89.

Institutional Trading of Applied Materials

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Applied Materials by 15.2% in the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 594,760 shares of the manufacturing equipment provider’s stock worth $121,878,000 after acquiring an additional 78,672 shares during the last quarter. Parcion Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Applied Materials during the 3rd quarter valued at about $241,000. Highland Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Applied Materials by 12.9% in the 3rd quarter. Highland Capital Management LLC now owns 40,546 shares of the manufacturing equipment provider’s stock valued at $8,192,000 after buying an additional 4,630 shares in the last quarter. Heritage Oak Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Applied Materials in the 3rd quarter valued at about $362,000. Finally, Lake Street Advisors Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Applied Materials by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC now owns 12,534 shares of the manufacturing equipment provider’s stock valued at $2,533,000 after buying an additional 431 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.56% of the company’s stock.

Applied Materials Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 12th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 21st will be given a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 21st. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.88%. Applied Materials’s payout ratio is currently 18.39%.

About Applied Materials

Applied Materials, Inc engages in the provision of manufacturing equipment, services, and software to the semiconductor, display, and related industries. The company operates through three segments: Semiconductor Systems, Applied Global Services, and Display and Adjacent Markets. The Semiconductor Systems segment develops, manufactures, and sells various manufacturing equipment that is used to fabricate semiconductor chips or integrated circuits.