Applied Materials: I Am Reiterating My Strong Buy As AI Manufacturing Demand Accelerates
I'm reiterating Applied Materials as a Strong Buy rating, with the price target revised to $680 from $802 due to a more conservative valuation multiple. Q3 2026 results reinforce my thesis that AI-driven demand is transforming semiconductor equipment into a structural growth cycle, not just a capacity cycle. AMAT is well-positioned, as leading-edge foundry logic, DRAM, and advanced packaging are set to drive 80% of WFE growth through 2027.