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Applied Materials (AMAT) will release its fiscal first-quarter 2026 earnings on Thursday, Feb. 12. AMAT stock has gained significantly, rising about 30% year-to-date (YTD) and over 81% in 12 months. The rally in AMAT stock is supported by artificial intelligence (AI)-driven demand.
The broader semiconductor equipment market is currently enjoying a strong upcycle, driven largely by massive investments in AI data centers. As hyperscalers and chipmakers race to build capacity for more powerful and energy-intensive workloads, demand for advanced manufacturing tools has surged. Applied Materials, as one of the world’s leading suppliers of wafer fabrication equipment, is benefiting from this trend.