Applied Materials Stock: Is Wall Street Bullish or Bearish?

With a market cap of around $143 billion, Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) is a leading provider of manufacturing equipment, services, and software for the semiconductor, display, and related industries. Operating globally through its Semiconductor Systems, Applied Global Services, and Display segments, the company delivers technologies that enhance device performance, yield, and cost-efficiency.

Shares of the Santa Clara, California-based company have underperformed the broader market over the past 52 weeks. AMAT stock has risen 3.7% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has increased 22.6%. However, shares of Applied Materials have gained 13.9% on a YTD basis, outperforming SPX's 8.4% rise.