Applied Materials stock holds above $480 after earnings beat
Published on 08/26/2026 at 17:47 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Applied Materials stock held at $484.19 on August 24, 2026 after the company reported $3.50 in quarterly EPS and $9.12 billion in revenue for the period released on August 13, 2026. The same report showed revenue up 24.8% year over year and EPS ahead of the $3.40 consensus by $0.10.
Earnings still drive the setup
The latest quarter also showed a return on equity of 38.02% and a net margin of 30.05%, two figures that underline how much profitability is carrying the share price. Applied Materials also raised its Q4 2026 EPS guidance to a range of $3.82 to $4.22, with the midpoint above the latest reported $3.50.
That kind of spread matters for valuation. With a market cap of $380.96 billion and a 52-week range of $154.47 to $739.67, the stock is still trading in the upper half of its yearly band while analysts continue to model $12.73 in EPS for the current fiscal year.
What the market is pricing
Applied Materials finished the August 24, 2026 session at $484.19, down 1.65% that day, on volume of 8,388,542 shares. The combination of a 1-day decline, a 12-month range that stretches from $154.47 to $739.67, and a year-to-date gain of 86.79% shows how far the shares have already moved in 2026.
Recent analyst aggregation puts the average price target at $657.76, implying $173.57 of distance from the latest close. That gap keeps the debate centered on whether the earnings beat and guidance range can justify a higher multiple from here.
Applied Global Services matters
The company's Applied Global Services unit is one of the most important parts of the story because it links installed tools to recurring service, spares, and automation revenue. In a business where customers buy equipment once and support for years, that mix can help smooth results when tool orders vary.
Applied Materials also said its quarterly dividend is $0.53 per share, which works out to $2.12 annually at the current run rate. Investors now have three numbers to watch closely: $484.19 on the stock, $3.50 in latest EPS, and $3.82 to $4.22 in next-quarter guidance.
Stock snapshot
Applied Materials stock closed at $484.19 on August 24, 2026, with the shares still below the 52-week high of $739.67 and well above the 52-week low of $154.47. The next test is whether the company can convert the $9.12 billion quarter into another step up in earnings power.
