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Adam Sanders, the Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT), recently sold a portion of his holdings in the company. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Sanders disposed of 271 shares of common stock on February 24, 2025, at a price of $172.725 per share. The total value of the transaction amounted to $46,808. The sale comes at a time when Applied Materials, a prominent player in the semiconductor industry with a market capitalization of $134.26 billion, maintains strong financial health according to InvestingPro analysis.
Following this sale, Sanders retains ownership of 6,479 shares, which includes 5,782 restricted stock units that are scheduled to vest in installments from April 2025 through January 2029, contingent upon continued employment. With the stock currently trading near its 52-week low and showing a gross profit margin of 47.7%, InvestingPro subscribers have access to 13 additional key insights about Applied Materials’ performance and outlook through their comprehensive Pro Research Report.
In other recent news, Applied Materials has introduced the SEMVision™ H20 system, a new tool designed to enhance defect analysis in semiconductor chips. This system integrates advanced eBeam technology and AI image recognition to improve defect detection speed and accuracy. Meanwhile, Stifel analysts have maintained a Buy rating on Applied Materials, keeping the price target at $235, following the company’s first-quarter earnings report that exceeded expectations. Despite new export controls in China, Applied Materials anticipates that any decline in ICAPS and China’s market will lessen, potentially maintaining growth in advanced foundry and logic segments.
Needham analysts have also maintained a Buy rating on Applied Materials but lowered the price target to $195, citing recent financial results and a forecast that fell short of consensus predictions. The company has experienced mixed results in China, with early entry into the market correction process possibly positioning it for a quicker recovery. Additionally, Craig-Hallum revised its price target for Applied Materials to $205 from $240, while still recommending the stock as a Buy. The company expects sustained demand in leading-edge logic and foundry spending, driven by AI investments, and projects significant growth in advanced packaging and gate-all-around transistors.
Applied Materials is preparing for challenges, including a slowdown in its mature node ICAPS business and trade restrictions on China, which could impact its Services business by $400 million in fiscal year 2025. These developments underscore the company’s efforts to navigate market challenges while focusing on growth areas.
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