Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) Reaches New 52-Week High Following Dividend Announcement

Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT)’s stock price hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday after the company announced a dividend. The stock traded as high as $523.32 and last traded at $521.2340, with a volume of 1032906 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $492.17.

The newly announced dividend which will be paid on Thursday, September 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 20th will be issued a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 20th. Applied Materials’s dividend payout ratio is presently 19.91%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the company. DZ Bank upgraded Applied Materials to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, February 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on Applied Materials from $450.00 to $550.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Applied Materials from $390.00 to $520.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 15th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $525.00 price objective on shares of Applied Materials in a report on Friday, May 15th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Applied Materials from $415.00 to $510.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 15th. Twenty-seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $480.13.

Applied Materials Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 1.80 and a current ratio of 2.51. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $418.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $348.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $394.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.67, a P/E/G ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.67.

Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 14th. The manufacturing equipment provider reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.68 by $0.18. Applied Materials had a return on equity of 36.97% and a net margin of 29.31%.The firm had revenue of $7.91 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.68 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.39 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Applied Materials has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 3.160-3.560 EPS. Analysts forecast that Applied Materials, Inc. will post 12.02 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Key Applied Materials News

Here are the key news stories impacting Applied Materials this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Applied Materials received a new Street-high price target from a top Wall Street analyst, reinforcing the view that the stock can still move higher. Applied Materials Stock (AMAT) Scores a New Street-High Price Target from a Top Wall Street Analyst
• Positive Sentiment: The company expanded its Singapore manufacturing and R&D footprint with a $500 million Tampines Campus to support rising AI-chip demand, which highlights long-term growth opportunities in semiconductor equipment. Applied Materials Expands Singapore Manufacturing to Support AI Chip Demand
• Positive Sentiment: Cantor also raised price targets across chip-equipment peers, including Applied Materials, adding to the bullish analyst backdrop for the group. KLA Corp., Lam Research, Applied Materials, ASML in focus as Cantor ups price targets
• Neutral Sentiment: Applied Materials announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.53 per share, signaling strong capital returns, though the move is usually more supportive than immediately price-driving. Applied Materials Announces Cash Dividend
• Negative Sentiment: Some coverage noted the stock slipping in pre-market trading despite the expansion news, suggesting investors are weighing the capital spending against the long-term AI demand story. AMAT Stock Falls despite Capacity Expansion as AI Fuels Demand for Chipmaking Gears

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Applied Materials news, CFO Brice Hill sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $498.86, for a total transaction of $1,247,150.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 136,113 shares in the company, valued at approximately $67,901,331.18. This trade represents a 1.80% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Judy Bruner sold 1,128 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $450.00, for a total value of $507,600.00. Following the sale, the director owned 26,544 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,944,800. The trade was a 4.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 53,896 shares of company stock valued at $27,135,121. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Applied Materials

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Applied Materials during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Applied Materials during the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Applied Materials during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Financial Freedom LLC bought a new position in shares of Applied Materials during the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Highline Wealth Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Applied Materials by 48.7% during the 4th quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116 shares of the manufacturing equipment provider’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.56% of the company’s stock.

About Applied Materials

Applied Materials, Inc is a U.S.-based supplier of equipment, services and software used to manufacture semiconductor chips, flat panel displays and other advanced materials. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, the company designs and sells capital equipment and related technologies that enable production of integrated circuits, display panels and materials used across the electronics supply chain.

Applied Materials’ offerings include process equipment and factory software that support critical steps in device fabrication, such as deposition, etch, implantation, inspection and metrology, as well as systems for packaging and advanced heterogeneous integration.