AMAT benefits from AI semiconductor capex.
Applied Materials reported a strong earnings beat with 11% YoY revenue growth, guidance significantly above consensus (midpoint ~$9B vs. $8.25B consensus, adjusted EPS $3.36 vs. $2.88 consensus), and management guided for 30%+ semiconductor equipment business growth in CY2026, driven by AI infrastructure buildout, leading-edge logic/DRAM/advanced packaging. Revenue growth is accelerating from low-single-digit/negative to double-digit, operating leverage is improving (operating margin up to 32%), and EPS growth for next quarter is guided at ~35.5% YoY. Park sees the stock as undervalued given the earnings power and expects further upward revision as the capex cycle continues into 2027-2028.