Goldenstone Wealth Management LLC Invests $2.36 Million in Applied Materials, Inc. $AMAT

Goldenstone Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund bought 9,164 shares of the manufacturing equipment provider’s stock, valued at approximately $2,355,000. Applied Materials accounts for approximately 1.8% of Goldenstone Wealth Management LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Applied Materials by 48.7% during the fourth 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. Joseph Group Capital Management acquired a new stake in shares of Applied Materials during the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Applied Materials during the third quarter worth about $26,000. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Applied Materials by 52.4% during the fourth quarter. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC now owns 128 shares of the manufacturing equipment provider’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Finally, IMG Wealth Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Applied Materials by 147.2% during the fourth quarter. IMG Wealth Management Inc. now owns 131 shares of the manufacturing equipment provider’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.56% of the company’s stock.

Applied Materials Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ AMAT opened at $426.85 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 2.51 and a quick ratio of 1.80. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $383.84 and a 200 day moving average price of $323.95. Applied Materials, Inc. has a 1-year low of $153.47 and a 1-year high of $448.45. The company has a market cap of $338.75 billion, a PE ratio of 40.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.66.

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 the consensus estimate 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 company earned $2.39 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. Applied Materials has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 3.160-3.560 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Applied Materials, Inc. will post 11.93 EPS for the current year.

Applied Materials Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 11th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 21st will be given a dividend of $0.53 per share. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 21st. This is a positive change from Applied Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. Applied Materials’s payout ratio is presently 17.28%.

Applied Materials News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Applied Materials was named a Zacks Rank #1 momentum stock, reinforcing bullish investor sentiment around the shares. Best Momentum Stocks to Buy for May 20th
• Positive Sentiment: Applied Materials announced Broadcom as an EPIC Innovation Partner, a collaboration aimed at accelerating advanced packaging technologies for next-generation AI chips and systems. Applied Materials Announces Broadcom as EPIC Innovation Partner
• Positive Sentiment: Multiple reports highlighted AMAT’s strong operating leverage, with AI demand, premium chip tools, and recurring services helping margins improve to a 25-year high. Applied Materials Gains From Rising Operating Leverage: What’s Ahead?
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst commentary and comparisons versus Lam Research continued to frame Applied Materials as a key AI equipment winner, supported by diversified tools and attractive valuation. Lam Research vs. Applied Materials: Which AI Chip Stock Has the Edge?
• Neutral Sentiment: Applied Materials received a Supplier Excellence Award, which is a positive operational signal but is unlikely to materially move the stock by itself. Applied Energy Systems Receives Supplier Excellence Award from Applied Materials
• Negative Sentiment: Semiconductor shares faced some pressure after broader sector selling tied to Samsung labor-strike concerns and TSMC-related headlines, which weighed on AMAT alongside peers. MACOM, Applied Materials, and Photronics Shares Are Falling, What You Need To Know
• Negative Sentiment: Morgan Stanley reportedly downgraded Applied Materials, which may temper enthusiasm despite the company’s strong AI and earnings momentum. Morgan Stanley downgrades Applied Materials (AMAT)

Insider Activity at Applied Materials

In other Applied Materials news, Director Judy Bruner sold 3,969 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $377.02, for a total transaction of $1,496,392.38. Following the transaction, the director owned 28,589 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,778,624.78. The trade was a 12.19% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO Adam Sanders sold 534 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $379.16, for a total value of $202,471.44. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 4,625 shares in the company, valued at $1,753,615. The trade was a 10.35% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 7,003 shares of company stock worth $2,678,139 in the last quarter. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently commented on AMAT shares. Citigroup lifted their target price on Applied Materials from $420.00 to $520.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Applied Materials from $400.00 to $515.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, May 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Applied Materials from $390.00 to $520.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 15th. Seaport Research Partners assumed coverage on Applied Materials in a research report on Monday, May 4th. They set a “buy” rating and a $500.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price target on Applied Materials from $410.00 to $500.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, May 15th. Twenty-seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $465.14.

Applied Materials Company Profile

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.