Nova (NASDAQ:NVMI) Updates Q3 2026 Earnings Guidance

Nova (NASDAQ:NVMI) issued an update on its third quarter 2026 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 2.700-2.850 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 2.640. The company issued revenue guidance of $277.0 million-$287.0 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $276.7 million.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NVMI has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Nova from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $600.00 target price on shares of Nova in a research report on Thursday. Cantor Fitzgerald dropped their price objective on shares of Nova from $600.00 to $500.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Nova from $494.00 to $540.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, July 6th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price objective on Nova from $520.00 to $595.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 15th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Nova currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $519.44.

Nova Price Performance

Shares of NVMI traded up $5.16 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $386.48. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 128,081 shares, compared to its average volume of 443,234. The company has a market cap of $12.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.30, a PEG ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.78. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $482.75 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $476.29. Nova has a 52-week low of $232.73 and a 52-week high of $615.99.

Nova (NASDAQ:NVMI) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 6th. The semiconductor company reported $2.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.41 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $254.96 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $250.33 million. Nova had a return on equity of 21.77% and a net margin of 29.21%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 15.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.20 EPS. Nova has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 2.700-2.850 EPS. Research analysts predict that Nova will post 9.46 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Nova

In related news, Director Yaniv Garty sold 426 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $514.49, for a total value of $219,172.74. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 2,038 shares in the company, valued at $1,048,530.62. The trade was a 17.29% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Eitan Oppenhaim sold 1,504 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $519.48, for a total transaction of $781,297.92. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 6,668 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,463,892.64. The trade was a 18.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last quarter, insiders sold 7,798 shares of company stock valued at $4,125,266. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Trending Headlines about Nova

Here are the key news stories impacting Nova this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Record quarterly results: Nova reported second-quarter revenue of approximately $255.0 million, up 8% sequentially and 16% year over year. Earnings were $2.51 per share, exceeding the $2.41 consensus estimate and increasing from $2.20 a year earlier. Nova Reports Record Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: Optimistic third-quarter outlook: Management guided for third-quarter EPS of $2.70–$2.85, above the $2.64 analyst consensus. Revenue guidance of $277 million–$287 million also narrowly exceeded expectations of $276.7 million, signaling continued demand for Nova’s semiconductor measurement systems.
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts remain bullish: Needham lowered its price target to $570 from $640 but retained a “Buy” rating. Cantor Fitzgerald reduced its target to $500 from $600 while maintaining an “Overweight” rating. Both firms’ revised targets still imply substantial potential upside from recent trading levels. Analyst price target updates
• Negative Sentiment: Lowered price targets: The sizable reductions from Needham and Cantor Fitzgerald suggest analysts have become more cautious about Nova’s valuation or future growth assumptions, even though they continue to recommend the stock. This may weigh on sentiment after the earnings release.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Nova during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Nova in the third quarter worth $40,000. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC grew its holdings in Nova by 75.7% in the 3rd quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 130 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd raised its stake in shares of Nova by 2,042.9% during the third quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 150 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $48,000 after acquiring an additional 143 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Nova by 51.6% during the first quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 376 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 128 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.99% of the company’s stock.

About Nova

Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd (NASDAQ: NVMI) develops and supplies advanced metrology and process control systems for the semiconductor manufacturing industry. The company’s core product line includes spectroscopic ellipsometry and scatterometry tools designed to measure film thickness, critical dimensions, overlay alignment and other key parameters that drive yield and performance in integrated circuit fabrication.

Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Rehovot, Israel, Nova Measuring Instruments has established itself as a critical partner to leading semiconductor foundries and device manufacturers.