Are Computer and Technology Stocks Lagging Applied Materials (AMAT) This Year? - Yahoo Finance

This article examines whether computer and technology stocks have lagged Applied Materials (AMAT) so far in 2026. According to Zacks Equity Research, AMAT, one of 592 companies in the Computer and Tec... Read original →

Applied Materials’ 76.3% YTD surge reflects its structural advantage as the semiconductor industry transitions to sub-2nm nodes and GAA architectures. Equipment makers are first beneficiaries of process innovation, with deposition and etch tools seeing surging demand, while downstream tech stocks remain weighed down by weak consumer electronics cycles. Geopolitical export controls from the U.S., Netherlands, and Japan have raised compliance costs, yet AMAT’s diversified manufacturing footprint across Taiwan, China, South Korea, and the U.S. mitigates supply chain fragility. Competitors like Lam Research and ASML will likely accelerate investments in High-NA EUV and advanced packaging tools to capture next-gen integration opportunities. Over the next 18 months, capex will bifurcate: leading-edge spending driven by equipment leadership, and mature-node expansion fueled by automotive and industrial chip demand—solidifying AMAT’s pricing power and strategic moat.