L'intérêt à découvert pour Applied Mat donne aux investisseurs une idée du degré auquel les investisseurs parient sur la baisse de l'action de Applied Mat. Les données sur l'intérêt à découvert sont mises à jour toutes les deux semaines.

Applied Mat (NASDAQ:AMAT) Stock, Rapport sur les intérêts à découvert

APPLIED MATERIALS INC

Applied Mat

Applied Materials Inc is the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, manufacturer in the world. Applied Materials has a broad portfolio spanning nearly every corner of the WFE ecosystem. Specifically, Applied Materials holds a market share leadership position in deposition, which entails the layering of new materials on semiconductor wafers. It is more exposed to general-purpose logic chips made at integrated device manufacturers and foundries. It counts the largest chipmakers in the world as customers, including TSMC, Intel, and Samsung.

Applied Materials

Applied Materials Inc

Amata Corp PCL

WIIM

AMAT

ASML

AVGO

INTC

KLAC

LRCX

LSCC

MPWR

MRVL

NVDA

NXPI

SMCI

iShares PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index Fund

SOXX

Shares of chip stocks are trading lower as global markets continue to decline following President Trump's announcement of sweeping tariffs.

In the current session, Applied Mat Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) is trading at $126.16, after a 6.90% drop. Over the past month, the stock decreased by 18.97%, and in the past year, by 39.65%. With performance like this, long-term shareholders are more likely to start looking into the company's price-to-earnings ratio. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743778824_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>Applied Mat P/E Compared to Competitors</h3>
The P/E ratio measures the current share price to the company's EPS. It is used by long-term investors to analyze the company's current performance against it's past earnings, historical data and aggregate market data for the industry or the indices, such as S&amp;P 500. A higher P/E indicates that investors expect the company to perform better in the future, and the stock is probably overvalued, but not necessarily. It also could indicate that investors are willing to pay a higher share price currently, because they expect the company to perform better in the upcoming quarters. This leads investors to also remain optimistic about rising dividends in the future. 
Applied Mat has a lower P/E than the aggregate P/E of 45.97 of the Semiconductors &amp; Semiconductor Equipment industry. Ideally, one might believe that the stock might perform worse than its peers, but it's also probable that the stock is undervalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743778824_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In summary, while the price-to-earnings ratio is a valuable tool for investors to evaluate a company's market performance, it should be used with caution. A low P/E ratio can be an indication of undervaluation, but it can also suggest weak growth prospects or financial instability. Moreover, the P/E ratio is just one of many metrics that investors should consider when making investment decisions, and it should be evaluated alongside other financial ratios, industry trends, and qualitative factors. By taking a comprehensive approach to analyzing a company's financial health, investors can make well-informed decisions that are more likely to lead to successful outcomes.

News

Intraday Update

Markets

P/E Ratio Insights for Applied Mat

ALAB

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NVMI

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Shares of semiconductor companies are trading lower as markets react to President Trump's announcement of sweeping tariffs.

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Applied Mat (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in AMAT usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 9 extraordinary options activities for Applied Mat. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 22% leaning bullish and 77% bearish. Among these notable options, 5 are puts, totaling $355,796, and 4 are calls, amounting to $506,989.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $135.0 to $220.0 for Applied Mat during the past quarter. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Applied Mat options trades today is 693.22 with a total volume of 990.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Applied Mat's big money trades within a strike price range of $135.0 to $220.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Applied Mat Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743614849_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$9.7</td>
<td>$9.6</td>
<td>$9.6</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$421.4K</td>
<td>304</td>
<td align="right">456</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$8.25</td>
<td>$8.15</td>
<td>$8.15</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$221.6K</td>
<td>525</td>
<td align="right">286</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$26.9</td>
<td>$26.0</td>
<td>$26.05</td>
<td>$170.00</td>
<td>$39.0K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td align="right">16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$57.15</td>
<td>$55.65</td>
<td>$57.15</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>$34.2K</td>
<td>307</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$5.6</td>
<td>$5.4</td>
<td>$5.52</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$33.1K</td>
<td>678</td>
<td align="right">98</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Applied Mat</h3>
Applied Materials Inc is the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, manufacturer in the world. Applied Materials has a broad portfolio spanning nearly every corner of the WFE ecosystem. Specifically, Applied Materials holds a market share leadership position in deposition, which entails the layering of new materials on semiconductor wafers. It is more exposed to general-purpose logic chips made at integrated device manufacturers and foundries. It counts the largest chipmakers in the world as customers, including TSMC, Intel, and Samsung.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Applied Mat, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Current Position of Applied Mat</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 2,208,774, the price of AMAT is up 2.4% at $149.16. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 43 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Applied Mat</h3>
A total of 1 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $195.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Jefferies upgraded its action to Buy with a price target of $195. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Applied Mat with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

Check Out What Whales Are Doing With AMAT

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Information Technology sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NVDA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$101.0K</td>
<td>71.3K</td>
<td>15.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSTR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$25.2K</td>
<td>20.9K</td>
<td>9.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>APP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$340.00</td>
<td>$1.6 million</td>
<td>3.3K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$171.9K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>543</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>INTC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$36.3K</td>
<td>65</td>
<td>440</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RIOT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$7.00</td>
<td>$33.6K</td>
<td>881</td>
<td>381</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$33.9K</td>
<td>5.2K</td>
<td>362</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>OKTA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$104.00</td>
<td>$53.5K</td>
<td>514</td>
<td>353</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ORCL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/11/25</td>
<td>$152.50</td>
<td>$121.5K</td>
<td>233</td>
<td>225</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MDB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$290.00</td>
<td>$200.0K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td>200</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 16 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 500 contract(s) at a $115.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $101.0K, with a price of $202.0 per contract. There were 71366 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 15976 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MSTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on April 4, 2025. This event was a transfer of 55 contract(s) at a $320.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.2K, with a price of $460.0 per contract. There were 20915 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 9423 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For APP (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 45 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1000 contract(s) at a $340.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $1.6 million, with a price of $1660.0 per contract. There were 3325 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1022 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AMAT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 16 day(s) on April 17, 2025. Parties traded 521 contract(s) at a $150.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $171.9K, with a price of $330.0 per contract. There were 1437 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 543 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding INTC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 45 day(s) on May 16, 2025. Parties traded 30 contract(s) at a $10.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.3K, with a price of $1212.0 per contract. There were 65 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 440 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding RIOT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIOT#NASDAQ">RIOT</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 171 day(s) on September 19, 2025. Parties traded 175 contract(s) at a $7.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.6K, with a price of $192.0 per contract. There were 881 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 381 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 171 day(s) on September 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 45 contract(s) at a $100.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.9K, with a price of $755.0 per contract. There were 5261 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 362 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding OKTA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OKTA#NASDAQ">OKTA</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on April 4, 2025. Parties traded 336 contract(s) at a $104.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 40 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $53.5K, with a price of $155.0 per contract. There were 514 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 353 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ORCL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 10 day(s) on April 11, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $152.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $121.5K, with a price of $1215.0 per contract. There were 233 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 225 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MDB (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDB#NASDAQ">MDB</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 262 day(s) on December 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $290.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $200.0K, with a price of $1000.0 per contract. There were 1812 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 200 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

MSTR

OKTA

ORCL

RIOT

10 Information Technology Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Applied Mat (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in AMAT usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 11 extraordinary options activities for Applied Mat. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 45% leaning bullish and 45% bearish. Among these notable options, 3 are puts, totaling $142,880, and 8 are calls, amounting to $400,822.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $130.0 to $195.0 for Applied Mat over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Applied Mat's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Applied Mat's significant trades, within a strike price range of $130.0 to $195.0, over the past month.
<h3>Applied Mat 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743444044_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/17/27</td>
<td>$37.5</td>
<td>$34.0</td>
<td>$36.3</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$90.7K</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
<td align="right">25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$16.05</td>
<td>$15.9</td>
<td>$16.05</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$81.8K</td>
<td align="right">398</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$3.65</td>
<td>$3.4</td>
<td>$3.55</td>
<td>$143.00</td>
<td>$79.8K</td>
<td align="right">204</td>
<td align="right">177</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$11.55</td>
<td>$11.3</td>
<td>$11.46</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$57.3K</td>
<td align="right">52</td>
<td align="right">50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$11.5</td>
<td>$11.35</td>
<td>$11.43</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$57.1K</td>
<td align="right">52</td>
<td align="right">171</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Applied Mat</h3>
Applied Materials Inc is the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, manufacturer in the world. Applied Materials has a broad portfolio spanning nearly every corner of the WFE ecosystem. Specifically, Applied Materials holds a market share leadership position in deposition, which entails the layering of new materials on semiconductor wafers. It is more exposed to general-purpose logic chips made at integrated device manufacturers and foundries. It counts the largest chipmakers in the world as customers, including TSMC, Intel, and Samsung.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Applied Mat, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Where Is Applied Mat Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 2,891,375, the price of AMAT is down -1.24% at $143.26. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 45 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Applied Mat</h3>
A total of 1 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $195.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; In a positive move, an analyst from Jefferies has upgraded their rating to Buy and adjusted the price target to $195. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Applied Mat, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Applied Mat Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Barclays analyst Henning Cosman upgraded the rating for Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RACE#NYSE">RACE</a>) from Equal-Weight to Overweight. Ferrari shares closed at $426.82 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/RACE/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Jefferies analyst Blayne Curtis upgraded Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) from Hold to Buy and announced a $195 price target. Applied Materials shares closed at $147.68 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AMAT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>BMO Capital analyst Keith Bachman upgraded the rating for Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHKP#NASDAQ">CHKP</a>) from Market Perform to Outperform and raised the price target from $245 to $275. Check Point Software shares closed at $231.31 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CHKP/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs analyst Caitlin Burrows upgraded Tanger Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SKT#NYSE">SKT</a>) from Neutral to Buy and boosted the price target from $39 to $40. Tanger shares closed at $32.86 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SKT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>B of A Securities analyst Alec Stranahan upgraded the rating for Beam Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEAM#NASDAQ">BEAM</a>) from Neutral to Buy and maintained the price target of $42. Beam Therapeutics shares closed at $22.19 on Thursday.  <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BEAM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
</ul>
Considering buying AMAT stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
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This Applied Materials Analyst Turns Bullish; Here Are Top 5 Upgrades For Friday

Providing a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish, 11 analysts have published ratings on Applied Mat (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) in the last three months.
The following table summarizes their recent ratings, shedding light on the changing sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The 12-month price targets, analyzed by analysts, offer insights with an average target of $201.73, a high estimate of $235.00, and a low estimate of $165.00. Observing a downward trend, the current average is 4.35% lower than the prior average price target of $210.90. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743163243_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Investigating Analyst Ratings: An Elaborate Study</h2>
The perception of Applied Mat by financial experts is analyzed through recent analyst actions. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Blayne Curtis</td>
<td>Jefferies</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Atif Malik</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$202.00</td>
<td>$194.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Charles Shi</td>
<td>Needham</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tom O'Malley</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian Chin</td>
<td>Stifel</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$235.00</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mehdi Hosseini</td>
<td>Susquehanna</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Steve Barger</td>
<td>Keybanc</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$225.00</td>
<td>$225.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tom O'Malley</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$225.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joseph Quatrochi</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vijay Rakesh</td>
<td>Mizuho</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Toshiya Hari</td>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$202.00</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: In response to dynamic market conditions and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their reaction to recent developments related to Applied Mat. This insight gives a snapshot of analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Unveiling insights, analysts deliver qualitative insights into stock performance, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Applied Mat compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Gaining insights, analysts provide estimates for the future value of Applied Mat's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Understanding these analyst evaluations alongside key financial indicators can offer valuable insights into Applied Mat's market standing. Stay informed and make well-considered decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AMAT/analyst-ratings?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Stay up to date on Applied Mat analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>About Applied Mat</h2>
Applied Materials Inc is the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, manufacturer in the world. Applied Materials has a broad portfolio spanning nearly every corner of the WFE ecosystem. Specifically, Applied Materials holds a market share leadership position in deposition, which entails the layering of new materials on semiconductor wafers. It is more exposed to general-purpose logic chips made at integrated device manufacturers and foundries. It counts the largest chipmakers in the world as customers, including TSMC, Intel, and Samsung.
<h3>Financial Milestones: Applied Mat's Journey</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Above industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization emphasizes a noteworthy size, indicative of a strong market presence.
Revenue Growth: Applied Mat displayed positive results in 3 months. As of 31 January, 2025, the company achieved a solid revenue growth rate of approximately 6.84%. This indicates a notable increase in the company's top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company stands out with a growth rate higher than the average among peers in the Information Technology sector.
Net Margin: Applied Mat's net margin surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 16.54% net margin, the company effectively manages costs and achieves strong profitability.
Return on Equity (ROE): Applied Mat's ROE stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 6.3%, the company demonstrates effective use of equity capital and strong financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): Applied Mat's ROA excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 3.5%. This signifies efficient management of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: Applied Mat's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average. With a ratio of 0.35, the company relies less on debt financing, maintaining a healthier balance between debt and equity, which can be viewed positively by investors.
<h2>Understanding the Relevance of Analyst Ratings</h2>
Analysts work in banking and financial systems and typically specialize in reporting for stocks or defined sectors. Analysts may attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter.
Analysts may enhance their evaluations by incorporating forecasts for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, delivering additional guidance to investors. It is vital to acknowledge that, although experts in stocks and sectors, analysts are human and express their opinions when providing insights.
Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Beyond The Numbers: 11 Analysts Discuss Applied Mat Stock

Jefferies analyst Blayne Curtis upgrades Applied Mat (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) from Hold to Buy and announces $195 price target.

Price Target

Jefferies Upgrades Applied Mat to Buy, Announces $195 Price Target

Shares of Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) are trading lower by 0.9% to $149.32 during Thursday&#8217;s session, hovering around their 52-week low. The stock has been volatile this week following the Trump administration's decision to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/03/44494896/us-adds-50-chinese-entities-to-export-restriction-list-curtailing-access-to-nvidia-amd-chips">tighten export controls</a> on Chinese technology firms. 
What To Know: As a leading supplier of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, Applied Materials faces risks from new trade restrictions that could curb demand for its products from Chinese chipmakers.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Commerce Department added over 50 Chinese entities to its trade blacklist, limiting their access to advanced semiconductor technology.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44513286/softbank-may-want-to-outdo-microsoft-with-40-billion-investment-in-openais-latest-funding-round">SoftBank May Want To Outdo Microsoft With $40 Billion Investment in OpenAI&#8217;s Latest Funding Round</a>
Since Applied Materials provides essential tools for chip fabrication, restrictions on Chinese semiconductor firms could reduce orders for its deposition, etching and lithography systems.
What Else: China is a critical market for Applied Materials, accounting for a substantial portion of its revenue. The latest crackdown <a href="https://www.bis.gov/press-release/commerce-further-restricts-chinas-artificial-intelligence-advanced-computing-capabilities">follows previous U.S. efforts</a> to block China's semiconductor advancements, including restrictions on the export of extreme ultraviolet lithography tools.&nbsp;
With China retaliating through new chip efficiency standards and potential supply chain shifts, Applied Materials investors could be bracing for potential revenue headwinds, supply chain disruptions and prolonged regulatory uncertainty that could impact the company&#8217;s long-term growth prospects.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44513963/us-gdp-growth-upwardly-revised-in-q4-trade-deficit-slightly-narrows-as-auto-exports-soar-in-february">US GDP Growth Upwardly Revised In Q4, Trade Deficit Slightly Narrows As Auto Exports Soar In February</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How To Buy AMAT Stock</h2>
Besides going to a brokerage platform to purchase a share &#8211; or fractional share &#8211; of stock, you can also gain access to shares either by buying an exchange traded fund (ETF) that holds the stock itself, or by allocating yourself to a strategy in your 401(k) that would seek to acquire shares in a mutual fund or other instrument. 
For example, in Applied Materials&#8217; case, it is in the Information Technology sector. An ETF will likely hold shares in many liquid and large companies that help track that sector, allowing an investor to gain exposure to the trends within that segment.
According to data from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>, AMAT has a 52-week high of $255.89 and a 52-week low of $145.38.

What's Going On With Applied Materials (AMAT) Stock?

Shares of chip stocks are trading lower amid overall market weakness, which may be due to tariff volatility. Additionally, the US added several  Chinese technology firms to its export blacklist.

Applied Mat (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 9.16% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 27.28%. Currently, Applied Mat has a market capitalization of $122.57 billion. 
Buying $100 In AMAT: If an investor had bought $100 of AMAT stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $375.45 today based on a price of $150.82 for AMAT at the time of writing.
<h3>Applied Mat's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742567408_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much $100 Invested In Applied Mat 5 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

As a common-sense rule, investors should avoid making wholesale decisions based on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">a single informational source</a>. 
Still, if one had to make such a choice, it would be most practical to follow the smart money trail. That's the opportunity potentially available in semiconductor specialist Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>).
Unlike so-called headline enterprises like Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) or Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Applied Materials represents the stagehand of the recent technological surge, which includes artificial intelligence and the proliferation of data centers. The company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43982556/whats-going-on-with-applied-materials-amat-shares">provides the wafer fabrication tools</a> that are essential for AI chip production. While chipmakers have grabbed most of the attention, they couldn't operate without Applied Materials' advanced fabrication equipment.
Nevertheless, Applied Materials stock doesn't trade in a vacuum. With the Trump administration <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44347282/recession-fears-gold-records-and-trade-wars-this-week-in-economics">engaged in multiple trade wars</a> and with recession fears rising, growth-oriented enterprises have struggled. AMAT has been no exception, slipping more than 5% since the beginning of the year.
At the same time, the red ink could offer forward-thinking investors with a compelling discount. First, management is making shareholder-friendly moves, recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/buybacks/25/03/44218819/applied-materials-hikes-dividend-for-8th-year-greenlights-10-billion-buyback-to-reward-investors">hiking its dividend</a> for the eighth consecutive year. Second, the leadership team greenlit a program to buy back $10 billion worth of AMAT stock over time.
What could be most convincing, though, is the smart money trail.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Unusual Options Activity Signals Upside</h2>
On Monday, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/options/25/03/44363855/unpacking-the-latest-options-trading-trends-in-applied-mat">Benzinga's options scanner</a> identified unusual activity for Applied Materials stock derivatives. Since the options market often represents the playground of sophisticated investors, deciphering the underlying price action could potentially yield actionable insights.
Overall, negotiations have been tight but with a slight edge toward the optimistic side of the spectrum. Yesterday, 46% of transactions carried bullish intentions while 40% were bearish, with the remainder representing neutral wagers. Still, it's the nuances that are arguably the most intriguing.
Primarily, the most bullish transaction in terms of dollar volume was for sold $150 puts with an expiration date of June 20, 2025. Essentially, major players — likely institutional participants — are underwriting the risk that Applied Materials&#8217; stock will not drop materially below the $150 strike price by June 20. If it does, these traders are at risk of assignment, meaning that the other side of the transaction (the put buyers) could exercise their options.
Note that the bid of the aforementioned $150 puts was $9.85. This is the premium that the put writers (sellers) received for underwriting the risk that shares of Applied Materials will not fall significantly southward. By logical deduction, the intrinsic breakeven for the put writers is $140.15. Below this point at expiration, the put writers would lose money.
Of course, options also have time or extrinsic value. Should AMAT stock fall sharply toward the breakeven threshold prior to expiration, the move would likely benefit put buyers. Therefore, retail investors reading Benzinga's options screener have good reason to believe that support should hold around $150.
Stated simply, there's too much money at risk for the sold puts to be a casual wager.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18145634/AMAT-stock-probability-gambit-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-830167" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18145634/AMAT-stock-probability-gambit-1024x576.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18145634/AMAT-stock-probability-gambit-300x169.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18145634/AMAT-stock-probability-gambit-768x432.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18145634/AMAT-stock-probability-gambit.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image by author</figcaption></figure>
Finally, AMAT stock benefits from an upward bias. Using data since January 2019, a long position held for any given eight-week period has a 65.3% chance of rising. Under dynamic conditions, this positive probability does not materially change. For example, AMAT is currently up around 1.5% over the trailing five days. In an eight-week hold following a weekly return of up to 5%, the chances of profitability dips only slightly to 63%.
Whether following the smart money or playing the numbers game, AMAT stock appears to be offering a sensible discount.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Charting a Way Forward with Applied Materials</h2>
With a relatively high degree of confidence that Applied Materials stock will be supported at around $150 and with statistical tides generally moving the security northward, speculative investors may consider an optimistic strategy known as the bull call spread. Specifically, the 155/160 spread expiring April 11 looks intriguing for aggressive traders.
This transaction involves buying the $155 call (at a time-of-writing ask of $630) and simultaneously selling the $160 call (at a bid of $390). The proceeds from the short call partially offset the debit paid of the long call, resulting in a net cash outlay of $240, the most that can be lost in the trade. 
Should Applied Materials stock hit or exceed the short strike price of $160 at expiration, the maximum reward is $260, a payout of 108.33%.
Assuming the positive scenario, a four-week position historically features a median return between 6.5% and 8%. Granted, the negative outcome could also materialize, which would negate these implied return targets. However, the sold $150 put by major players suggests that the optimistic outlook may be the likelier one; hence, the deployment of the bullish strategy.
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Image: Shutterstock

Equities

Long Ideas

Buybacks

AAPL

Options Corner: The Smart Money Recently Signaled A Floor In Applied Materials

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Applied Mat (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in AMAT usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 15 extraordinary options activities for Applied Mat. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 46% leaning bullish and 40% bearish. Among these notable options, 8 are puts, totaling $522,485, and 7 are calls, amounting to $417,227.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $140.0 to $240.0 for Applied Mat over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Applied Mat options trades today is 940.92 with a total volume of 5,744.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Applied Mat's big money trades within a strike price range of $140.0 to $240.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Applied Mat Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742241660_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$10.1</td>
<td>$9.85</td>
<td>$9.87</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$197.3K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td>217</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/28/25</td>
<td>$1.21</td>
<td>$1.17</td>
<td>$1.17</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$116.1K</td>
<td>239</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/28/25</td>
<td>$1.3</td>
<td>$1.21</td>
<td>$1.3</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$108.0K</td>
<td>239</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$5.95</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$5.95</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$84.4K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td>148</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$3.1</td>
<td>$3.0</td>
<td>$3.05</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$61.0K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>313</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Applied Mat</h3>
Applied Materials Inc is the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, manufacturer in the world. Applied Materials has a broad portfolio spanning nearly every corner of the WFE ecosystem. Specifically, Applied Materials holds a market share leadership position in deposition, which entails the layering of new materials on semiconductor wafers. It is more exposed to general-purpose logic chips made at integrated device manufacturers and foundries. It counts the largest chipmakers in the world as customers, including TSMC, Intel, and Samsung.
In light of the recent options history for Applied Mat, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Applied Mat's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 2,802,753, with AMAT's price up by 0.36%, positioned at $156.22.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 59 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Applied Mat</h3>
In the last month, 1 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $202.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Citigroup persists with their Buy rating on Applied Mat, maintaining a target price of $202. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Applied Mat with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Unpacking the Latest Options Trading Trends in Applied Mat

ENTG

MKSI

SWKS

Shares of semiconductor and chip stocks are trading higher. The sector may be gaining amid an overall market rebound after experiencing recent weakness due to tariff uncertainty.

On CNBC's &#8220;Mad Money Lightning Round,&#8221; Jim Cramer said Arthur J. Gallagher &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AJG#NYSE">AJG</a>) is just a &#8220;solid&#8221; company. &#8220;Sometimes stocks are just kind of just quietly going up, and that's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AJG">one of them,&#8221; he added.</a>
As per the recent news, Arthur J. Gallagher, on Monday, announced it has acquired the remaining shares of Philippines-based Philpacific Insurance Brokers &amp; Managers, Inc., or Philinsure.
&#8220;I'm not going to repeat my bullishness on it. Would be a mistake,&#8221; Cramer said when asked about Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NU#NYSE">NU</a>).
As per the recent earnings report, Nu, on Feb. 20, said it added 4.5 million customers in the fourth quarter, bringing total global customers up to 114.2 million as of Dec. 31, up 22% year-over-year.
Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WM#NYSE">WM</a>) is &#8220;fantastic,&#8221; the Mad Money host said.
Supporting his view, CIBC, on March 5, raised the price target on the stock from $227 to $247.
When asked about fuboTV Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUBO#NYSE">FUBO</a>), he said, &#8220;I'm going to have to say ix-nay.&#8221;
On Feb. 28, FuboTV reported earnings for the fourth quarter of 2024. Revenue of the sports-first live TV streaming platform grew 8.1% year over year to $443.277 million, marginally missing the analyst consensus estimate of $445.798 million.
AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AB#NYSE">AB</a>) is just a &#8220;great&#8221; company, Cramer said, &#8220;All systems go there.&#8221;
On Feb. 24, Equitable Holdings Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQH#NYSE">EQH</a>) announced a cash tender offer for up to 46 million units of AllianceBernstein at $38.50 per unit.
Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>) has &#8220;got a lot of debt, and it's just not that great,&#8221; Cramer said, &#8220;Get a better oil.&#8221;
Supporting his view, Raymond James analyst John Freeman, on Monday, downgraded Occidental Petroleum from Strong Buy to Outperform and lowered the price target from $81 to $64.
Cramer said he needs to do some work on Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDC#NASDAQ">WDC</a>).
Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Matthew Prisco, on March 7, maintained Western Digital with an Overweight rating and lowered the price target from $95 to $65.
When asked about Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>), he said, &#8220;I've got to tell you, capital equipment is so tied up with China that I can't just get behind it anymore, even though I love these companies.&#8221;
On Monday, Applied Materials announced that its board of directors had approved a 15% increase in the quarterly cash dividend, marking eight consecutive years of higher dividends. The Board also approved a new share repurchase to buy back an additional $10 billion of its shares over time.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Arthur J. Gallagher shares fell 0.2% to settle at $325.08 on Wednesday.</li>
<li>Nu Holdings shares gained 2.7% to close at $10.89 during the session.</li>
<li>Waste Management shares fell 0.6% to settle at $222.86.</li>
<li>Applied Materials shares gained 1.4% to close at $149.06.</li>
<li>Fubotv shares gained 0.3% to close at $3.10 on Wednesday.</li>
<li>AllianceBernstein shares settled at $36.87.</li>
<li>Occidental Petroleum shares fell 0.4% to close at $46.10.</li>
<li>Western Digital shares rose 2.8% to close at $42.96 on Wednesday.</li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44274110/top-2-industrials-stocks-that-may-collapse-in-march">Top 2 Industrials Stocks That May Collapse In March</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Media

FUBO

Jim Cramer: Arthur J. Gallagher Is 'Solid,' This Industrial Company Is 'Fantastic'

AMBA

UCTT

Shares of chip stocks are trading higher as tech stocks rebound following softer-than-expected Feb. CPI figures. It was also reported that TSMC pitched a joint venture to Nvidia, AMD, Broadcom and Qualcomm to operate Intel's factories.

Applied Mat's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NYSE">AMAT</a>) short percent of float has fallen 7.26% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 18.67 million shares sold short, which is 2.3% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.01 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Applied Mat Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1741720528_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Applied Mat has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Applied Mat's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Applied Mat's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 9.51%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

How Do Investors Really Feel About Applied Mat?

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Applied Mat (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with AMAT, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 8 uncommon options trades for Applied Mat.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 25% bullish and 50%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 6 are puts, for a total amount of $561,514, and 2 are calls, for a total amount of $82,100.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $135.0 to $195.0 for Applied Mat over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Applied Mat's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Applied Mat's significant trades, within a strike price range of $135.0 to $195.0, over the past month.
<h3>Applied Mat Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1741702549_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$17.15</td>
<td>$17.05</td>
<td>$17.05</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$165.3K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td align="right">98</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$28.65</td>
<td>$26.75</td>
<td>$28.3</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$118.8K</td>
<td>385</td>
<td align="right">42</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$11.6</td>
<td>$11.4</td>
<td>$11.5</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
<td>$115.0K</td>
<td>400</td>
<td align="right">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$18.5</td>
<td>$17.35</td>
<td>$17.75</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
<td>$79.8K</td>
<td>154</td>
<td align="right">50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$27.2</td>
<td>$25.5</td>
<td>$25.65</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$56.3K</td>
<td>133</td>
<td align="right">22</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Applied Mat</h3>
Applied Materials Inc is the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, manufacturer in the world. Applied Materials has a broad portfolio spanning nearly every corner of the WFE ecosystem. Specifically, Applied Materials holds a market share leadership position in deposition, which entails the layering of new materials on semiconductor wafers. It is more exposed to general-purpose logic chips made at integrated device manufacturers and foundries. It counts the largest chipmakers in the world as customers, including TSMC, Intel, and Samsung.
<h3>Current Position of Applied Mat</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 953,962, with AMAT's price down by -1.97%, positioned at $147.04.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 65 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Applied Mat</h3>
In the last month, 4 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $205.5.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Citigroup persists with their Buy rating on Applied Mat, maintaining a target price of $202. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Barclays keeps a Equal-Weight rating on Applied Mat with a target price of $190. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Needham continues to hold a Buy rating for Applied Mat, targeting a price of $195. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Stifel keeps a Buy rating on Applied Mat with a target price of $235. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Applied Mat options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Applied Mat Unusual Options Activity For March 11

In the current session, Applied Mat Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) is trading at $150.64, after a 3.24% decrease. Over the past month, the stock fell by 17.77%, and in the past year, by 26.50%. With performance like this, long-term shareholders are more likely to start looking into the company's price-to-earnings ratio. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1741631421_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>Evaluating Applied Mat P/E in Comparison to Its Peers</h3>
The P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market performance against aggregate market data, historical earnings, and the industry at large. A lower P/E could indicate that shareholders do not expect the stock to perform better in the future or it could mean that the company is undervalued. 
Applied Mat has a lower P/E than the aggregate P/E of 57.06 of the Semiconductors &amp; Semiconductor Equipment industry. Ideally, one might believe that the stock might perform worse than its peers, but it's also probable that the stock is undervalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1741631421_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In summary, while the price-to-earnings ratio is a valuable tool for investors to evaluate a company's market performance, it should be used with caution. A low P/E ratio can be an indication of undervaluation, but it can also suggest weak growth prospects or financial instability. Moreover, the P/E ratio is just one of many metrics that investors should consider when making investment decisions, and it should be evaluated alongside other financial ratios, industry trends, and qualitative factors. By taking a comprehensive approach to analyzing a company's financial health, investors can make well-informed decisions that are more likely to lead to successful outcomes.

A Look Into Applied Mat Inc's Price Over Earnings

Dividends

Press Releases

Applied Materials Announces Cash Dividend

The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Continues Its Investigation of Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) on Behalf of Investors

SolarEdge Appoints New Directors to its Board of Directors

Applied Materials to Report Fiscal First Quarter 2025 Results on February 13, 2025

CIBC introduces additional Canadian Depositary Receipts ("CDRs")

Applied Materials Awards Suppliers for Outstanding Performance

Earnings

Applied Materials Announces First Quarter 2025 Results

General

Applied Materials Accelerates Chip Defect Review with Next-Gen eBeam System

Applied Materials to Participate in the Cantor Fitzgerald Global Technology Conference

Applied Materials Increases Quarterly Cash Dividend by 15 Percent and Announces New $10 Billion Share Repurchase Authorization

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