Why Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) stock moved
Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) shares climbed 5.0% to $552.15 as of August 12, 2026, a significant gain from the prior close of $525.61. BestStocks flagged the session as a major change for AMAT. Below, we break down what changed for AMAT, why it matters for investors, how the stock reacted, and the catalysts on the calendar.
AMAT climbed 5.0% to $552.15
Applied Materials rose 5.04% to $552.09, driven by investor positioning ahead of fiscal Q3 earnings scheduled for Thursday, August 13, 2026, and positive sentiment in the AI hardware sector. Consensus estimates project ~23% revenue growth to $9.00B and EPS of ~$3.36–$3.40. Volume of 2.93M shares was 0.74x the time-adjusted average, indicating normal trading for this point in the session. AMAT fiscal Q3 earnings release on August 13, 2026—watch for revenue, EPS, and forward guidance commentary on WFE market conditions and customer capex plans.
What it means for Applied Materials, Inc. investors
For Applied Materials, Inc. investors, the balance of recent signals points to a bullish shift. On the constructive side: Material positive event; Strong 5.0% price move on light volume. Weighing against that: Applied Materials fell 5.09% intraday to $532.40, extending a decline that saw the stock drop 4.5% the prior day (Zacks, 2026-07-16); Applied Materials fell 5.94% to $560.33, with volume running at 0.67x the time-adjusted average — below typical levels for this stage of the session. Because peers moved similarly, the shift looks more macro- or sector-driven than a change in AMAT's fundamentals. Wall Street's consensus price target sits at $633.54, implying +14.7% upside from $552.15. Over the past 90 days analysts logged 0 upgrades and 1 downgrade. BestStocks rates the overall signal quality low (56/100). With earnings roughly 1 days out, the next report is the most likely near-term test of the move.
AMAT price reaction
AMAT last traded at $552.15, up $26.54 (+5.05%) from the previous close of $525.61. The session traded on 0.4× average volume (below avg), so participation was unremarkable. Its technology peer group moved a median +3.0% over the same stretch, leaving AMAT ahead of the group by 2.0 points. Over the past month the stock has ranged between $436.45 and $595.70, and it currently sits about 73% of the way up that band.
Bullish and bearish analyst opinions on Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT)
The consensus analyst price target on Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) is $633.54, 14.7% above the recent $552.15. Over the past 90 days analysts logged 0 upgrades, 40 maintains, and 1 downgrade. Here is how the bullish and bearish cases on AMAT line up.
The bullish case
- Wall Street's consensus price target of $633.54 implies +14.7% upside from $552.15.
- The Street's most bullish target is $900.00 (+63.0%).
- Material positive event.
- Strong 5.0% price move on light volume.
- Positive price momentum.
The bearish case
- The most bearish analyst target is $425.00 (-23.0%).
- 1 analyst downgrade in the past 90 days, most recently Morgan Stanley to Equal Weight (2026-05-18).
- Applied Materials fell 5.09% intraday to $532.40, extending a decline that saw the stock drop 4.5% the prior day (Zacks, 2026-07-16).
- Applied Materials, Inc. moved -6.44% intraday from $592.79 to $554.60.
Weighing both sides, BestStocks' composite read of recent signals is bullish, as the bull-versus-bear meter above shows. This is an educational summary of the bull and bear case, not investment advice.
Analyst price targets and ratings are FMP consensus figures as of Aug 12, 2026; other aggregators may differ. High and low targets show the range of estimates, not forecasts.
Previous notable changes for AMAT
In-depth AMAT event analyses
Frequently asked questions about AMAT
Why did Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) stock move?
AMAT climbed 5.0% to $552.15. The move coincided with the context summarized above, which BestStocks classifies as a sector-wide move, though no single company-specific catalyst was independently confirmed.
How much did AMAT stock rise?
AMAT gained 5.05% ($26.54) versus the prior close of $525.61, last trading at $552.15 on 0.4× average volume.
When is Applied Materials, Inc.'s next earnings date?
AMAT's next earnings report is estimated for 2026-08-13 — about 1 day away.
What is the analyst price target for AMAT?
The consensus analyst price target for AMAT is $633.54, about 14.7% above the current $552.15. Over the past 90 days, analysts recorded 0 upgrades, 40 maintains, and 1 downgrade.
Is the AMAT move company-specific or sector-wide?
BestStocks classifies it as a sector-wide move: the peer group moved a median +3.0% against AMAT's +5.0%. AMAT ranks top 2 of 7 peers.
How BestStocks tracks AMAT
This page is generated automatically by BestStocks' change-detection system after its price and volume cleared AMAT-specific materiality thresholds, triggering an evidence check. It draws on 20 tracked change events for AMAT, cross-checked against the data sources listed below. Price, volume, and market-capitalization figures are the live intraday quote as of August 12, 2026 and refresh as new information is detected; for companies with multiple share classes, market-cap figures can differ by data source. Analyst price targets and ratings are FMP consensus. This is an educational summary of what changed and why — not personalized investment advice.