In a recent move, Atria Investments Inc. reduced its stake in Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) by selling 3,382 shares, resulting in a 5.6% decrease in its holdings during the third quarter of 2023. According to Atria’s latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the firm now owns a total of 57,362 shares valued at approximately $11,744,000.
This reduction in shares comes as part of a broader trend, with various hedge funds and institutional investors adjusting their positions in Applied Materials. Notably, Marquette Asset Management LLC increased its holdings by 150%, acquiring 125 shares worth $26,000 after adding 75 shares in the last quarter. Additionally, Manning & Napier Advisors LLC made a new investment in Applied Materials valued at $31,000 during the same period.
Insider Transactions and Stock Performance
Further insights into the company’s trading activity reveal that senior vice president Teri A. Little sold 4,000 shares on November 25, 2023, at an average price of $238.24, amounting to a total of $952,960. Following this transaction, Little holds 84,351 shares, now valued at around $20,095,782. Similarly, chief accounting officer Adam Sanders sold 609 shares on December 1, 2023, for a total of $155,617.77, reducing his ownership by 12.13%.
Over the past ninety days, insiders have sold a total of 8,609 shares, valued at approximately $2,044,898. Currently, corporate insiders retain 0.30% of the company’s stock.
On the market front, shares of Applied Materials opened at $328.46 on Friday, with a market capitalization of $260.71 billion. The firm has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 37.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Over the past year, Applied Materials’ stock has fluctuated between a low of $123.74 and a high of $344.60.
Recent Earnings and Future Expectations
Applied Materials recently reported its earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 on February 12, 2026. The company achieved earnings per share (EPS) of $2.38, surpassing analysts’ expectations of $2.19. Revenue for the quarter reached $7.01 billion, exceeding predictions of $6.88 billion. However, revenue saw a year-over-year decline of 2.1%.
Looking ahead, Applied Materials has set guidance for Q2 2026 with EPS expected between $2.440 and $2.840. Analysts anticipate an average EPS of 9.38 for the current fiscal year.
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.46 per share, payable on March 12, 2026, to investors on record as of February 19, 2026. This translates to an annualized dividend of $1.84 and a yield of 0.6%.
Analysts have been active in updating their price targets for Applied Materials following the earnings announcement. Sanford C. Bernstein maintained a “market perform” rating with a target of $325.00. Wells Fargo raised its target from $290.00 to $350.00, while Morgan Stanley increased their price target from $273.00 to $364.00.
Overall, the market sentiment remains cautiously optimistic, with a majority of analysts rating the stock as a “Moderate Buy,” reflecting confidence in Applied Materials’ position in the semiconductor manufacturing sector and robust demand driven by advancements in technology.
