Semicap stocks rise following strong ASML earnings

Investing.com -- Shares of semiconductor equipment manufacturers Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX), Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT), and KLA Corporation (NASDAQ: KLAC) were up in pre-market trading on Wednesday, with gains of 3.6%, 2.9%, and 3% respectively, following a robust earnings report from sector peer ASML.

ASML's stock soared over 11.1% after the company reported impressive fourth-quarter results for 2024, surpassing expectations with record net sales of €9.3 billion. The figures exceeded the company's prior guidance, showcasing a gross margin of 51.7% and a net income of €2.7 billion for the quarter.

The positive performance was attributed to additional system upgrades and the revenue recognition from two High-NA EUV systems, which represent a significant advancement in lithography technology crucial for cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing. ASML also shipped a third High-NA EUV system before the year's end.

Looking at the annual figures, ASML's total net sales for 2024 were €28.3 billion, a slight increase from €27.6 billion in 2023, with a consistent gross margin of 51.3%. The company's net income for the year was €7.6 billion. Although the total lithography systems sold dropped to 380 in 2024 from 421 in 2023, the demand for EUV systems and service-related revenue supported growth.

Additionally, ASML experienced a significant rise in net bookings during the fourth quarter, with a total of €7.1 billion, which is a substantial jump from €2.6 billion in the previous quarter.

Bernstein SocGen Group analyst Sara Russo weighed in on the results, stating, "Bookings were the standout once again, coming in well ahead of expectations at EUR 7.1B (vs. Cons 3.5B). While a very solid set of results, it’s far too soon to have visibility of any impact from any change in AI demand driven by DeepSeek news."

The upbeat earnings from ASML have provided a positive outlook for the semiconductor equipment sector, as indicated by the pre-market movements of Lam Research, Applied Materials, and KLA Corporation, reflecting investors' optimism about the industry's prospects.

Original article

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