NEW YORK, Jan 3, 2026, 19:00 ET — Market closed
- ACM Research shares closed up 13.8% on Friday, ending near a 52-week high.
- Chip stocks rebounded broadly, with the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index up 4% in the first session of 2026.
- Investors are looking ahead to ACM’s Jan. 15 conference appearance and a Jan. 22 preliminary revenue and outlook update.
Shares of ACM Research, Inc. rose 13.76% on Friday to close at $44.88, their biggest daily gain in months, after trading between $40.86 and $44.99. The stock finished within 24 cents of its 52-week high of $45.12, according to StockAnalysis. 1
The outsized move matters because ACMR has been one of the higher-beta names in the chip-tool space, where momentum can turn quickly as investors reset positions for the new year. With the shares now crowding a key price ceiling, traders will be watching for follow-through when markets reopen.
The company has a near-term catalyst calendar. ACM said it will participate in the 28th Annual Needham Virtual Growth Conference on Jan. 15 and plans to release a preliminary full-year 2025 revenue range and an initial 2026 revenue outlook before the U.S. market opens on Jan. 22. 2
Friday’s jump came alongside a broader rebound in chip-related shares. The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index (.SOX) gained 4% as Nvidia and Intel helped lift the sector, Reuters reported. Joe Mazzola, head of trading and derivatives strategist at Charles Schwab, said the market is seeing a “buy the dip, sell the rip” mentality, while investors are “more conscious” about valuations for some AI-linked stocks. 3
Semiconductor equipment sentiment also got a boost from overseas. ASML shares rose after Aletheia Capital upgraded the chip-equipment maker to “buy” from “sell” and doubled its price target to $1,500, citing a stronger outlook for demand for its extreme ultraviolet lithography tools, Investing.com reported. 4
ACM Research develops chipmaking tools used in manufacturing, including cleaning and electroplating systems. A wafer is the thin slice of silicon that gets processed into chips, and cleaning steps are used to remove residues and defects during fabrication.
The rally pushed ACMR deeper into technically stretched territory. StockAnalysis data show the shares are well above their 50-day moving average of about $36.53 and 200-day average near $29.83, while the relative strength index (RSI) — a momentum gauge that can flag “overbought” conditions above 70 — stands around 71.8. 5
Before next session, traders will be watching whether ACMR can break cleanly above the $45 area that has marked the top of its 52-week range. Failure to hold Friday’s gains would put the focus back on the low-$40s as the first test of support.
Next week’s company events could shape the narrative quickly. Investors typically use conference remarks for demand tone, while the Jan. 22 update should anchor expectations with a preliminary revenue range and the first formal look at management’s 2026 starting point.
Macro cross-currents are also in play, particularly for semiconductors and other rate-sensitive growth shares. Any shift in expectations for U.S. interest rates or the labor market can ripple through chip stocks and the smaller suppliers that follow them.
For now, Friday’s burst leaves ACM Research on traders’ screens as one of the early 2026 momentum names. The next test is whether the move was a one-day reset with the sector — or the start of a push to new highs ahead of the Jan. 22 update.
