AMSTERDAM, Feb 15, 2026, 01:38 CET — The market has closed.
Shares of ASML Holding NV closed Friday at 1,190.40 euros in Amsterdam, up 0.9%. The chip equipment giant ended the week with scant company-specific developments, yet sector chatter remained active. Traders are watching to see if Applied Materials’ upbeat demand outlook in the U.S. will spill over into the European session on Monday. (Yahoo Finance)
Timing’s crucial here. Semiconductor equipment now serves as a quick barometer for the real staying power of the AI build-out—and just how much capital is moving away from chip design toward factories and packaging.
Rates remain a headwind here. European shares edged lower Friday, with investors eyeing fresh concerns over AI shakeups and questioning returns on heavy tech spending. Still, softer U.S. inflation offered a glimmer for those betting the Federal Reserve might cut rates by June. (Reuters)
Applied Materials projected second-quarter revenue of roughly $7.65 billion, give or take $500 million, along with adjusted earnings around $2.64 per share, with a possible swing of 20 cents—both figures ahead of LSEG’s consensus. CEO Gary Dickerson pointed to “the acceleration of industry investments in AI computing” as the main growth engine. But Timm Schulze-Melander at Rothschild & Co. Redburn highlighted memory as the stronger short-term catalyst. Shares in rivals Lam Research and KLA added close to 3% following the update, according to the report. (Reuters)
ASML’s U.S. ADRs slipped 0.02% to $1,406.61 after Friday’s close. Shares moved between $1,393.05 and $1,436.60 throughout the session, with roughly 1.25 million changing hands. (Reuters)
ASML draws heavy scrutiny for its role supplying extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines—critical for manufacturing chips with the tiniest features. Back in late January, the group logged net bookings of €13.2 billion for the quarter, with €7.4 billion of that from EUV orders. For 2026, ASML is guiding net sales somewhere between €34 billion and €39 billion. CEO Christophe Fouquet pointed to a “notably more positive” customer outlook, attributing it to growing AI-driven demand. (ASML)
There’s another risk, unrelated to the product cycle. Export controls still hang over the entire equipment chain, with Washington maintaining pressure on flows tied to China.
Applied Materials will pay $252 million to settle U.S. allegations it shipped technology to China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp without proper export licenses, the Commerce Department said Thursday. The deal highlights intensifying regulatory scrutiny on everything from licensing to shipping channels and after-sales support involving restricted Chinese clients. (Reuters)
It’s not difficult to imagine what could go wrong for ASML—tougher restrictions on either sales or servicing might dent revenue and delay shipments, right when buyers are scrambling to secure AI server capacity. Rate-cut speculation jerks tech stocks with lofty valuations around, too.
ASML has its annual report coming up on Feb. 25, then first-quarter numbers land April 15, the company’s financial calendar shows. (ASML)
Monday’s open brings a test: will U.S. chip-tool makers’ momentum carry into Europe, or get undercut by fresh macro headlines or export-policy noise? ASML’s Feb. 25 annual report is the next big milestone.
