NEW YORK, January 9, 2026, 17:51 EST — After-hours
- AMAT jumped roughly 7%, closing near $301 on Friday.
- Chip shares rose as a softer U.S. jobs report fueled hopes for potential rate cuts.
- Wall Street eyes Tuesday’s CPI report and the mid-February earnings window for Applied.
Applied Materials shares surged almost 7% on Friday, closing at $301.18, and held a 6.9% gain in after-hours trading as semiconductor equipment stocks picked up steam heading into the weekend.
Chip shares rallied broadly, fueled by a weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs report that kept hopes alive for Federal Reserve rate cuts. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (.SOX) surged 2.7% to a fresh record, while Lam Research jumped 8.7% after Mizuho boosted its price target on the equipment maker. “Investors are getting granular and picking the winners and losers,” said Zachary Hill, head of portfolio management at Horizon Investments. Reuters
Broker notes stirred up momentum around Applied itself. Cantor Fitzgerald bumped its price target to $425 from $350 while maintaining an “overweight” rating, signaling it expects the stock to outperform peers. Goldman Sachs and Mizuho also raised their targets on Friday, according to MarketScreener. MarketScreener
Applied moved in a range from $286.50 to a fresh 52-week peak of $302.78 during trading, closing just under that high after hours. The stock’s full 52-week span runs from $123.74 up to that $302.78 mark. The company carries a market cap around $240 billion. Yahoo Finance
Late Thursday, a regulatory filing came through. A Form 4 — the SEC document for insider trades — revealed that Raja Prabu G., president of Applied’s Semiconductor Products Group, reported receiving 45 shares as a gift back in November. The filing also detailed his current holdings and unvested awards. StreetInsider.com
Inflation data takes center stage next. On Tuesday, January 13 at 8:30 a.m. ET, the Labor Department will release its Consumer Price Index report for December. This number has the potential to shift rate expectations—and ripple through the higher-multiple segment of the chip supply chain. Bureau of Labor Statistics
But the rally isn’t without challenges. Applied has flagged that stricter U.S. export controls will likely hit demand tied to China and cut into fiscal 2026 revenue. That keeps shares wary of any new restrictions or a dip in wafer fab investment. Reuters
Investors are eyeing beyond the macro headlines toward Applied’s next earnings update, expected mid-February. Traders usually zero in on the chipmaker’s spending outlook, China exposure, and margin forecasts. Nasdaq’s earnings calendar shows February 12 as the anticipated report date. nasdaq.com
