New York, Feb 28, 2026, 12:13 PM EST — The market has shut for the day.
- Applied Materials slipped 0.91% Friday, closing at $372.30.
- Director Judy Bruner’s family trust unloaded 2,500 shares, according to a regulatory filing.
- Management is set to make appearances at a series of investor conferences kicking off March 2, and investors have their eyes on those events.
Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) finished Friday’s session at $372.30, off 0.91%. Earlier in the week, the stock hit an intraday peak of $395.95 on Feb. 25, only to tumble 4.87% the following day. Trading volume on Friday came in around 9.04 million shares, price data show.
Why does this count now? Applied is right in the thick of a packed trade—chip equipment spending aimed at AI and memory expansion. And when the mood shifts, this stock doesn’t wait around; it moves sharply.
There’s more than the chip cycle at play. Rate jitters have resurfaced, and when investors rethink the timing of cuts, names in equipment—those relying on far-off growth bets—can take a hit.
Director Judy Bruner’s family trust offloaded 2,500 shares on Feb. 25, fetching a weighted average of $391.71 per share, according to a Form 4. After the sale, the trust holds 26,089 shares indirectly. The same filing details 1,583 restricted stock units—granted awards that will vest in March 2026.
Applied shares slumped after tech stocks lost ground Thursday. Nvidia’s earnings didn’t calm investors, sending U.S. equities tumbling and knocking the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index down 3.2%. “It feels like an Nvidia hangover that’s specific to the AI space,” said Michael Green, chief strategist at Simplify Asset Management. Reuters
Nvidia’s pullback has rippled through the AI sector, hitting chip-equipment suppliers tied to the ongoing expansion. “Nvidia once again exceeded expectations but the competitive picture is also shifting,” said Jacob Bourne, analyst at eMarketer, flagging mounting doubts around the payoff from massive AI investments. Reuters
Another obstacle showed up Friday, as fresh inflation figures came in hot. The Producer Price Index, tracking wholesale prices, climbed 0.5% in January—beating estimates, and boosting bets that the Federal Reserve won’t touch rates anytime soon. “Given still-buoyant core inflation and the recent firming of job gains, we expect the Fed to remain on pause during its upcoming March meeting,” said Ben Ayers, senior economist at Nationwide. The government’s delayed January PCE inflation print is now scheduled for March 13, according to Reuters. Reuters
Semiconductors took a step back, with the sector index down 1.2% as oil prices ticked higher amid U.S.-Iran friction. “Semiconductors … have priced in a lot of good news. And now it’s time for a breather,” said Talley Leger, chief market strategist at The Wealth Consulting Group. Reuters
Other names ended the week lower too. Lam Research gave up 2.17% on Friday; Applied Materials shed 0.91%, according to MarketWatch data.
Investors tracking the company are eyeing two upcoming dates. Applied’s leadership is set for fireside chats at investor conferences—a Morgan Stanley session on March 2 and another with Cantor Fitzgerald on March 10. Both events will stream via the company’s website.
Applied has circled March 12 for its annual meeting, with a start time of 11:00 a.m. Pacific, at its Santa Clara headquarters, per the company’s proxy statement.
Still, risks haven’t gone away. Sector-wide worries about export controls and China scrutiny keep resurfacing. Back in February, Applied agreed to pay $252 million to settle U.S. Commerce Department allegations it illegally shipped chipmaking gear to SMIC in China, according to Reuters.
The next big event lands fast: management’s Morgan Stanley fireside chat is set for Monday. Traders are tuned in, watching for any change in tone regarding order visibility or AI-related demand as March begins.
