Applied Materials (AMAT) Stock Jumps on Fresh Analyst Upgrades: Jefferies Lifts Target to $360 as AI Chip Spending Shapes 2026 Outlook
December 15, 2025 — Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) stock is in focus on Monday after a new round of bullish Wall Street commentary helped lift sentiment around the semiconductor-equipment leader. Shares traded around $262.6 in U.S. trading on Dec. 15, up roughly 1.3% from the prior close, as investors weighed a pair of notable price-target increases that frame a bigger debate heading into 2026: how much AI-driven wafer-fab and advanced-packaging spending can offset tightening U.S. export controls tied to China. TradingView+1 What’s moving Applied Materials stock today (Dec. 15): two price-target hikes hit the tape The day’s catalyst is