NEW YORK, Jan 2, 2026, 12:33 PM ET — Regular session
ACM Research shares jumped 10.6% to $43.64 in midday trading on Friday, after swinging between $40.26 and $44.20 earlier in the session.
The sharp move put the Nasdaq-listed semiconductor equipment maker among the day’s stronger gainers in the chip sector, as investors rotated back into technology on the first trading day of 2026.
The rally matters now because ACM Research is heading into a key January stretch where investors will be looking for fresh signals on demand for chipmaking tools. The Fremont, California-based company has said it will release its preliminary 2025 revenue range and initial 2026 revenue outlook on Jan. 22, and will also take part in the Needham Growth Conference on Jan. 15.
Semiconductor equipment stocks were broadly higher, with Lam Research up about 5.1%, Applied Materials up about 3.4% and KLA up about 3.2%. ASML’s U.S.-listed shares were up about 8.4%.
The advance came alongside a wider rebound in U.S. equities, after technology shares led Wall Street higher in early 2026 trading, Reuters reported.
In Europe, attention centered on ASML after Aletheia Capital upgraded the chip-equipment maker and doubled its price target to $1,500, citing stronger demand for extreme ultraviolet lithography, or EUV, a key step in producing the most advanced chips.
ACM Research makes semiconductor process tools used in steps such as wafer cleaning and electroplating, as well as equipment for advanced packaging, according to Reuters company information.
For ACM Research, the next catalyst is less about day-to-day market swings and more about what its January update says about customer spending plans for 2026. Traders typically focus on the revenue outlook first, then watch for clues on margins and the pace of new tool adoption.
Analysts will also be measuring the company against near-term expectations. A recent Zacks commentary published on Nasdaq.com said analysts were projecting earnings of $0.39 per share on revenue of $244.45 million for the upcoming report period.
Beyond company-specific news, investors are bracing for macro data that can move rate expectations — a key driver for growth stocks. The U.S. jobs report due Jan. 9 and consumer inflation data due Jan. 13 are among the early tests, Reuters reported; “The market is looking for direction,” Matthew Maley, chief market strategist at Miller Tabak, said. Reuters
ACM Research’s surge also underlined how quickly semiconductor equipment shares can react when risk appetite returns. Those moves can fade just as fast if incoming data or guidance points to slower factory spending.
