On Wednesday, ASML Holding N.V.’s (NASDAQ:ASML) strong quarterly results and upbeat outlook sparked fresh commentary from market watchers, with Jim Cramer and Shay Boloor offering different perspectives.
Jim Cramer, Shay Boloor React To ASML’s Strong Earnings
ASML gained 2.23% to close at $1,815.27 on Wednesday after reporting better-than-expected second-quarter results and raising its 2026 outlook for the second time this year.
The stock, however, slipped 2.26% to $1,774.23 in Thursday premarket trading, according to Benzinga Pro.
Following the earnings report, Futurum Equities chief market strategist Shay Boloor argued that ASML sits at the center of the AI chip ecosystem.
"ASML makes the machines that every advanced AI chip depends on," Boloor wrote on X, adding that the company’s second upward revision to its 2026 outlook underscores sustained demand for leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
He said orders from customers including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:TSM), Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:INTC), SK Hynix Inc. (NASDAQ:SKHY) and Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) represent long-term bets on future chip production capacity.
"When $TSM $INTC $SKHY and $MU place orders with ASML they’re effectively voting on the amount of advanced chip capacity they expect to need several years from now," Boloor said.
With both advanced logic chips and high-bandwidth memory seeing AI-driven demand, he added, "ASML is becoming the toll road for both the AI chips and the HBM surrounding them."
CNBC’s Jim Cramer also weighed in on X but noted investor sentiment over fundamentals.
"The positive action in ASML shows the ‘mood’ more than it does the performance as ASML has been fabulous for years now," Cramer wrote.
ASML’s Strong Q2 And Higher Outlook Reinforce AI Chip Boom
ASML reported second-quarter earnings of $8.82 per share, topping Wall Street estimates of $7.98, while revenue rose to $10.84 billion, ahead of analysts’ expectations of $10.28 billion.
The Dutch chip equipment maker also increased its full-year 2026 outlook.
ASML increased its full-year 2026 guidance, projecting net sales of 43 billion euros to 45 billion euros and a gross margin of 54% to 56%, higher than its previous forecast.
For the third quarter, the company expects revenue of 11 billion euros to 12 billion euros with a gross margin of 55% to 57%.
It also anticipates research and development expenses of around 1.2 billion euros and selling, general and administrative expenses of approximately 400 million euros.
According to Benzinga Edge Rankings, ASML scores in the 95th percentile for Quality, reflecting robust short, medium and long-term performance.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: katz / Shutterstock.com
Login to comment