Bitcoin-Linked Stocks Rise as Starbucks Gets Upgrade
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 14 2026
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Bitcoin-Linked Stocks Rise: Bitcoin rose 2% as the Senate Banking Committee discussed a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, with Coinbase shares jumping nearly 9%, indicating growing market confidence that could drive future growth for related companies.
- Starbucks Upgrade: TD Cowen upgraded Starbucks from hold to buy, raising its price target from $106 to $120, with analysts noting multiple positive sales drivers in a strong market backdrop, suggesting improved performance ahead.
- Ford Stock Surge: Ford shares rose 7%, adding to a 13% gain from Wednesday, as Morgan Stanley highlighted its energy storage business and partnership with CATL, projecting a $3 billion incremental revenue opportunity for Ford's Model e segment.
- Applied Materials Earnings Outlook: Applied Materials saw a 2% increase in shares ahead of its fiscal second-quarter results, with analysts expecting earnings of $2.66 per share and revenue of $7.68 billion, reflecting sustained optimism about semiconductor equipment demand.
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Analyst Views on AMAT
Wall Street analysts forecast AMAT stock price to fall
22 Analyst Rating
18 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 449.680
Low
190.00
Averages
288.05
High
425.00
Current: 449.680
Low
190.00
Averages
288.05
High
425.00
About AMAT
Applied Materials, Inc. is a materials engineering solution company. The Company provides equipment, services and software to the semiconductor, display, and related industries. It operates through two segments: Semiconductor Systems and Applied Global Services (AGS). The Semiconductor Systems segment includes semiconductor capital equipment to enable materials engineering steps including etch, rapid thermal processing, deposition, chemical mechanical planarization, metrology and inspection, wafer packaging, and ion implantation. The AGS segment provides integrated solutions to optimize equipment and fab performance and productivity, including services, spares and factory automation software for semiconductor and other products. Its products include personal computing devices, mobile phones, artificial intelligence (AI) and data center servers, automobiles, connected devices, industrial applications and consumer electronics.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Semiconductor Industry's Greatest Time in History
- Industry Growth Catalyst: Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) has surged 75% year-to-date, reflecting the equipment shortages triggered by AI data center buildouts, which are expected to drive sustained growth in semiconductor capital equipment spending and further solidify its market leadership.
- Onto Innovation's Potential: Onto Innovation (NYSE:ONTO) achieved a record revenue of $266.87 million in Q4 2025 and signed a volume purchase agreement worth over $240 million with a leading HBM manufacturer, which is anticipated to boost its market share in the semiconductor equipment sector.
- Lam Research's Performance: Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX) reported $5.84 billion in revenue for Q1 2023, a 23.76% year-over-year increase, with guidance for the June quarter projecting $6.60 billion, indicating that AI-driven demand is reshaping the semiconductor industry.
- ASML's Market Position: ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) delivered $10.34 billion in revenue in Q1 2026, with management raising the full-year outlook to €36 billion to €40 billion, showcasing strong expectations for chip demand and reinforcing its critical role in the global semiconductor equipment market.
See More
Costco Membership Growth Weakens, Stock Drops
- Costco Stock Decline: Costco's shares fell 4.5% on Friday due to weaker-than-expected membership growth in its quarterly report, leading to investor concerns about the company's growth trajectory, with Jim noting management's failure to reassure the market.
- Dell Stock Surge: Dell Technologies' stock surged 30% on Friday, marking its best single-day performance ever, driven by strong demand for AI servers and data center infrastructure, which also bolstered Jim's bullish outlook on Nvidia.
- Cybersecurity Earnings Outlook: CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks are set to report earnings next week, with Jim highlighting that both stocks have rallied significantly during the quarter, although they face challenges heading into earnings, he remains optimistic about their long-term prospects.
- Rapid Fire Recap: At the end of the video, Jim covered stocks like Applied Materials, Honeywell, and FedEx, emphasizing their market performance and showcasing his focus on a diversified investment portfolio.
See More
U.S. Stock Indices Reach All-Time Highs Amid Positive Market Sentiment
- Market Optimism: The U.S. stock indices reached all-time highs today, with the S&P 500 up 0.41%, the Dow Jones up 0.43%, and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.66%, driven by improved prospects for a peace deal in the Middle East, reflecting investor confidence in economic recovery.
- Tech Stock Surge: Dell Technologies surged over 30% after providing a sales outlook that exceeded analyst expectations, highlighting relentless demand for AI infrastructure upgrades, which further boosted the entire tech sector's attractiveness to investors.
- Crude Oil Price Decline: Crude oil prices fell more than 1% to a five-week low due to a preliminary agreement between the U.S. and Iran, easing inflation concerns and fostering optimism about a potential recovery in oil supply, which could benefit related industries.
- Strong Corporate Earnings: As of now, 84% of S&P 500 companies have beaten Q1 earnings estimates, with overall earnings projected to rise 12% year-over-year, although excluding the tech sector, growth is only expected at 3%, indicating market reliance on tech for future growth amidst uncertainty.
See More
Market Dynamics and Corporate Performance Analysis
- Dell's Quarter Performance: Dell reported a quarter that exceeded expectations, with shares rising over 30%, indicating strong performance across all business levels, particularly in data center servers, which is expected to boost overall market confidence.
- Costco Membership Renewal Rates Up: Costco's latest earnings report showed improved membership renewal rates in the U.S. and Canada; although market reaction was muted, record performance in its gas business is likely to enhance membership loyalty and solidify its market position.
- Anthropic Surpasses OpenAI: Anthropic raised $65 billion at a $965 billion valuation, becoming the most valuable AI startup, a significant increase from $380 billion in February, showcasing explosive revenue growth and wealth creation potential in the AI sector.
- Cybersecurity Market Volatility: Okta beat expectations in its earnings report, with shares rising over 8%, while Zscaler's stock fell due to disappointing guidance, highlighting a divergence in the cybersecurity industry that affected the performance of other companies, including CrowdStrike.
See More
Applied Materials CEO Declares Semiconductor Industry's Golden Era
- Strong Industry Growth: Applied Materials CEO Gary Dickerson stated that the semiconductor industry is experiencing its strongest period in history, primarily driven by accelerating demand for artificial intelligence, with expectations for sustained growth in the coming years.
- Surging Stock Price: Over the past year, Applied Materials' stock has surged approximately 178%, reflecting strong market confidence in its critical role in AI infrastructure development and significant future growth potential.
- Capacity Expansion Investments: The company has made substantial investments in operations and supply chains, nearly doubling its operational capacity to meet the rising customer demand, demonstrating strong confidence in future market conditions.
- Significant Long-term Opportunities: Dickerson emphasized that AI will transform every industry, driving the need for increasingly advanced chips and the equipment required for their manufacture, highlighting the strategic importance of the company in this transformation.
See More
Applied Materials CEO: Semiconductor Industry Strong Growth
- Strong Industry Growth: CEO Gary Dickerson of Applied Materials stated that the semiconductor industry is experiencing its strongest growth period ever, primarily driven by unprecedented computing demand from artificial intelligence, indicating significant long-term growth potential.
- Surging Stock Price: Shares of Applied Materials have surged approximately 178% over the past year, with Dickerson asserting that this momentum is far from over as customers race to build more AI infrastructure, showcasing strong visibility into future demand.
- Expansion Investments: To keep pace with rising demand, Applied Materials has made substantial investments in operations and supply chains, effectively doubling its operational capacity to ensure it can meet future market needs.
- AI-Driven Innovation: Dickerson emphasized that artificial intelligence will transform every industry, representing the most enabling innovation of our lifetimes, thereby driving an increasing demand for more advanced chips and the equipment needed to manufacture them.
See More
Semiconductor Industry's Greatest Time in History
- Industry Growth Catalyst: Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) has surged 75% year-to-date, reflecting the equipment shortages triggered by AI data center buildouts, which are expected to drive sustained growth in semiconductor capital equipment spending and further solidify its market leadership.
- Onto Innovation's Potential: Onto Innovation (NYSE:ONTO) achieved a record revenue of $266.87 million in Q4 2025 and signed a volume purchase agreement worth over $240 million with a leading HBM manufacturer, which is anticipated to boost its market share in the semiconductor equipment sector.
- Lam Research's Performance: Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX) reported $5.84 billion in revenue for Q1 2023, a 23.76% year-over-year increase, with guidance for the June quarter projecting $6.60 billion, indicating that AI-driven demand is reshaping the semiconductor industry.
- ASML's Market Position: ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) delivered $10.34 billion in revenue in Q1 2026, with management raising the full-year outlook to €36 billion to €40 billion, showcasing strong expectations for chip demand and reinforcing its critical role in the global semiconductor equipment market.
See More
Costco Membership Growth Weakens, Stock Drops
- Costco Stock Decline: Costco's shares fell 4.5% on Friday due to weaker-than-expected membership growth in its quarterly report, leading to investor concerns about the company's growth trajectory, with Jim noting management's failure to reassure the market.
- Dell Stock Surge: Dell Technologies' stock surged 30% on Friday, marking its best single-day performance ever, driven by strong demand for AI servers and data center infrastructure, which also bolstered Jim's bullish outlook on Nvidia.
- Cybersecurity Earnings Outlook: CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks are set to report earnings next week, with Jim highlighting that both stocks have rallied significantly during the quarter, although they face challenges heading into earnings, he remains optimistic about their long-term prospects.
- Rapid Fire Recap: At the end of the video, Jim covered stocks like Applied Materials, Honeywell, and FedEx, emphasizing their market performance and showcasing his focus on a diversified investment portfolio.
See More
U.S. Stock Indices Reach All-Time Highs Amid Positive Market Sentiment
- Market Optimism: The U.S. stock indices reached all-time highs today, with the S&P 500 up 0.41%, the Dow Jones up 0.43%, and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.66%, driven by improved prospects for a peace deal in the Middle East, reflecting investor confidence in economic recovery.
- Tech Stock Surge: Dell Technologies surged over 30% after providing a sales outlook that exceeded analyst expectations, highlighting relentless demand for AI infrastructure upgrades, which further boosted the entire tech sector's attractiveness to investors.
- Crude Oil Price Decline: Crude oil prices fell more than 1% to a five-week low due to a preliminary agreement between the U.S. and Iran, easing inflation concerns and fostering optimism about a potential recovery in oil supply, which could benefit related industries.
- Strong Corporate Earnings: As of now, 84% of S&P 500 companies have beaten Q1 earnings estimates, with overall earnings projected to rise 12% year-over-year, although excluding the tech sector, growth is only expected at 3%, indicating market reliance on tech for future growth amidst uncertainty.
See More
Market Dynamics and Corporate Performance Analysis
- Dell's Quarter Performance: Dell reported a quarter that exceeded expectations, with shares rising over 30%, indicating strong performance across all business levels, particularly in data center servers, which is expected to boost overall market confidence.
- Costco Membership Renewal Rates Up: Costco's latest earnings report showed improved membership renewal rates in the U.S. and Canada; although market reaction was muted, record performance in its gas business is likely to enhance membership loyalty and solidify its market position.
- Anthropic Surpasses OpenAI: Anthropic raised $65 billion at a $965 billion valuation, becoming the most valuable AI startup, a significant increase from $380 billion in February, showcasing explosive revenue growth and wealth creation potential in the AI sector.
- Cybersecurity Market Volatility: Okta beat expectations in its earnings report, with shares rising over 8%, while Zscaler's stock fell due to disappointing guidance, highlighting a divergence in the cybersecurity industry that affected the performance of other companies, including CrowdStrike.
See More
Applied Materials CEO Declares Semiconductor Industry's Golden Era
- Strong Industry Growth: Applied Materials CEO Gary Dickerson stated that the semiconductor industry is experiencing its strongest period in history, primarily driven by accelerating demand for artificial intelligence, with expectations for sustained growth in the coming years.
- Surging Stock Price: Over the past year, Applied Materials' stock has surged approximately 178%, reflecting strong market confidence in its critical role in AI infrastructure development and significant future growth potential.
- Capacity Expansion Investments: The company has made substantial investments in operations and supply chains, nearly doubling its operational capacity to meet the rising customer demand, demonstrating strong confidence in future market conditions.
- Significant Long-term Opportunities: Dickerson emphasized that AI will transform every industry, driving the need for increasingly advanced chips and the equipment required for their manufacture, highlighting the strategic importance of the company in this transformation.
See More
Applied Materials CEO: Semiconductor Industry Strong Growth
- Strong Industry Growth: CEO Gary Dickerson of Applied Materials stated that the semiconductor industry is experiencing its strongest growth period ever, primarily driven by unprecedented computing demand from artificial intelligence, indicating significant long-term growth potential.
- Surging Stock Price: Shares of Applied Materials have surged approximately 178% over the past year, with Dickerson asserting that this momentum is far from over as customers race to build more AI infrastructure, showcasing strong visibility into future demand.
- Expansion Investments: To keep pace with rising demand, Applied Materials has made substantial investments in operations and supply chains, effectively doubling its operational capacity to ensure it can meet future market needs.
- AI-Driven Innovation: Dickerson emphasized that artificial intelligence will transform every industry, representing the most enabling innovation of our lifetimes, thereby driving an increasing demand for more advanced chips and the equipment needed to manufacture them.
See More
