Figma Analyst Starts Coverage Optimistically; Check Out the Top 4 Initiations for Wednesday
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Aug 20 2025
0mins
Should l Buy AMAT?
Source: Benzinga
Analyst Ratings Updates: Top Wall Street analysts have revised their outlooks on several companies, including upgrades and new coverage initiations.
Figma Coverage Initiation: Piper Sandler analyst Brent Bracelin initiated coverage on Figma with an Overweight rating and a price target of $85, while shares closed at $69.41.
Establishment Labs Rating: Canaccord Genuity's Caitlin Cronin initiated coverage on Establishment Labs Holdings Inc. with a Buy rating and a price target of $60; shares closed at $37.70.
iRhythm Technologies Analysis: B of A Securities initiated coverage on iRhythm Technologies with a Buy rating and a price target of $200, with shares closing at $158.52.
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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: 338.940
Low
190.00
Averages
288.05
High
425.00
Current: 338.940
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 in three segments: Semiconductor Systems, Applied Global Services (AGS), and Display. The Semiconductor systems segment designs, develops, manufactures and sells a range of primarily 300 mm equipment used to fabricate semiconductor chips, also referred to as integrated circuits (ICs). The AGS segment provides services, spares and factory automation software to customer fabrication plants globally. The AGS segment also manufactures and sells 200mm and other equipment. The Display segment is comprised primarily of products for manufacturing liquid crystal displays (LCDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and other display technologies for televisions, monitors, laptops, personal computers (PCs), tablets, smartphones, and other consumer-oriented devices.
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.
Cerebras Partners with Oracle for Cloud Computing
- Client Base Expansion: Cerebras Systems has partnered with Oracle, which now incorporates Cerebras chips into its infrastructure, marking a significant expansion in Cerebras' customer base in the cloud computing market and potentially enhancing its attractiveness for future IPO.
- Revenue Source Diversification: In the first half of 2024, 87% of Cerebras' revenue came from its Middle Eastern client G42, and the collaboration with Oracle is expected to reduce reliance on a single customer, thereby strengthening its financial stability and market competitiveness.
- Enhanced Funding Support: After filing for an IPO in 2024, Cerebras successfully completed a $1.1 billion funding round, achieving a valuation of $8.1 billion, which provides robust financial backing for its future expansion and technological innovation.
- Surging Market Demand: As AI model developers' demand for computing power continues to rise, the application of Cerebras' WSE-3 chips in cloud services is expected to further boost its market share, especially in collaborations with major clients like OpenAI.
See More
US Stocks Dip Slightly Amid 12% Oil Price Plunge
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.21%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 0.07%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.04%, reflecting market concerns over the Iran war and rising 10-year Treasury yields.
- Oil Price Plunge: WTI crude oil prices dropped by 12% following President Trump's assertion that the Iran war is 'pretty much' over, which not only alleviates inflationary pressures on the US economy but may also influence the Fed's monetary policy direction.
- Strong Home Sales: February existing home sales in the US rose by 1.7% month-over-month to 4.09 million, exceeding market expectations of 3.88 million, indicating resilience in the housing market that could support the stock market.
- Tech Stock Performance: Despite the overall market decline, most of the Magnificent Seven tech stocks rose, with Nvidia and Meta Platforms gaining over 1%, reflecting continued investor confidence in tech stocks, although Microsoft underperformed.
See More
Applied Materials Partners with SK hynix for AI Memory Solutions Development
- Partnership Announcement: Applied Materials has formed a long-term partnership with South Korean memory maker SK hynix, where engineers from both companies will collaborate at the EPIC Center in Silicon Valley to develop next-generation DRAM and high-bandwidth memory aimed at addressing memory speed bottlenecks in AI and high-performance computing.
- Technological Innovation: SK hynix CEO Nohjung Kwak emphasized that the disconnect between memory speeds and processor advancements is a significant hurdle for AI progress, and this partnership is expected to drive innovations in faster and more energy-efficient data processing technologies.
- Market Implications: This collaboration marks the second partnership for Applied Materials in the AI memory solutions space, following a similar agreement with Micron Technology, indicating a strategic focus on enhancing its competitive position in the rapidly evolving AI market.
- R&D Center Significance: The establishment of the EPIC Center not only provides an innovative platform for both companies but also facilitates the development of next-generation memory solutions, further advancing AI technology applications and progress.
See More
Easing Middle East Tensions Lead to Oil Price Pullback
- Oil Price Pullback: As tensions in the Middle East ease, crude oil prices have sharply retreated, indicating a fading geopolitical risk premium in the market, which may contribute to economic recovery.
- Market Volatility Analysis: Despite emotional market fluctuations, the Invesco QQQ Trust has remained at the same level since October 2025, reflecting a cautious investor sentiment as the market oscillates within an 8.5% range after a 58% rally.
- Semiconductor Sector Recovery: The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) has surged 150% from Q1 2025 lows and is just 6.5% off its all-time highs, indicating a robust recovery in the sector that may present future investment opportunities.
- Upcoming Earnings Reports: Oracle is set to release its earnings tonight, which is expected to shed more light on AI infrastructure developments, following impressive earnings from Nvidia, Broadcom, and Marvell, suggesting that tech stocks still hold growth potential despite geopolitical challenges.
See More
US Stocks Rise Amid Oil Price Plunge and Strong Home Sales
- Oil Price Plunge Impact: US stocks are broadly higher today, with the S&P 500 up 0.28%, the Dow Jones up 0.39%, and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.49%, driven by an 11% drop in oil prices, which positively impacts the US economy and may influence Fed policy direction.
- Strong Home Sales Data: February existing home sales in the US rose 1.7% month-over-month to 4.09 million, exceeding expectations of 3.88 million, indicating resilience in the housing market that could further support stock performance.
- Iran Situation Impact: Despite increased Iranian attacks in the Persian Gulf causing the largest refinery in the UAE to halt operations, oil prices have fallen to $84 per barrel due to President Trump's comments, reflecting market sensitivity to geopolitical risks.
- Corporate Earnings Situation: With over 95% of S&P 500 companies having reported earnings, 74% exceeded expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, providing support for the stock market and indicating sustained corporate profitability growth potential.
See More
Applied Materials and Micron Expand AI Memory Collaboration
- Collaborative Memory Development: Applied Materials and Micron are collaborating at Applied's EPIC Center in Silicon Valley and Micron's innovation center in Idaho to develop new memory chips aimed at enhancing the energy efficiency and performance of AI systems, thereby advancing semiconductor technology in the U.S.
- EPIC Center Investment: Applied is constructing a $5 billion EPIC Center expected to open this year, which will accelerate the transition of new semiconductor technologies from early research to large-scale manufacturing, significantly shortening development cycles for chipmakers.
- Strong Equipment Demand: Analysts project that wafer fabrication equipment spending could reach $135 billion by 2026, representing a 23% year-over-year increase, indicating a rapid growth in demand for new manufacturing equipment, particularly from foundry, DRAM, and NAND chip production.
- Slight Stock Increase: Applied Materials shares rose 0.28% to $339.90 in premarket trading on Tuesday, reflecting positive market expectations regarding the company's future growth potential.
See More
Cerebras Partners with Oracle for Cloud Computing
- Client Base Expansion: Cerebras Systems has partnered with Oracle, which now incorporates Cerebras chips into its infrastructure, marking a significant expansion in Cerebras' customer base in the cloud computing market and potentially enhancing its attractiveness for future IPO.
- Revenue Source Diversification: In the first half of 2024, 87% of Cerebras' revenue came from its Middle Eastern client G42, and the collaboration with Oracle is expected to reduce reliance on a single customer, thereby strengthening its financial stability and market competitiveness.
- Enhanced Funding Support: After filing for an IPO in 2024, Cerebras successfully completed a $1.1 billion funding round, achieving a valuation of $8.1 billion, which provides robust financial backing for its future expansion and technological innovation.
- Surging Market Demand: As AI model developers' demand for computing power continues to rise, the application of Cerebras' WSE-3 chips in cloud services is expected to further boost its market share, especially in collaborations with major clients like OpenAI.
See More
US Stocks Dip Slightly Amid 12% Oil Price Plunge
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.21%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 0.07%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.04%, reflecting market concerns over the Iran war and rising 10-year Treasury yields.
- Oil Price Plunge: WTI crude oil prices dropped by 12% following President Trump's assertion that the Iran war is 'pretty much' over, which not only alleviates inflationary pressures on the US economy but may also influence the Fed's monetary policy direction.
- Strong Home Sales: February existing home sales in the US rose by 1.7% month-over-month to 4.09 million, exceeding market expectations of 3.88 million, indicating resilience in the housing market that could support the stock market.
- Tech Stock Performance: Despite the overall market decline, most of the Magnificent Seven tech stocks rose, with Nvidia and Meta Platforms gaining over 1%, reflecting continued investor confidence in tech stocks, although Microsoft underperformed.
See More
Applied Materials Partners with SK hynix for AI Memory Solutions Development
- Partnership Announcement: Applied Materials has formed a long-term partnership with South Korean memory maker SK hynix, where engineers from both companies will collaborate at the EPIC Center in Silicon Valley to develop next-generation DRAM and high-bandwidth memory aimed at addressing memory speed bottlenecks in AI and high-performance computing.
- Technological Innovation: SK hynix CEO Nohjung Kwak emphasized that the disconnect between memory speeds and processor advancements is a significant hurdle for AI progress, and this partnership is expected to drive innovations in faster and more energy-efficient data processing technologies.
- Market Implications: This collaboration marks the second partnership for Applied Materials in the AI memory solutions space, following a similar agreement with Micron Technology, indicating a strategic focus on enhancing its competitive position in the rapidly evolving AI market.
- R&D Center Significance: The establishment of the EPIC Center not only provides an innovative platform for both companies but also facilitates the development of next-generation memory solutions, further advancing AI technology applications and progress.
See More
Easing Middle East Tensions Lead to Oil Price Pullback
- Oil Price Pullback: As tensions in the Middle East ease, crude oil prices have sharply retreated, indicating a fading geopolitical risk premium in the market, which may contribute to economic recovery.
- Market Volatility Analysis: Despite emotional market fluctuations, the Invesco QQQ Trust has remained at the same level since October 2025, reflecting a cautious investor sentiment as the market oscillates within an 8.5% range after a 58% rally.
- Semiconductor Sector Recovery: The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) has surged 150% from Q1 2025 lows and is just 6.5% off its all-time highs, indicating a robust recovery in the sector that may present future investment opportunities.
- Upcoming Earnings Reports: Oracle is set to release its earnings tonight, which is expected to shed more light on AI infrastructure developments, following impressive earnings from Nvidia, Broadcom, and Marvell, suggesting that tech stocks still hold growth potential despite geopolitical challenges.
See More
US Stocks Rise Amid Oil Price Plunge and Strong Home Sales
- Oil Price Plunge Impact: US stocks are broadly higher today, with the S&P 500 up 0.28%, the Dow Jones up 0.39%, and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.49%, driven by an 11% drop in oil prices, which positively impacts the US economy and may influence Fed policy direction.
- Strong Home Sales Data: February existing home sales in the US rose 1.7% month-over-month to 4.09 million, exceeding expectations of 3.88 million, indicating resilience in the housing market that could further support stock performance.
- Iran Situation Impact: Despite increased Iranian attacks in the Persian Gulf causing the largest refinery in the UAE to halt operations, oil prices have fallen to $84 per barrel due to President Trump's comments, reflecting market sensitivity to geopolitical risks.
- Corporate Earnings Situation: With over 95% of S&P 500 companies having reported earnings, 74% exceeded expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, providing support for the stock market and indicating sustained corporate profitability growth potential.
See More
Applied Materials and Micron Expand AI Memory Collaboration
- Collaborative Memory Development: Applied Materials and Micron are collaborating at Applied's EPIC Center in Silicon Valley and Micron's innovation center in Idaho to develop new memory chips aimed at enhancing the energy efficiency and performance of AI systems, thereby advancing semiconductor technology in the U.S.
- EPIC Center Investment: Applied is constructing a $5 billion EPIC Center expected to open this year, which will accelerate the transition of new semiconductor technologies from early research to large-scale manufacturing, significantly shortening development cycles for chipmakers.
- Strong Equipment Demand: Analysts project that wafer fabrication equipment spending could reach $135 billion by 2026, representing a 23% year-over-year increase, indicating a rapid growth in demand for new manufacturing equipment, particularly from foundry, DRAM, and NAND chip production.
- Slight Stock Increase: Applied Materials shares rose 0.28% to $339.90 in premarket trading on Tuesday, reflecting positive market expectations regarding the company's future growth potential.
See More
