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: 626.840
Low
190.00
Averages
288.05
High
425.00
Current: 626.840
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.
KeyBanc Optimistic About AMAT's Future Performance
- Optimistic Earnings Outlook: KeyBanc anticipates that Applied Materials (AMAT) will report Q3 earnings of $3.38 per share on approximately $9 billion in revenue, with potential stock price increases contingent on beating these expectations, while any disappointments could lead to volatility.
- Market Event Support: The recent 2026 DRAM and Advanced Packaging Master Class hosted by AMAT reaffirmed the company's strong position in the semiconductor industry, forecasting industry revenue to reach $1 trillion, which enhances confidence in its long-term investment opportunities.
- Positive Retail Sentiment: Retail sentiment towards AMAT remains bullish, with the stock more than tripling over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 and other semiconductor ETFs, indicating strong market confidence in its future growth.
- Price Target Increase: KeyBanc raised its price target for AMAT by $200 to $750, suggesting about a 20% upside from last Friday's closing price, reflecting the market's positive expectations for the company's future performance.
See More
Alphabet Soars 4% on Dow Debut, Adding $168 Billion Market Cap
- Dow Debut Performance: Alphabet's stock rose 4% on its first day in the Dow, adding $168 billion in market cap and leading all major indexes, reflecting strong market confidence in its future growth prospects.
- Tesla Collaboration Deepens: Tesla's shares increased by 4.5%, adding $66 billion in market cap due to reports of deepening collaboration with SpaceX, which is expected to positively impact its upcoming second-quarter delivery data and reinforce its leadership in the electric vehicle market.
- Amazon Sales Surge: Amazon's stock gained 4.7% as U.S. shoppers spent $26.4 billion during Prime Day from June 23 to 26, marking a 9.3% increase from last year, indicating robust consumer demand and solidifying its significant contribution to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite.
- Applied Materials Analyst Optimism: Applied Materials surged 9.8% after KeyBanc analysts expressed optimism about its prospects, which could drive further growth in the semiconductor equipment market and enhance investor confidence.
See More
Nasdaq Recovers as Google Market Cap Soars
- Google Market Cap Surge: Alphabet's stock rose 4% during its Dow debut, adding $168 billion in market cap, which highlights its strong market performance and replaces the declining Verizon, indicating a robust recovery in tech stocks.
- Amazon Sales Growth: Amazon reported $26.4 billion in sales during Prime Day, a 9.3% increase year-over-year, with discounts on electronics and toys averaging 20% to 24%, making it the second-largest contributor to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, showcasing strong consumer spending momentum.
- Tesla Collaboration Deepens: Tesla's stock increased by 4.5%, adding $66 billion in market cap due to deepening collaboration with SpaceX, with upcoming second-quarter delivery data expected to have significant market implications, further solidifying its leadership in the electric vehicle market.
- Applied Materials Strong Performance: Applied Materials surged 9.8% after KeyBanc analysts expressed optimism about its prospects, becoming a significant driver for the stock indexes, reflecting increased market confidence in semiconductor equipment manufacturers.
See More
Market Dynamics and Company Updates
- Market Recovery: S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures are up this morning, recovering some of last week's losses after the U.S. and Iran agreed to halt military strikes, which is expected to ease geopolitical tensions and potentially boost market sentiment.
- Honeywell Spin-off: Honeywell has completed the spin-off of its aviation and defense business into a standalone company called Honeywell Aerospace (HONA), receiving a buy rating and a $306 price target from Melius, indicating strong market confidence in its future growth prospects.
- Space Industry Deal: Rocket Lab is acquiring Iridium Communications in a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately $8 billion, which is expected to be a transformative deal in the space industry, enhancing Rocket Lab's market position and expanding its business capabilities.
- Semiconductor Price Target Adjustments: Cantor Fitzgerald raised price targets on several semiconductor stocks, including Micron and Applied Materials, reflecting an optimistic outlook on the semiconductor industry's recovery, which may attract more investor interest in the sector.
See More
KeyBanc Raises Price Targets for AMAT and MKS
- Price Target Increase: KeyBanc Capital Markets raised Applied Materials' price target from $550 to $750, based on an updated EPS estimate for 2028 at approximately 31x, highlighting the company's leadership and relative attractiveness in the semiconductor sector.
- MKS Price Target Boost: MKS's price target was similarly increased from $360 to $475, with analysts noting its relative valuation discount and unique opportunities in advanced packaging and NAND upgrades, which are expected to accelerate EPS growth.
- Investment Rating Maintained: KeyBanc analysts reiterated their 'Overweight' rating on both AMAT and MKS, emphasizing AMAT's more attractive relative valuation, indicating strong market confidence in its future growth prospects.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Applied Materials' event focuses on DRAM and advanced packaging, with analysts believing that the complexity in these areas will drive the next growth phase, further solidifying its position in the AI equipment super-cycle.
See More
Tech Giants Face Challenges and Opportunities
- Market Confidence Shaken: As competition for data center construction intensifies, tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google are experiencing declining investor confidence, leading to stock price volatility that impacts overall market performance.
- AI Investment Outlook Uncertain: Despite ongoing investments in AI by Meta and Apple, the lack of a clear profit model has led to cautious market expectations regarding their future profitability, potentially affecting their stock prices.
- Surge in Storage Chip Prices: The rising prices of storage chips are putting pressure on several tech companies, including Apple, which may hinder their profitability expectations from AI investments and affect overall financial health.
- Increased Risk of Industry Consolidation: With the emergence of new competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic, traditional tech giants face the risk of being marginalized, forcing them to reassess market strategies to maintain competitiveness.
See More
KeyBanc Optimistic About AMAT's Future Performance
- Optimistic Earnings Outlook: KeyBanc anticipates that Applied Materials (AMAT) will report Q3 earnings of $3.38 per share on approximately $9 billion in revenue, with potential stock price increases contingent on beating these expectations, while any disappointments could lead to volatility.
- Market Event Support: The recent 2026 DRAM and Advanced Packaging Master Class hosted by AMAT reaffirmed the company's strong position in the semiconductor industry, forecasting industry revenue to reach $1 trillion, which enhances confidence in its long-term investment opportunities.
- Positive Retail Sentiment: Retail sentiment towards AMAT remains bullish, with the stock more than tripling over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 and other semiconductor ETFs, indicating strong market confidence in its future growth.
- Price Target Increase: KeyBanc raised its price target for AMAT by $200 to $750, suggesting about a 20% upside from last Friday's closing price, reflecting the market's positive expectations for the company's future performance.
See More
Alphabet Soars 4% on Dow Debut, Adding $168 Billion Market Cap
- Dow Debut Performance: Alphabet's stock rose 4% on its first day in the Dow, adding $168 billion in market cap and leading all major indexes, reflecting strong market confidence in its future growth prospects.
- Tesla Collaboration Deepens: Tesla's shares increased by 4.5%, adding $66 billion in market cap due to reports of deepening collaboration with SpaceX, which is expected to positively impact its upcoming second-quarter delivery data and reinforce its leadership in the electric vehicle market.
- Amazon Sales Surge: Amazon's stock gained 4.7% as U.S. shoppers spent $26.4 billion during Prime Day from June 23 to 26, marking a 9.3% increase from last year, indicating robust consumer demand and solidifying its significant contribution to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite.
- Applied Materials Analyst Optimism: Applied Materials surged 9.8% after KeyBanc analysts expressed optimism about its prospects, which could drive further growth in the semiconductor equipment market and enhance investor confidence.
See More
Nasdaq Recovers as Google Market Cap Soars
- Google Market Cap Surge: Alphabet's stock rose 4% during its Dow debut, adding $168 billion in market cap, which highlights its strong market performance and replaces the declining Verizon, indicating a robust recovery in tech stocks.
- Amazon Sales Growth: Amazon reported $26.4 billion in sales during Prime Day, a 9.3% increase year-over-year, with discounts on electronics and toys averaging 20% to 24%, making it the second-largest contributor to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, showcasing strong consumer spending momentum.
- Tesla Collaboration Deepens: Tesla's stock increased by 4.5%, adding $66 billion in market cap due to deepening collaboration with SpaceX, with upcoming second-quarter delivery data expected to have significant market implications, further solidifying its leadership in the electric vehicle market.
- Applied Materials Strong Performance: Applied Materials surged 9.8% after KeyBanc analysts expressed optimism about its prospects, becoming a significant driver for the stock indexes, reflecting increased market confidence in semiconductor equipment manufacturers.
See More
Market Dynamics and Company Updates
- Market Recovery: S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures are up this morning, recovering some of last week's losses after the U.S. and Iran agreed to halt military strikes, which is expected to ease geopolitical tensions and potentially boost market sentiment.
- Honeywell Spin-off: Honeywell has completed the spin-off of its aviation and defense business into a standalone company called Honeywell Aerospace (HONA), receiving a buy rating and a $306 price target from Melius, indicating strong market confidence in its future growth prospects.
- Space Industry Deal: Rocket Lab is acquiring Iridium Communications in a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately $8 billion, which is expected to be a transformative deal in the space industry, enhancing Rocket Lab's market position and expanding its business capabilities.
- Semiconductor Price Target Adjustments: Cantor Fitzgerald raised price targets on several semiconductor stocks, including Micron and Applied Materials, reflecting an optimistic outlook on the semiconductor industry's recovery, which may attract more investor interest in the sector.
See More
KeyBanc Raises Price Targets for AMAT and MKS
- Price Target Increase: KeyBanc Capital Markets raised Applied Materials' price target from $550 to $750, based on an updated EPS estimate for 2028 at approximately 31x, highlighting the company's leadership and relative attractiveness in the semiconductor sector.
- MKS Price Target Boost: MKS's price target was similarly increased from $360 to $475, with analysts noting its relative valuation discount and unique opportunities in advanced packaging and NAND upgrades, which are expected to accelerate EPS growth.
- Investment Rating Maintained: KeyBanc analysts reiterated their 'Overweight' rating on both AMAT and MKS, emphasizing AMAT's more attractive relative valuation, indicating strong market confidence in its future growth prospects.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Applied Materials' event focuses on DRAM and advanced packaging, with analysts believing that the complexity in these areas will drive the next growth phase, further solidifying its position in the AI equipment super-cycle.
See More
Tech Giants Face Challenges and Opportunities
- Market Confidence Shaken: As competition for data center construction intensifies, tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google are experiencing declining investor confidence, leading to stock price volatility that impacts overall market performance.
- AI Investment Outlook Uncertain: Despite ongoing investments in AI by Meta and Apple, the lack of a clear profit model has led to cautious market expectations regarding their future profitability, potentially affecting their stock prices.
- Surge in Storage Chip Prices: The rising prices of storage chips are putting pressure on several tech companies, including Apple, which may hinder their profitability expectations from AI investments and affect overall financial health.
- Increased Risk of Industry Consolidation: With the emergence of new competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic, traditional tech giants face the risk of being marginalized, forcing them to reassess market strategies to maintain competitiveness.
See More
