BUZZ-PREVIEW: Applied Materials edges up; results due after the bell

Shares of Applied Materials AMAT.O up 0.8% on Thurs, with the chip equipment maker expected to report an increase in rev when it reports quarterly results after the closing bell

Analysts expect rev of $7.141 bln vs $6.707 bln in the yr ago period, and earnings of $2.29/shr vs $2.13 a yr ago, according to LSEG

Co has beaten analysts' earnings expectations in all of the past eight reporting periods, per LSEG

Analyst recommendations on the stock include 27 "strong buy" or "buy" ratings, eight "hold" ratings and one "sell" rating

Median 12-mo PT is $210, down from $225 in Dec; the stock was last at $182.36

In late Jan, shares of chipmakers and other AI-linked stocks fell as Chinese discount AI model DeepSeek surged in popularity

In Dec, AMAT said it was not changing its outlook for Q1 in response to the U.S. government's latest restrictions on semiconductor exports to China

AMAT is up about 12% YTD vs a roughly 3% gain in the Nasdaq .IXIC

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