Dow Closes Up 262 Points, Brent Crude Plunges 8.7%

ASML Holding N.V. is scheduled to report third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings on Oct. 14, before market open, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate pegged at $13.18 billion in sales and $12.47 per share. The company has delivered a four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.91%, on average, and its Earnings ESP of +4.49% with a Zacks Rank #3 points to a likely earnings beat. During the quarter, ASML announced a collaboration with Xanadu Quantum Technologies Limited to advance lithography processes for photonic quantum hardware, expanded its strategic partnership with Samsung Electronics in High-NA EUV lithography, began construction of a second major industrial campus in the Brainport region of the Netherlands expected to cover approximately 350,000 square meters and accommodate up to 20,000 workplaces, and extended its collaboration with Intel, whose Panther Lake production uses ASML's High NA EUV lithography. Management expects 2026 advanced foundry Logic revenues to rise about 25%, Memory revenue to increase 75%, EUV revenues to grow roughly 45%, and DUV, metrology and inspection revenue to increase about 25%, with customer commitments extending into 2027 and 2028. China is expected to account for roughly 20% of 2026 sales, leaving ASML exposed to changes in export restrictions, while the stock trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 11.74 versus the industry average of 11.11.

Major analysts expect ASML Holding to post stronger than anticipated third-quarter results, supported by robust demand for its EUV and DUV lithography systems from leading semiconductor manufacturers with large, committed orders. The €618.4 billion semiconductor equipment group, based in GB, supplies the lithography machines chipmakers rely on to pattern advanced processors used in AI and high performance computing. Expectations of a stronger Q3 reflect a backlog that already covers much of ASML's EUV output for 2027, giving analysts more clarity on tool shipments and service activity that shape their earnings models. The most concrete marker for investors will be how management frames 2027 capacity and demand for low numerical aperture EUV tools, along with any update on shipment plans for 2027 and 2028 and associated service revenue expectations. The attention on ASML is part of a broader build out of chipmaking capacity tied to AI and high performance computing, a theme that draws in a wider group of suppliers.

ASML Holding N.V. raised its 2026 revenue outlook to EUR 43 billion to EUR 45 billion as customers increase capacity for advanced logic and memory. The company generated EUR 9.3 billion of revenue in the second quarter, up 21.3% year-over-year, while net income reached EUR 2.9 billion. Management expects EUV system sales to grow more than 45% this year, while memory-related system sales are expected to increase more than 75%. Installed-base revenue reached EUR 2.8 billion in the second quarter, nearly EUR 300 million above guidance, and the company expects that business to grow more than 30% this year. ASML said customers are already planning capacity for 1.4-nanometer chips, while advanced logic and DRAM are both seeing increasing lithography intensity, and Intel is already using a High-NA EUV system on its 18A process to produce some Core Ultra Series 3 processors. Management expects China to account for around 20% of 2026 sales, while restrictions on advanced semiconductor equipment can limit what ASML is allowed to sell into the country, and the stock trades at about 28.9x forward earnings.