AMSTERDAM — Semiconductor equipment makers have seen their shares climb as artificial intelligence infrastructure spending drives demand for advanced chip manufacturing tools, with companies supplying wafer fabrication, lithography and packaging equipment benefiting from a new wave of capacity expansion by chip producers.
The rally has lifted major industry players including ASML Holding, Applied Materials and Lam Research as investors focus on companies positioned to supply the infrastructure needed for AI computing systems. Semiconductor equipment stocks reached record levels on Tuesday, according to market data cited by investors tracking the sector.
AI demand has increased pressure on chipmakers to expand production of advanced processors, memory chips and high-bandwidth memory used in data centers. That expansion requires additional manufacturing equipment, including tools for lithography, deposition, etching and advanced packaging. Global semiconductor equipment billings reached about $36.55 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 14% from a year earlier, according to data from industry group SEMI.
ASML, the Netherlands-based supplier of extreme ultraviolet lithography machines used to produce leading-edge chips, raised its 2026 revenue outlook in April, citing stronger demand linked to artificial intelligence investment. Chief Executive Christophe Fouquet said customers were accelerating capacity expansion plans as demand for chips outpaced supply.
Applied Materials has also benefited from increased spending on memory and advanced logic manufacturing. Industry research from S&P Global Market Intelligence said the company’s growth outlook was being supported by a recovery in memory investment, particularly demand tied to AI infrastructure and high-bandwidth memory production.
Lam Research has highlighted demand related to AI-driven semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging, as chipmakers seek to build systems capable of supporting increasingly complex AI workloads. The company has pointed to growth opportunities from new device architectures and packaging technologies used in next-generation computing.
The surge in equipment demand comes as technology companies continue investing heavily in data centers and AI infrastructure. Analysts and industry researchers have said the expansion is supporting spending across the semiconductor supply chain, although the sector remains exposed to changes in AI investment cycles, export restrictions and broader economic conditions.
The latest market gains reflect investor expectations that semiconductor manufacturers will continue expanding capacity to meet AI-related demand. Equipment makers remain focused on fulfilling orders and supporting chip production expansions planned through 2026 and beyond.
