The latest round of geopolitical tension has defense stocks bouncing higher. But the rally isn't limited to weapons makers—it's also drawing fresh attention to the critical rare-earth materials that those defense systems can't function without.
In a recent MarketBeat conversation, Tim Joh.... |
Good MorningRisk appetite wobbled into the close as traders weighed energy shock versus inflation fallout. The tape kept flipping between a bid for defensives and the worry that higher fuel costs keep inflation sticky.
The main driver was crude firming on renewed geopolitical risk, which kept yields elevated and cooled near-term rate-cut expectations. That matters because it tightens the leash on long-duration growth while supporting cash-flowing cyclicals tied to commodity pricing. Positioning looked more about protecting margin durability than chasing leadership as input costs threaten to creep back in.
Energy names like Exxon, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips held up as firmer pricing improves near-term earnings quality. Airlines such as Delta and United lagged as fuel becomes an immediate margin headwind and demand elasticity gets tested. NVIDIA and Microsoft were softer amid higher yields that are pressuring AI multiples, even as capital expenditure remains intact, while Lockheed drew interest as the conflict reinforces the defense-spending bid. Traders are watching this week’s Fed speakers and oil’s follow-through for the next shift in leadership. Featured: Now the real money moves (Ad) 
| Basic Materials | |
The latest round of geopolitical tension has defense stocks bouncing higher. But the rally isn't limited to weapons makers—it's also drawing fresh attention to the critical rare-earth materials that those defense systems can't function without.
In a recent MarketBeat conversation, Tim Joh... Read the Full Story |
| From Our Partners | | Every morning before the market opens, a scanner called Oracle runs through 15,000 stocks and scores the setups — so there's already a plan in place by 6:15 a.m.
Lead Trainer Tim Bohen of StocksToTrade is walking through exactly how Oracle works and how regular traders are using it in a training running right now. | | Watch the Oracle training now and see how the scanner works |
| Finance | |
More than 60 years after taking a controlling interest in Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B), former CEO Warren Buffett stepped away from his role with the firm he turned into a multinational conglomerate on the final day of 2025.
On Saturday, Feb. 28, the holding company reported full-year and Q4... Read the Full Story |
| Retail/Wholesale | |
After starting the year reasonably well, tech titan Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) has been under pressure since. Its shares tumbled more than 20% into mid-February and were still roughly 18% below their 2026 high in early March. The move lower was not only sharp but also sustained, with the bulls,... Read the Full Story |
| From Our Partners | | With OpenAI and Anthropic moving closer to the IPO spotlight, AI excitement could spill into several public-market sectors this summer - and most investors may chase the obvious names too late.
A free report identifies 7 stocks positioned around themes that could matter most this summer: AI infrastructure, energy demand, travel, entertainment, home improvement, and more. Built for a market where leadership may rotate quickly. | | Download 7 Best Stocks to Own in Summer 2026 for free |
| Technology | |
Despite having shed a third of its share price so far this year, quantum computing giant D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) seems intent on building its reputation as the leading firm in a hotly contested space. One of the main catalysts behind this assertion is D-Wave's recent acquisition of Quantu... Read the Full Story |
| Energy | |
It’s been a lackluster year so far for U.S. equities. Year-to-date, the benchmark S&P 500 is slightly in the red, weighed down primarily by a selloff in mega-cap technology. What began as a pause in leadership has evolved into broader volatility, and now, geopolitical tensions are adding... Read the Full Story |
| From Our Partners | | A veteran trader with nearly 30 years of experience - including running multi-million dollar hedge funds alongside Turtle Traders and a key economic advisor to President Trump - is releasing his day trading cheat sheet at no cost.
With markets posting one of the weakest first quarters on record, these principles may be worth a look. The report outlines the core rules that have shaped his approach across three decades of active trading. | | Tap here to access the free day trading cheat sheet now |
| Technology | |
MongoDB’s (NASDAQ: MDB) Q4 fiscal year 2026 (FY2026) earnings release and guidance update left something to be desired but offered no explanation for the 25% share-price decline. The movement, which can only be described as a knee-jerk reaction to less-than-earth-shattering news, puts the ... Read the Full Story |
| Markets | |
We carried out a survey of over 3,000 respondents on the most envied shopping districts in the country. The survey revealed what people value.
Some cities win hearts with luxury storefronts, others with independent makers, and others - surprisingly often - with a really good bookstore.
This is... Read the Full Story |
| Technology | |
As one of the most well-known tech giants reported its much-anticipated earnings the last week of February, the market watched closely. And as expected, investors scrambled to buy shares after a blowout report that wowed even the most skeptical prognosticators.
That’s right, Dell Technolo... Read the Full Story |
| Basic Materials | |
As global markets grapple with rising geopolitical tensions, a predictable and powerful investor sentiment is taking hold: the flight to safety. In times of uncertainty, the calculus for investors often shifts from seeking high growth to prioritizing capital preservation. This dynamic has thrust g... Read the Full Story |
| Technology | |
If there is one thing shareholders of Midland, Texas-based aerospace company AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) have grown accustomed to, it is share price volatility. In January, the stock gained more than 46% before falling nearly 29% since.
But on March 3, ASTS shares rose, an upbeat market reac... Read the Full Story |
| Wednesday's Early Bird Stock Of The Day Applied Materials, Inc. engages in the provision of manufacturing equipment, services, and software to the semiconductor, display, and related industries. The company operates through three segments: Semiconductor Systems, Applied Global Services, and Display and Adjacent Markets. The Semiconductor Systems segment develops, manufactures, and sells various manufacturing equipment that is used to fabricate semiconductor chips or integrated circuits. This segment also offers various technologies, including epitaxy, ion implantation, oxidation/nitridation, rapid thermal processing, physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, chemical mechanical planarization, electrochemical deposition, atomic layer deposition, etching, and selective deposition and removal, as well as metrology and inspection tools. The Applied Global Services segment provides integrated solutions to optimize equipment and fab performance and productivity comprising spares, upgrades, services, remanufactured earlier generation equipment, and factory automation software for semiconductor, display, and other products. The Display and Adjacent Markets segment offers products for manufacturing liquid crystal displays; organic light-emitting diodes; and other display technologies for TVs, monitors, laptops, personal computers, electronic tablets, smart phones, and other consumer-oriented devices. It operates in the United States, China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Europe. The company was incorporated in 1967 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. | Should I Buy Applied Materials Stock? AMAT Bull and Bear Case Explained
These insights were generated using artificial intelligence. They are based on proprietary MarketBeat data, news articles, and custom LLM A.I. algorithms. This analysis of Applied Materials was last updated on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 6:05 PM.
Applied Materials Bull Case -
The current stock price is around $720, reflecting strong market interest and potential for growth.
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Applied Materials, Inc. reported impressive quarterly earnings, with earnings per share (EPS) of $2.86, exceeding analysts' expectations, indicating robust financial health.
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The company has a high return on equity of nearly 37%, suggesting effective management and strong profitability relative to shareholder equity.
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With a market capitalization of approximately $478 billion, Applied Materials, Inc. is a significant player in the semiconductor manufacturing sector, providing stability and growth potential.
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The company has consistently increased its revenue, with a year-over-year growth of over 11%, showcasing its ability to expand and adapt in a competitive market.
Applied Materials Bear Case -
The stock has a relatively high price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of about 56.57, which may indicate that the stock is overvalued compared to its earnings.
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With a beta of 1.57, the stock is more volatile than the market, suggesting that it may experience larger price swings, which could be risky for conservative investors.
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The dividend yield is only around 0.4%, which may not be attractive for income-focused investors looking for higher returns from dividends.
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The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, which is low, but could indicate limited leverage for growth opportunities compared to competitors with higher ratios.
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Recent trading volumes have been lower than average, which may suggest reduced investor interest or liquidity issues in the stock.
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