Kim BoltonApplied MaterialsAMATTOP PICKNov 05, 2025

A good company, but we're seeing multiple contraction as interest rates are going up. He'd buy 25 shares now at $387, then wait till it completes the head-and-shoulders pattern, then buy 25 more, then complete your buy with 50 more at $200s.

Very good company. (He sold too early.) Good space. With a gain like that, he'd take some $$ off the table. Always de-risk your portfolio.

Their semis capital equipment business is in a long-term bull market, because of the widespread chip shortage.

There's a shortage of semis, therefore a shortage of semi manufacturing materials that AMAT makes. 

Is up 179% this year. They can't produce enough semis equipment (so are their peers).

This one got away from him. Is up 49% in the past 3 months in a parabolic chart. Take some profits.

Buys back a lot of shares, reducing share count by 31% since end-2015. Is up 52% this year, and 1,274% over 10 years.

It is well balanced between different sectors and good for the long term. His preference is KLA Tencore (KLAC) which is dominant in the space. It is up 29% over the year so you could step in now.

Likes this space, but big names like this and LAM are part of the ETFs, so automatically rise whether that stock should be bought or not. Can be volatile, like last April. Prefers buying on weakness, holding a few years, then selling.

Had a decent quarter, but terrible guidance, 10% below the street in a sector that should be humming (semis equipment). AMAT has responded negatively for the last 6 quarters. Is not performing. He sold.

Peers Lam Research and KLA Corp are performing well, but AMAT is an anomaly, not executing.

Is breaking out and their runway is long, given the AI boom.

It ranks #3 in its sector. They have a lot of exposure to China, which worries many.

It reports Thursday. Watch for the decline on revenues from China YOY. When LAM Research reported, AMAT rose. Options imply a 6% move.