ASML Holding on Wednesday raised its full-year sales forecast to between 43 billion and 45 billion euros ($49 billion to $51 billion), citing sustained demand for AI-focused semiconductor equipment. Shares of the Dutch lithography giant rose nearly 5% as the company reported second-quarter net sales of 9.3 billion euros, exceeding market expectations.
ASML Net Profit Hits 2.9 Billion Euros Amid AI Infrastructure Demand
Earnings Beat Driven by AI Infrastructure
The semiconductor equipment leader, headquartered in Veldhoven, Netherlands, reported strong second-quarter results that surpassed analyst projections. According to LSEG consensus estimates, net sales reached 9.3 billion euros, beating the 8.8 billion euros expected by analysts. Net profit for the period hit 2.9 billion euros, also outperforming the 2.6 billion euro consensus estimate. ASML, Europe’s most valuable company, remains the only firm in the world that manufactures extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, which are essential for printing the tiny circuitry on cutting-edge chips.
This performance follows a trend of rapid capital investment by global chipmakers. CEO Christophe Fouquet noted that the company’s order intake remained “extremely strong” in the first half of the year. “Ongoing AI-related investments and continued progress in AI technologies are driving demand for advanced Logic and Memory chips, further strengthening the semiconductor industry’s growth outlook,” said Fouquet in a statement. The company expects these commitments to continue as firms expand capacity for advanced logic and memory chips, which are essential for AI data centers, smartphones, and personal computers.
Christophe Fouquet Increases 2026 Production Capacity by 30 Percent
Capacity Expansion and Market Guidance
ASML has adjusted its outlook upward for the second time this year. The new guidance projects full-year sales between 43 billion and 45 billion euros, a significant increase from the previous forecast of 36 billion to 40 billion euros. The company also anticipates a gross margin of between 54% and 56%, up from its previous prediction of 51% to 53%.
To meet this surging demand, CEO Christophe Fouquet announced that the company will target adding 30% to its 2026 low NA EUV capacity and 30% to its 2026 Deep Ultraviolet (DUV) immersion capacity. Shares of the company have surged 115% this year, reflecting the market’s confidence in the firm’s role as a critical cog in the global economy and a key bellwether for the tech sector.
Howard Lutnick Questions ASML Executive Leadership Over China Export Compliance
Geopolitical Scrutiny and Export Controls
Despite the growth, ASML faces a complex geopolitical environment regarding export controls. According to Bloomberg, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has, in a series of recent meetings, told senior ASML executives he is concerned that one of the Dutch chipmaker’s extreme ultraviolet lithography machines may have ended up in China. Such an event would represent a major breach of export controls that have barred ASML from selling EUV technology to China since the first Trump administration.
Senior administration officials told Bloomberg they have evidence that ASML shipped EUV-related components and transport equipment to China, though they have declined to show this evidence to the company. ASML has consistently denied these allegations, stating that no such machine exists in China and has never existed there. The Commerce Department did not respond to questions regarding whether it possesses evidence of an actual EUV system on Chinese soil.
ASML Maintains Dominance as Sole Supplier of Advanced Lithography Hardware
Market Context and Strategic Outlook
ASML continues to be the only supplier of the massive, $300 million machines required to produce advanced semiconductor patterns. As the industry faces concerns regarding potential tech sector sell-offs and whether the AI boom might be approaching its “bursting point,” ASML’s ability to consistently beat expectations has been a focal point for investors. The firm’s results were watched especially closely following recent market volatility, where other tech giants like IBM have struggled to keep pace with the shift in corporate spending from software to data-center infrastructure.
As the company moves forward, it remains a primary supplier for leading foundries, memory manufacturers, and integrated device manufacturers. By printing billions of transistors onto silicon wafers using light patterns, ASML’s tools power the hardware that drives modern AI systems, from cloud-based data centers to mobile applications. With its raised guidance and expanded production capacity, the company is positioning itself to maintain its dominance in the global semiconductor ecosystem.
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