ASML, the world's leading chipmaking equipment supplier, reported strong first-quarter earnings and significantly boosted its 2026 revenue forecast, driven by soaring demand from artificial intelligence.
CEO Christophe Fouquet stated that customer capacity expansion plans are accelerating, increasing their expected demand for ASML's products.
The Veldhoven, Netherlands-based company now projects 2026 revenue between 36 billion and 40 billion euros, an increase from its previous guidance. ASML is considered a key "picks-and-shovels" investment in the AI sector, supplying essential equipment to major chip manufacturers.
Investor confidence has grown, with ASML shares up 40% this year, fueled by data center construction and memory chip shortages.
The company anticipates shipping 60 of its advanced low-NA EUV lithography tools in 2026, a 25% increase over 2025, with capacity for 80 in 2027. These EUV machines, essential for advanced chip circuitry, each cost approximately $300 million and are exclusively produced by ASML.