ASML Raises 2026 Sales Forecast to €45 Billion as AI Chip Demand Drives Second Hike
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jul 15
ASML Raises 2026 Sales Forecast to €45 Billion as AI Chip Demand Drives Second Hike
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Jul 15
Summary
ASML lifted its full-year sales outlook to €43 billion-€45 billion and gross margin to 54%-56%, marking its second guidance increase this year.
The upgrade reflects chipmakers expanding AI production capacity and sustained demand for ASML’s top-end EUV lithography tools, which are required to make the most advanced AI chips.
TSMC, one of ASML’s biggest customers, reported a 68% jump in June sales this week and is planning two advanced chip-packaging plants in southern Taiwan.
UBS expects a stronger second half for ASML as fab buildouts continue, though semiconductor stocks remain under pressure over whether AI-led spending can last and as export controls tighten.
Is the trillion-dollar AI spending boom sustainable, or is ASML’s record forecast riding a bubble about to burst?
Will US pressure on ASML cripple China's tech ambitions or simply create a powerful, self-reliant competitor?
As US-Iran tensions threaten helium supplies, what other chokepoints could suddenly derail the global AI chip race?
ASML Raises 2026 Revenue Outlook to €40B on AI Demand, Faces Geopolitical and Transparency Challenges
Overview
ASML stands at the center of the global semiconductor industry as the exclusive maker of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, which are essential for producing the advanced chips that drive artificial intelligence (AI) applications. The rapid growth of AI infrastructure has led to an unprecedented surge in demand for these cutting-edge chips, fueling ASML’s strong momentum and positioning it as a key indicator of industry trends. With its unique and critical role as the sole enabler of advanced AI chip production, ASML’s upgraded 2026 outlook reflects expectations of significant order volumes and robust revenue growth, reinforcing its importance in the ongoing technological revolution.