12 Unstoppable Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Analysts

4. Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT)

Upside Potential as of February 7: 16.92%

1-Year Return: 79.17%

On February 2, UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri raised his price recommendation on Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) to $405 from $285. The analyst reiterated a Buy rating on the stock.

The shares have climbed close to 80% over the past year. A big reason is the company’s steadier growth profile. New chip fabrication plants are not short-term projects. They take years to plan and build. Once they are up and running, the equipment inside those facilities needs regular service and upgrades. That ongoing work has become a reliable source of revenue for Applied.

The company is positioned to grow alongside the broader semiconductor manufacturing industry. Demand tied to network-connected industrial equipment, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence continues to build, and Applied’s tools sit at the center of those trends.

Applied also stands out for its profitability. It consistently delivers strong operating margins and returns all of its free cash flow to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.

Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) provides materials engineering solutions across the semiconductor and display markets, supplying a combination of equipment, services, and software to technology manufacturers worldwide.