13 Best Performing NASDAQ Stocks According to Hedge Funds

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

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 81

Market Capitalization: $173.29 billion

Year-To-Date Performance: 33.76%

Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) is one of the best performing NASDAQ stocks according to hedge funds. On October 3, Cantor Fitzgerald maintained its Overweight rating on Applied Materials with a $225 price target. The firm stated that Applied Materials addressed the messaging issues (related to China-related concerns) but signaled that the expected financial impact was minor, estimating a 2% effect on fiscal year 2026 revenues. Cantor Fitzgerald slightly lowered its 2026 earnings per share estimate from approximately $11.50 to $11.25.

The firm noted that other equipment companies might face a differentiated impact. For instance, Lam Research may experience less disruption because it already has significant exposure to embargoed Chinese memory makers. On the other hand, ASML is expected to see “‘very limited’ effects” due to less stringent Dutch restrictions. The analysts said China-related regulatory concerns would remain “a key investor focus” at the upcoming SEMICON West conference and during earnings season.

Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) develops and supplies manufacturing equipment, services, and software for the semiconductor, display, and related industries. Its operations span three main segments: Semiconductor Systems, Applied Global Services, and Display and Adjacent Markets.

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