5 Best Inflation-Hedge Stocks to Buy for 2026

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

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 111

On May 8, HSBC initiated coverage of Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) with a Buy rating. It also set a $517 price target on the stock. The firm said the company is well-positioned to benefit from growing demand for wafer fabrication equipment. According to the analyst, Applied Materials is expected to see growth accelerate during fiscal 2026 and 2027. HSBC also noted that increasing momentum at Samsung and Terafab could provide additional upside for the company.

Earlier in the week, on May 5, Seaport Research also initiated coverage of Applied Materials with a Buy rating and a $500 price target. The firm said Applied appears to be the best-positioned company among global wafer fabrication equipment suppliers. While the company does not hold ASML’s monopoly position in EUV lithography, Seaport noted that Applied Materials has products across nearly every other major equipment category, including deposition, etch, implant, CMP, and cleaning tools. The firm added that Applied Materials’ role in advanced semiconductors is becoming nearly as essential as ASML’s.

Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) is a materials engineering solutions company that provides equipment, software, and services to the semiconductor, display, and related industries. The company operates through its Semiconductor Systems and Applied Global Services (AGS) segments.