5 Best Performing Dividend Stocks So Far in 2026

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

YTD Returns as of May 5: 58.05%

On May 5, Seaport Research initiated coverage of Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) with a Buy rating and a $500 price target. The firm said that the company is the best-positioned company among global wafer fabrication equipment suppliers. While the company does not hold ASML’s (ASML) monopoly in EUV lithography, Seaport noted that it offers products across nearly every other major tool category, including deposition, etch, implant, CMP, and cleaning systems. The firm added that Applied Materials’ role in advanced semiconductors is “almost as irreplaceable as ASML.”

On April 28, BofA raised its price recommendation on AMAT to $465 from $420. It reiterated a Buy rating on the shares. The firm increased several price targets across the semiconductor capital equipment space following what it described as “strong” results from Lam Research (LRCX). The analyst said higher industry forecasts could lead to broader upward revisions in estimates across the sector.

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