Short interest for Applied Mat gives investors a sense of the degree to which investors are betting on the decline of Applied Mat's stock. Short interest data is updated every two weeks.

Applied Mat Stock (NASDAQ:AMAT), Short Interest Report

Applied Mat

Applied Materials is the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, manufacturer in the world. Applied Materials has a broad portfolio spanning nearly every corner of the WFE ecosystem. Specifically, Applied Materials holds a market share leadership position in deposition, which entails the layering of new materials on semiconductor wafers. It is more exposed to general-purpose logic chips made at integrated device manufacturers and foundries. It counts the largest chipmakers in the world as customers, including TSMC, Intel, and Samsung.

Applied Materials

News

Penny Stocks

Markets

Tech

Trading Ideas

AMAT

QBTS

For those looking to find strong Computer and Technology stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Is Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) one of those stocks right now?

Is Applied Materials Outperforming Other Computer and Technology Stocks This Year?

Senator Tommy Tuberville

Government

Options

Politics

AAPL

ADBE

HUMA

PARA

PARAA

QCOM

SSBK

Tommy Tuberville is one of the most active traders as a member of Congress. Here&#39;s a look at what he recently bought and sold.

Tommy Tuberville Trades Raise Eyebrows Again: Senator Sells Put Options, Buys Small Biotech Linked To Ukraine-Russia War

Small Cap

DELL

GOOG

GOOGL

PTON

Alphabet&#39;s (NASDAQ: GOOG) Google recently enhanced YouTube&#39;s user interface (UI) for Android TV with an animated comment count feature in the info pill section.


Alphabet Boosts YouTube Efforts With Android TV Feature

Applied Materials Inc

Amata Corp PCL

WIIM

MCHP

MRVL

NVDA

NXPI

Shares of semiconductor stocks are trading lower in sympathy with AMD and Supermicro, which fell after reporting quarterly earnings.

Applied Mat (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 24.28% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 35.93%. Currently, Applied Mat has a market capitalization of $169.47 billion. 
Buying $1000 In AMAT: If an investor had bought $1000 of AMAT stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $4,668.19 today based on a price of $203.96 for AMAT at the time of writing.
<h3>Applied Mat's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1714408215_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much $1000 Invested In Applied Mat 5 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

For those looking to find strong Computer and Technology stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Is Applied Materials (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amat#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) one of those stocks right now? A quick glance at the company&#39;s year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Computer and Technology sector should help us answer this question.
Applied Materials is a member of the Computer and Technology sector. This group includes 618 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #6. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors.
The Zacks Rank is a proven model that highlights a variety of stocks with the right characteristics to outperform the market over the next one to three months. The system emphasizes earnings estimate revisions and favors companies with improving earnings outlooks. Applied Materials is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMAT&#39;s full-year earnings has moved 5.7% higher within the past quarter. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock&#39;s earnings outlook is more positive.
According to our latest data, AMAT has moved about 21.9% on a year-to-date basis. Meanwhile, the Computer and Technology sector has returned an average of 7.3% on a year-to-date basis. As we can see, Applied Materials is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.
One other Computer and Technology stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qbts#NYSE">QBTS</a>). The stock is up 68.2% year-to-date.
Over the past three months, D-Wave Quantum Inc.&#39;s consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 35.7%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Looking more specifically, Applied Materials belongs to the Semiconductor Equipment - Wafer Fabrication industry, a group that includes 4 individual stocks and currently sits at #93 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has gained an average of 19.3% so far this year, meaning that AMAT is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.
D-Wave Quantum Inc. however, belongs to the Internet - Software industry. Currently, this 139-stock industry is ranked #62. The industry has moved +8.4% so far this year.
Applied Materials and D-Wave Quantum Inc. could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Computer and Technology stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2263248/is-applied-materials-amat-outperforming-other-computer-and-technology-stocks-this-year?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-tale_of_the_tape|yseop_template_1-2263248">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

AVGO

ENTG

Shares of semiconductor stocks are trading higher following strong earnings from Microsoft, which could be lifting AI optimism.

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Applied Mat.
Looking at options history for Applied Mat (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) we detected 12 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 25% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 75% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $184,862 and 8, calls, for a total amount of $453,391.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $140.0 to $225.0 for Applied Mat over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Applied Mat's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Applied Mat's significant trades, within a strike price range of $140.0 to $225.0, over the past month.
<h3>Applied Mat Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1713983545_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$13.95</td>
<td>$13.85</td>
<td>$13.85</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>$99.7K</td>
<td>920</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">236</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/19/24</td>
<td>$16.5</td>
<td>$16.4</td>
<td>$16.4</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>$85.2K</td>
<td>246</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">106</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$44.8</td>
<td>$44.75</td>
<td>$44.8</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$62.7K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$11.6</td>
<td>$11.55</td>
<td>$11.55</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>$60.0K</td>
<td>663</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">90</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$11.55</td>
<td>$11.55</td>
<td>$11.55</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$57.7K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">92</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Applied Mat</h3>
Applied Materials is the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, manufacturer in the world. Applied Materials has a broad portfolio spanning nearly every corner of the WFE ecosystem. Specifically, Applied Materials holds a market share leadership position in deposition, which entails the layering of new materials on semiconductor wafers. It is more exposed to general-purpose logic chips made at integrated device manufacturers and foundries. It counts the largest chipmakers in the world as customers, including TSMC, Intel, and Samsung.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Applied Mat, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Where Is Applied Mat Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 2,337,457, the price of AMAT is up 2.46% at $198.0. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 22 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Applied Mat</h3>
In the last month, 2 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $260.0.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald has elevated its stance to Overweight, setting a new price target at $260. </li>
<li>An analyst from Evercore ISI Group has revised its rating downward to Outperform, adjusting the price target to $260. </li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Applied Mat options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Applied Mat Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

LSCC

WOLF

Shares of semiconductor stocks are trading higher in sympathy with Texas Instruments, which reported better-than-expected Q1 financial results.

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Applied Mat. Our analysis of options history for Applied Mat (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) revealed 18 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 44% of traders were bullish, while 55% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 7 were puts, with a value of $886,810, and 11 were calls, valued at $595,132.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $150.0 to $210.0 for Applied Mat over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Applied Mat's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Applied Mat's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $150.0 to $210.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Applied Mat Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1713546129_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$10.9</td>
<td>$10.7</td>
<td>$10.75</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$290.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">22</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/10/24</td>
<td>$20.2</td>
<td>$19.95</td>
<td>$20.18</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
<td>$270.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">164</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$43.2</td>
<td>$42.9</td>
<td>$42.9</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$214.5K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">590</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/24/24</td>
<td>$5.55</td>
<td>$5.45</td>
<td>$5.5</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
<td>$116.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">33</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">212</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/26/24</td>
<td>$2.5</td>
<td>$2.49</td>
<td>$2.5</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>$75.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">106</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">336</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Applied Mat</h3>
Applied Materials is the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, manufacturer in the world. Applied Materials has a broad portfolio spanning nearly every corner of the WFE ecosystem. Specifically, Applied Materials holds a market share leadership position in deposition, which entails the layering of new materials on semiconductor wafers. It is more exposed to general-purpose logic chips made at integrated device manufacturers and foundries. It counts the largest chipmakers in the world as customers, including TSMC, Intel, and Samsung.
<h3>Applied Mat's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 2,370,776, the price of AMAT is down by -1.96%, reaching $190.51.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 27 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Applied Mat</h3>
A total of 2 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $260.0.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Evercore ISI Group downgraded its action to Outperform with a price target of $260. </li>
<li>Showing optimism, an analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald upgrades its rating to Overweight with a revised price target of $260. </li>
</ul>
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Applied Mat with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Applied Mat Unusual Options Activity

ACMR

QRVO

Shares of semiconductor stocks are trading lower. The sector has been under pressure this week following earnings from ASML and TSMC. Stocks have been mixed Friday amid overall market uncertainty on Iran-Israel tensions. Weakness in Super Micro could also be weighing.

Shares of semiconductor stocks are trading lower following recent earnings from ASML and TSMC.

Applied Mat (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 8.3% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 20.75%. Currently, Applied Mat has a market capitalization of $164.48 billion. 
Buying $100 In AMAT: If an investor had bought $100 of AMAT stock 15 years ago, it would be worth $1,728.82 today based on a price of $197.95 for AMAT at the time of writing.
<h3>Applied Mat's Performance Over Last 15 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1713454244_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning Applied Mat Stock In The Last 15 Years

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville&#8216;s latest regulatory filing shows the sale of put options for Adobe Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADBE#NASDAQ">ADBE</a>), Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) and Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>).
The trading activity of stocks and options by members of Congress continues to draw increased scrutiny, with potential conflicts of interest related to Congressional committees and the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/congress-trading">timing of trades made.</a>
The Adobe options are for a strike price of $500 and expiration date of Dec. 20, 2024. The filing indicates that four separate trades valued at $1,000 to $15,000 of Adobe options were made, <a href="https://www.quiverquant.com/congresstrading/politician/Tommy%20Tuberville-T000278">according </a>to Quiver Quant.
The Qualcomm options are for a strike price of $155 with an expiration date of Dec. 20, 2024. The transaction value of the trade was $15,000 to $50,000.
The Applied Materials options are for a strike price of $175 and an expiration date of Jan. 17, 2025. The transaction value of the trade was $1,000 to $15,000.
"BREAKING: Senator Tommy Tuberville is once again trading options," Unusual Whales <a href="https://twitter.com/unusual_whales/status/1780404471312396389">tweeted</a>. "He is literally trading companies which he legislates on, while having leveraged positions over them. Unusual."
The filing also showed the Alabama Republican once again bought shares of small biotech Humacyte Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUMA#NASDAQ">HUMA</a>), with three transactions totaling amounts of $1,000 to $15,000; $1,000 to $15,000; and $15,000 to $50,000.
"BREAKING: Senator Tommy Tuberville has disclosed new purchase of Humacyte stock, $HUMA. It's a small biotech company that makes implantable human tissues. They've been testing their tech in Ukraine, treating combat injuries. Tuberville sits on the Armed Services Committee," Quiver Quant tweeted.
Congress Trades Create Conflict Of Interest Questions: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/08/33880886/senators-perfect-timing-russian-war-linked-biotech-buy-raises-eyebrows-amid-trading-ban-debate">Benzinga previously shared</a> that trades involving Humacyte drew attention given the small-cap nature of the company and the fact that Tuberville serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Humacyte collaborated with regulators, including the FDA in the U.S., to send its investigational HAV (Human Acellular Vessel) to Ukraine for humanitarian use.
The company said its HAV has been provided to hospitals in Ukraine and used to treat patients with critical injuries.
Tuberville has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/03/37829749/senator-tommy-tubervilles-latest-2-stock-trades-attract-the-wrong-kind-of-attention-should-this-">flagged for unusual stock trading</a> in the past and remained one of the most active members of Congress buying and selling stocks and options.
A recent filing showed Tuberville buying stock in regional bank Southern States Bancshares Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSBK#NASDAQ">SSBK</a>). The CEO of the company is a donor to Tuberville's senate campaign.
A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/congress-stock-act-violations-senate-house-trading-2021-9#sen-tommy-tuberville-a-republican-from-alabama-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report&nbsp;</a>from Business Insider said Tuberville was late in disclosing around 130 stock trades from January to May 2021.
A <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/09/13/us/politics/congress-stock-trading-investigation.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report </a>from the New York Times highlighted Tuberville bought or sold stock and options in 17 companies that had business in front of Senate committees on which he served.
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/03/37549908/dartmouth-basketball-team-may-change-the-ncaa-forever-this-will-absolutely-kill-college-sports-">Dartmouth Basketball Team May Change The NCAA Forever: &#8216;This Will Absolutely Kill College Sports&#8217; Senator Says</a>
Tuberville&#8217;s Congress Trades: Tuberville is no stranger to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tommy-tuberville">buying and selling stocks</a> while a member of Congress. The senator is one of the most active traders and buys and sells options sometimes, as per his disclosures.
The senator recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/members/tommy-tuberville">disclosed </a>several stock transactions, which included buying $15,000 to $50,000 in shares of Paramount Global (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NASDAQ">PARA</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARAA#NASDAQ">PARAA</a>) and buying $15,000 to $50,000 in shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBA#NASDAQ">WBA</a>).
Tuberville also disclosed selling shares of Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), CSX Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSX#NASDAQ">CSX</a>) and Texas Instruments Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXN#NASDAQ">TXN</a>).
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/01/36459015/10-best-stock-traders-in-congress-in-2023-spoiler-nancy-pelosi-is-back-on-the-list">10 Best Stock Traders In Congress In 2023 (Spoiler: Nancy Pelosi Has Reentered The Chat)</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Alphabet&#39;s (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/goog#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Google recently enhanced YouTube&#39;s user interface (UI) for Android TV with an animated comment count feature in the info pill section. 
The video info pill section now displays a short animation, YouTube channel name, comments count, and &quot;Learn more about this video&quot; message when users hover over it, with no effect on content viewing. 
This new feature addition aims to make full-screen viewing easier and less intrusive and enhance interaction with videos on displays. 
Alphabet is expected to expand YouTube&#39;s user base among Android TV users on the back of its latest move.
<div class="chart_embed">
<h3>Alphabet Inc. Price and Consensus</h3>
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/chart/GOOGL/price-consensus-chart?icid=chart-GOOGL-price-consensus-chart"><img alt="Alphabet Inc. Price and Consensus" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/charts/fe/1713358633.png" style="height:281px; width:620px" title="" /> </a>
Alphabet Inc. price-consensus-chart | Alphabet Inc. Quote
</div>
<h3>Growing Focus on YouTube</h3>
Apart from the animated comment count feature, the company added a song search capability for YouTube Music on Android devices. YouTube Music now features a dedicated button next to voice search, allowing faster access by tapping the search icon in the top-right corner. 
Google, via YouTube TV, partnered with Peloton Interactive&#39;s (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pton#NASDAQ">PTON</a>) streaming service platform, Peloton Entertainment. 
Per the terms of the partnership, Peloton All-Access members can stream their favorite television content from their Peloton Bike, Peloton Row or Peloton Tread. Further, Google launched YouTube Create, a mobile app designed to streamline video production for creators, offering AI-enabled editing, captioning, voiceover, filters and royalty-free music features. 
The company also introduced AI-powered features to YouTube, including Dream Screen for seamless video backgrounds, production tools for quick editing and YouTube Create, which is a mobile app for AI-enabled video production. 
Alphabet will continue its Coachella streaming partnership in 2024, offering a multiview experience on the YouTube app, allowing viewers to watch up to four live stages simultaneously.
<h3>Wrapping Up</h3>
All the above-mentioned endeavors will strengthen YouTube&#39;s subscriber base, which, in turn, will solidify Alphabet&#39;s footing in the global video streaming space, presenting a significant growth opportunity for the company. 
Per a Fortune Business Insights report, the video streaming market is expected to reach $1.9 trillion by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 19.3% between 2023 and 2030. 
Moreover, a strong YouTube subscriber base will, in turn, aid Alphabet in strengthening its Google Services segment, which has been the key growth driver of the company. Its shares have rallied 10.5% in the year-to-date period compared with the Zacks Computer &amp; Technology sector&#39;s growth of 9.2%. 
The strengthening Google Services segment is expected to aid its overall financial performance in the near term. 
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 total revenues stands at $286.48 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 11.7%. 
The consensus mark for 2024 earnings is pegged at $6.78 per share, which has risen by a penny in the past 30 days.
<h3>Zacks Rank &amp; Stocks to Consider</h3>
Currently, Alphabet carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). 
Some better-ranked stocks in the broader technology sector are Applied Materials (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amat#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) and Dell Technologies (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dell#NYSE">DELL</a>), each carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. 
Shares of Applied Materials have gained 28.8% in the year-to-date period. The long-term earnings growth rate for AMAT is 8.32%. 
Shares of Dell Technologies have gained 59% in the year-to-date period. The long-term earnings growth rate for DELL is currently projected at 12%.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2257043/alphabet-googl-boosts-youtube-efforts-with-android-tv-feature?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|company_news_tech_sector-2257043">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

To gain an edge, this is what you need to know today.
<img alt="" src="https://thearorareport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-17_08h07_11.png" style="height:342px; width:624px" />
<h3>A New Opportunity In AI Ahead</h3>
Please <a href="https://thearorareport.com/stock-market-chart-analysis-powell-shifting-ai-opportunity-spy-mc-04172024">click here</a> for an enlarged chart of SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (ARCA:SPY) which represents the benchmark stock market index S&amp;P 500.
Note the following:
<ul>
<li>The chart shows that the stock market has pulled back after breaking below the trendline.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>The chart shows the support zone.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>The chart shows that in spite of the pullback, the stock market is still about 5% above the support zone.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Powell had repeatedly made it clear that he was itching to cut interest rates.&nbsp;This is what initially triggered the stock market rally in 2023 and kept the stock market rally going in 2024.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>When inflation data from January came hotter than expected, the hot inflation data went against Powell, but Powell dismissed it as a one-off.&nbsp;The hot inflation data for February again went against Powell, but Powell again dismissed it as a one-off.</li>
<li>The chart shows when CPI data was reported for January, February, and March.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>When the March inflation data came against Powell, prudent investors were eagerly awaiting how Powell would justify rate cuts after data went against him three months in a row.&nbsp;Powell has now shifted, saying that it will take longer to be confident about inflation.&nbsp;Powell acknowledged that progress on inflation has stalled.&nbsp;Powell now expects to hold interest rates at the current level longer than he previously expected.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>In the stock market, there was a short dip on Powell&rsquo;s statement.&nbsp;The momo crowd aggressively bought the dip. This morning, the momo crowd continues to aggressively buy stocks.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Due to the importance of Powell&rsquo;s switch and the consequences of Powell&rsquo;s error over the last several months to investors.</li>
<li>As the day and the week progresses, prudent investors need to stay alert to how the market reacts to earnings.&nbsp;Earnings season is in full swing.&nbsp;So far, earnings are mixed.&nbsp;Prudent investors should also stay in tune with what smart money does.&nbsp;As a reminder, when the momo crowd aggressively bought stocks after Iran attacked Israel, smart money took advantage of the strength generated by the momo crowd to trim stocks.</li>
<li>Biden wants to increase tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum.&nbsp;Biden is targeting steel workers&rsquo; votes in Pennsylvania in the upcoming election.&nbsp;Pennsylvania is an important swing state and could potentially be the deciding factor in the election.</li>
<li>Artificial intelligence has dramatically increased the demand for advanced semiconductors.&nbsp; In turn, semiconductor manufacturers have been ramping up orders for advanced chip making equipment.&nbsp;For manufacturing advanced semiconductors, chip makers need extreme ultraviolet lithography machines from&nbsp;ASML Holding NV&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/asml#NASDAQ">ASML</a>).&nbsp;ASML is a Dutch company and is the most valuable European tech stock.&nbsp;New orders booked by ASML over the last quarter fell by 61% from the prior quarter as chip makers stopped buying as many advanced machines.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>In The Arora Report analysis, this is a temporary dip.&nbsp;ASML stock is down 4% in the early trade.&nbsp;As full disclosure, if it dips further and enters the buy zone, there will be a signal in The Arora Report ZYX Buy Alert.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Another semiconductor manufacturing firm Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amat#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) is our favorite chip equipment making stock to profit from artificial intelligence.&nbsp;As full disclosure, AMAT is in The Arora Report&#39;s&nbsp;ZYX Buy Model Portfolio.&nbsp;AMAT is long from $16.</li>
<li>Investing in semiconductor manufacturing equipment stocks is one of the best ways to profit from the artificial intelligence boom.&nbsp;This belongs in the &lsquo;picks and shovels&rsquo; strategy.&nbsp;The Arora Report recommends that investors also diversify by strategy.&nbsp;The Arora Report uses over 50 different strategies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Magnificent Seven Money Flows</h3>
In the early trade, money flows are positive in Apple Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/goog#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/meta#NASDAQ">META</a>), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvda#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tsla#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are mixed in SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (ARCA:SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqq#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>).
<h3>Momo Crowd And Smart Money In Stocks</h3>
The momo crowd is buying stocks in the early trade.&nbsp;Smart money is inactive in the early trade.
<h3>Gold</h3>
The momo crowd is buying gold in the early trade.&nbsp;Smart money is inactive in the early trade.
For longer-term, please see gold and silver ratings.
The most popular ETF for gold is SPDR Gold Trust (ARCA:GLD). The most popular ETF for silver is iShares Silver Trust (ARCA:SLV).&nbsp;
<h3>Oil</h3>
API crude inventories came at a build of 4.090M barrels.
The momo crowd is buying oil in the early trade.&nbsp; Smart money is inactive in the early trade.
For longer-term, please see oil ratings.
The most popular ETF for oil is United States Oil ETF (ARCA:USO).
<h3>Bitcoin</h3>
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) is trading in the $62,000 range ahead of bitcoin halving.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>Protection Band And What To Do Now</h3>
It is important for investors to look ahead and not in the rearview mirror.
Based on individual risk preference, consider a protection band consisting of cash or Treasury bills or short-term tactical trades as well as short to medium term hedges and short term hedges. This is a good way to protect yourself and participate in the upside at the same time.
You can determine your protection bands by adding cash to hedges.&nbsp;The high band of the protection is appropriate for those who are older or conservative. The low band of the protection is appropriate for those who are younger or aggressive.&nbsp; If you do not hedge, the total cash level should be more than stated above but significantly less than cash plus hedges.
It is worth reminding that you cannot take advantage of new upcoming opportunities if you are not holding enough cash.&nbsp;When adjusting hedge levels, consider adjusting partial stop quantities for stock positions (non ETF); consider using wider stops on remaining quantities and also allowing more room for high beta stocks.&nbsp; High beta stocks are the ones that move more than the market.
<h3>Traditional 60/40 Portfolio</h3>
Probability based risk reward adjusted for inflation does not favor long duration strategic bond allocation at this time.
Those who want to stick to traditional 60% allocation to stocks and 40% to bonds may consider focusing on only high quality bonds and bonds of seven year duration or less.&nbsp;Those willing to bring sophistication to their investing may consider using bond ETFs as tactical positions and not strategic positions at this time.
The Arora Report is known for its accurate calls. The Arora Report correctly called the big artificial intelligence rally before anyone else, the new bull market of 2023, the bear market of 2022, new stock market highs right after the virus low in 2020, the virus drop in 2020, the DJIA rally to 30,000 when it was trading at 16,000, the start of a mega bull market in 2009, and the financial crash of 2008. Please click here to sign up for a free forever <a href="https://thearorareport.com/generate-wealth-newsletter">Generate Wealth Newsletter</a>.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#39;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

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Shares of semiconductor stocks are trading lower. The sector may be down in sympathy with ASML, which reported worse-than-expected Q1 financial results.

Applied Mat's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NYSE">AMAT</a>) short percent of float has fallen 3.85% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 12.45 million shares sold short, which is 1.5% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.87 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Applied Mat Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1713288619_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Applied Mat has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Applied Mat's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Applied Mat's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 7.13%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Looking Into Applied Mat's Recent Short Interest

Evercore ISI Group analyst Mark Lipacis initiates coverage on Applied Mat (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) with a Outperform rating and announces Price Target of $260.

Price Target

Initiation

Analyst Ratings

Evercore ISI Group Initiates Coverage On Applied Mat with Outperform Rating, Announces Price Target of $260

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Information Technology sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AMD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/19/24</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$30.9K</td>
<td>14.2K</td>
<td>24.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVDA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/19/24</td>
<td>$880.00</td>
<td>$26.2K</td>
<td>4.3K</td>
<td>16.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CRM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/19/24</td>
<td>$275.00</td>
<td>$100.6K</td>
<td>967</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BILL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$112.6K</td>
<td>472</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$216.5K</td>
<td>7.9K</td>
<td>915</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SMCI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/19/24</td>
<td>$900.00</td>
<td>$68.8K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>880</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SNOW</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$38.2K</td>
<td>772</td>
<td>865</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALAB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/19/24</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$43.0K</td>
<td>406</td>
<td>760</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/26/24</td>
<td>$215.00</td>
<td>$151.8K</td>
<td>474</td>
<td>491</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WDC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$171.4K</td>
<td>7.6K</td>
<td>409</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For AMD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 4 day(s) on April 19, 2024. This event was a transfer of 164 contract(s) at a $155.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.9K, with a price of $189.0 per contract. There were 14285 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 24511 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 4 day(s) on April 19, 2024. This event was a transfer of 10 contract(s) at a $880.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.2K, with a price of $2621.0 per contract. There were 4337 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 16576 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CRM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 4 day(s) on April 19, 2024. This event was a transfer of 254 contract(s) at a $275.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 21 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $100.6K, with a price of $401.0 per contract. There were 967 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1661 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BILL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BILL#NYSE">BILL</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 67 day(s) on June 21, 2024. Parties traded 979 contract(s) at a $45.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 43 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $112.6K, with a price of $115.0 per contract. There were 472 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1386 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 32 day(s) on May 17, 2024. Parties traded 98 contract(s) at a $100.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $216.5K, with a price of $2210.0 per contract. There were 7999 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 915 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SMCI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 4 day(s) on April 19, 2024. This event was a transfer of 20 contract(s) at a $900.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $68.8K, with a price of $3440.0 per contract. There were 1030 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 880 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SNOW (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNOW#NYSE">SNOW</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 32 day(s) on May 17, 2024. Parties traded 55 contract(s) at a $155.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $38.2K, with a price of $695.0 per contract. There were 772 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 865 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ALAB (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALAB#NASDAQ">ALAB</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 4 day(s) on April 19, 2024. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $75.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $43.0K, with a price of $430.0 per contract. There were 406 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 760 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AMAT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 11 day(s) on April 26, 2024. Parties traded 506 contract(s) at a $215.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 292 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $151.8K, with a price of $299.0 per contract. There were 474 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 491 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For WDC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDC#NASDAQ">WDC</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be neutral, expiring in 32 day(s) on May 17, 2024. This event was a transfer of 381 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 15 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $171.4K, with a price of $450.0 per contract. There were 7602 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 409 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

ALAB

BILL

SMCI

SNOW

10 Information Technology Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Applied Mat (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with AMAT, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 8 uncommon options trades for Applied Mat.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 75% bullish and 25%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $73,120, and 6 are calls, for a total amount of $396,290.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $110.0 to $250.0 for Applied Mat during the past quarter. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Applied Mat's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Applied Mat's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $110.0 to $250.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Applied Mat 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1713194174_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$18.0</td>
<td>$17.75</td>
<td>$18.0</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$90.0K</td>
<td>244</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$18.0</td>
<td>$17.7</td>
<td>$17.92</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$89.5K</td>
<td>244</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$17.4</td>
<td>$17.1</td>
<td>$17.15</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$85.8K</td>
<td>244</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">110</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$13.3</td>
<td>$12.85</td>
<td>$13.3</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
<td>$53.2K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMAT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$104.65</td>
<td>$103.1</td>
<td>$104.65</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$41.8K</td>
<td>67</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Applied Mat</h3>
Applied Materials is the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, manufacturer in the world. Applied Materials has a broad portfolio spanning nearly every corner of the WFE ecosystem. Specifically, Applied Materials holds a market share leadership position in deposition, which entails the layering of new materials on semiconductor wafers. It is more exposed to general-purpose logic chips made at integrated device manufacturers and foundries. It counts the largest chipmakers in the world as customers, including TSMC, Intel, and Samsung.
In light of the recent options history for Applied Mat, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Current Position of Applied Mat</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 1,205,415, the AMAT's price is up by 1.57%, now at $211.12. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 31 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Applied Mat</h3>
In the last month, 1 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $260.0.
<ul>
<li>In a positive move, an analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald has upgraded their rating to Overweight and adjusted the price target to $260. </li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Applied Mat options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Check Out What Whales Are Doing With AMAT

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While the broader stock market can often be unpredictable, investors continue their search for unstoppable <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/technology/">tech stocks</a> for big gains in 2024. Among the top contenders are companies harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, renewable energy and e-commerce. 



Often characterized by their significant growth potential and established market positioning, these tech giants demonstrate an unwavering ability to thrive in the face of adversity. Moreover, they have a sound track record of reporting strong revenue and earnings growth over the years. As the digital revolution accelerates, these top unstoppable tech stocks will continue to shape the future. 



Now, here are the top three unstoppable tech stocks for big gains in 2024!



<h2>ASML Holding (ASML)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/asml-1600-300x169.png" alt="Closeup of mobile phone screen with ASML logo on computer keyboard"><div>Source: Ralf Liebhold / Shutterstock</div></div>ASML Holding (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/asml-stock-quote/">ASML</a>) is a Dutch company with a unique footing and dominance in a critical part of the semiconductor industry. They manufacture extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems, a complex technology essential for producing cutting-edge chips for smartphones, computers and AI applications.



The company is special due to its unique patents and exclusive rights to EUV lithography systems. There are only a handful of companies that have access to these machines, and their monopoly in the market makes ASML an extremely important company. The global chip shortage, which started during the pandemic, has been a positive for ASML. That is because demand remained high for its EUV systems, granting the company significant pricing power. In <a href="https://www.asml.com/en/news/press-releases/2024/q4-2023-financial-results">FY23,</a> ASML delivered a record revenue of $27.6 billion. EPS skyrocketed 41% year-over-year (YOY) to $19.91 per share, with gross margins above street estimates. While this year is labeled as a &lsquo;&rsquo;transition year,&rsquo;&rsquo; management expects a stronger second half of 2024.



<h2>Applied Materials (AMAT)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/amat-stock-300x169.jpg" alt="Applied Materials (AMAT) company sign outside office"><div>Source: michelmond / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Applied Materials (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/amat-stock-quote/">AMAT</a>) remains one of the best unstoppable tech stocks for big gains in 2024. While operating in a different semiconductor segment than ASML, Applied Materials specializes in tools and equipment used in the fabrication of semiconductors.



Applied Materials plays a crucial role in the multi-step process of chip production. The company benefits tremendously from the continued expansion in chip manufacturing by some of the biggest industry players like TSMC (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/tsm-stock-quote/">TSM</a>), Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/nvda-stock-quote/">NVDA</a>) and Intel (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/intc-stock-quote/">INTC</a>). Over the past 12 to 18 months, the wafer fabrication market saw a huge drop in spending. That inevitably impacted Applied Materials, which is a major beneficiary of this high barrier to entry market. However, it was able to weather the storm, and a rebound in the semiconductor equipment market is underway. In the <a href="https://ir.appliedmaterials.com/static-files/cbc64d18-2424-458e-aff6-ef3f74926bff">2023 fiscal year,</a> revenue increased 3% YOY to $26.5 billion. EPS increased 9% YOY to a record $8.11 per share, with FCF up 65% to $7.6 billion. The turn of the semiconductor cycle is brewing, and Applied Materials valuation leaves a ton of room for growth.



<h2>MercadoLibre (MELI)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/meli1600-300x169.jpg" alt="MercadoLibre (MELI) homepage on a smartphone"><div>Source: rafapress / Shutterstock.com</div></div>MercadoLibre (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/meli-stock-quote/">MELI</a>) is the undisputed e-commerce leader in Latin America. Often referred to as &ldquo;the Amazon of Latin America,&rdquo; MercadoLibre is on pace to deliver outsized returns over the next decade.&nbsp;



The company built a comprehensive ecosystem encompassing online marketplaces, its own payment solution (Mercado Pago) and a robust logistics network. Latin America&rsquo;s growing middle class and internet usage provide a solid runway for accelerated growth in e-commerce adoption. Additionally, the company&rsquo;s improving financial performance will be the catalyst to send shares soaring. In FY23, revenue increased an astonishing 37% YOY to $14.47 billion. Net income swelled 104% YOY to $987 million, nearly eclipsing the $1 billion mark. Moreover, the operating margin expanded by 280 bps, with FCF hitting a record $4.63 billion. MercadoLibre is making all the right moves, and its expansive ecosystem and dominance in LATAM make it well-positioned for long-term success.



On the date of publication, Terel Miles did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com <a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/">Publishing Guidelines.</a>
<div>Terel Miles is a contributing writer at InvestorPlace.com, with more than seven years of experience investing in the financial markets.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/3-unstoppable-tech-stocks-to-take-you-from-50000-to-250000-and-beyond/">3 Unstoppable Tech Stocks to Take You From $50,000 to $250,000 (and Beyond)</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

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As we near the second half of 2024, the correction phase points to a powerful upside potential in underrated <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/technology/">tech stocks</a>.



Last year witnessed an extraordinary boom in technology stocks, soaring to uncharted heights. However, the recent warning signs are becoming too loud to ignore, as evidenced by the tech-heavy Nasdaq&nbsp;Composite Index, which has <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/COMP:IND/charting?compare=COMP:IND,SP500&amp;interval=1M&amp;metric=priceReturn">slid 2.5% in the past month</a>. This shift in momentum has made investors revamp their investment choices.



During this tumultuous transformation, technology behemoths like Meta&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/meta-stock-quote/">META</a>) and Nvidia&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/nvda-stock-quote/">NVDA</a>) <a href="https://www.cointribune.com/en/stock-market-crash-meta-and-nvidia-lose-750-billion-tech-falters/">lost over $750 billion</a>&nbsp;from their respective market capitalizations, exposing the tech sector&rsquo;s vulnerability.



This turbulence has exposed the shortcomings in the major tech stocks while simultaneously revealing untapped potential in the broader market. While investors and the media tend to focus mostly on mega-cap stocks, many underrated businesses are quietly making significant strides. Thus, it is pertinent to identify diamonds in the rough and bet on these three tech stocks for spectacular gains.



<h2>Underrated Tech Stocks: Photronics (PLAB)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/shutterstock_2043923687-300x169.jpg" alt="PLAB stock: Electronic board, pen, processor on the background of schematic circuit diagram and photomask for manufacture of printed circuit boards."><div>Source: Mentor57 / Shutterstock</div></div>Photronics&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/plab-stock-quote/">PLAB</a>) shines brightly within the technology industry&rsquo;s semiconductor equipment and materials niche. Its mastery of photomask manufacturing has led to a mind-boggling <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PLAB/momentum/performance">99% year-over-year (YOY) price growth</a>.



It&rsquo;s not just the price, though. Photronics maintained resilience, <a href="https://photronicsinc.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/photronics-reports-first-quarter-fiscal-2024-results">posting a revenue</a> of $216.3 million in the first quarter of 2024, which marks a 2% bump year-over-year. Seasonal fluctuations and a shorter Q1 caused sequential revenue to decline, but annual growth depicts Photronics&rsquo; ongoing capacity to increase revenues.



Moreover, Photronics&rsquo; top-line growth is greatly driven by its stronghold in advanced technology nodes, <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/photronics-inc-nasdaq-plab-q1-145210434.html">such as 22 nm and 28 nm</a>, within the integrated circuit (IC) segment. Customers are moving toward these nodes to maximize savings and improve performance, driving up demand for Photronics&rsquo; photomask solutions.



Furthermore, Photronics&rsquo; <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PLAB/valuation/metrics">non-GAAP earnings multiple</a>&nbsp;for the trailing year trades at 13.28x, substantially less than the industry average of 21.64x. In contrast to being a valued catch, this distinguishes the continued relevance of photomasks in escalating technological experiences.



<h2>Micron Technology (MU)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/mu1600d-300x169.jpg" alt="A magnifying glass zooms in on the logo for Micron Technology, Inc. (MU)"><div>Source: Casimiro PT / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Micron Technology&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/mu-stock-quote/">MU</a>), a leader in memory and storage solutions, is enhancing its role in the tech sector. It&rsquo;s ramping up mass production of high bandwidth memory chips that power Nvidia&rsquo;s latest artificial intelligence (AI) chips. As Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/analysts-race-reset-micron-price-121711829.html">boasted at the recent conference</a>: &ldquo;Our HBM3E product will be a part of&nbsp;Nvidia&rsquo;s H200 Tensor Core GPUs, and we are progressing on additional platform qualifications with multiple customers.&rdquo;



Along with Micron&rsquo;s collaboration with Nvidia, its comeback story is grabbing headlines. Investors can rejoice in the company&rsquo;s much-anticipated return to profitability. Following <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/mu/earnings">five consecutive quarters</a>&nbsp;of negative earnings per share (EPS), Micron posted positive <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/4081776-micron-non-gaap-eps-of-042-beats-by-066-revenue-of-582b-beats-by-470m">non-GAAP EPS of 42 cents</a>&nbsp;in Q2 2024, exceeding expectations by 66 cents. Moreover, Micron is performing impressively with reported revenue of $5.82 billion, marking a significant 58% YOY upswing from $3.69 billion and surpassing estimates by $473.44 million.



This sustained trajectory has earned Micron a &lsquo;strong buy&rsquo; rating from TipRanks analysts, who predict a robust <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/mu/forecast">10% upside potential</a>, further solidifying Micron&rsquo;s standing in the tech sector.



<h2>Underrated Tech Stocks: Applied Materials (AMAT)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/amat-stock-300x169.jpg" alt="Applied Materials (AMAT) company sign outside office"><div>Source: michelmond / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Applied Materials&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/amat-stock-quote/">AMAT</a>) has excelled as a linchpin in microchip manufacturing equipment. AMAT benefits from this significant advancement as AI applications depend increasingly on sophisticated CPUs. As a result, the company&rsquo;s stock has taken off, <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AMAT/momentum/performance">climbing by 25% in 2024</a>&nbsp;alone. Spread these gains over the past year, and you see an astounding 84.37% bump compared to the S&amp;P 500&rsquo;s&nbsp;25.74%. This result reflects the high demand for its cutting-edge equipment, which is essential for creating advanced semiconductors that form the basis of AI technology.



Building on this upbeat trajectory, AMAT <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/4067843-applied-materials-non-gaap-eps-of-2_13-beats-0_22-revenue-of-6_71b-beats-220m">reported EPS of $2.12</a>&nbsp;in Q4 2023, topping analyst expectations by 22 cents. Additionally, the business reported revenue of $6.71 billion, outperforming the projected $6.48 billion. This economic stability is further supported by a stellar <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AMAT/profitability">46.41% return on common equity</a>&nbsp;for the trailing year, a sign of profitability and efficient capital use.



Moreover, AMAT enhances shareholder value by sweetening the pot with a dividend that has <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AMAT/dividends/scorecard">grown for six consecutive years</a>.



On the date of publication, Nabeel Bukhari did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com <a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/">Publishing Guidelines.</a>
<div>Nabeel Bukhari is a seasoned research analyst and keen investor. His expert insights help readers to skillfully tackle the complexities of the financial sector, with a particular focus on electric vehicles (EVs) and technology stocks. Nabeel holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Bahria University.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/3-underrated-tech-titans-to-buy-for-explosive-growth-in-2024/">3 Underrated Tech Titans to Buy for Explosive Growth in 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

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