Executive Summary
ASML has advanced 2.72% since the August 7 report to $1,788.33, extending its V-shaped recovery from the July 27 China-driven selloff and bringing year-to-date gains to 67.16%. The stock continues to be propelled by the July 15 guidance upgrade and capacity expansion roadmap, with no new fundamental data altering the bullish trajectory since the prior update.
Key Updates
Since the August 7 report, ASML shares have appreciated 2.72% from $1,740.99 to the current $1,788.33. The 1-day gain of 3.16% and 5-day gain of 4.47% confirm near-term momentum remains positive. The recovery from the August 3 intraday low of $1,593.24 is now complete, with the stock trading well above pre-selloff levels and approaching psychological resistance at $1,800.
Current Trend
The primary trend is decisively bullish. Year-to-date performance stands at +67.16%, while the 6-month return is +24.57%. The 1-month return of -0.50% indicates the stock has fully retraced the July 27 China-competition shock and consolidated before breaking higher. Support levels are established near $1,740 (August 7 close), $1,638 (August 3 close), and $1,593 (August 3 intraday low). Resistance is now eyed at $1,800, with a sustained breakout likely to challenge all-time highs.
Investment Thesis
ASML maintains a structural monopoly in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography and commands over 80% of the deep ultraviolet (DUV) market, positioning it as the critical enabler of leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing. The investment thesis rests on three pillars: (1) AI-driven capital expenditure from hyperscalers and foundries translating into tangible order growth and repeated guidance raises; (2) a multi-year capacity expansion roadmap that could increase EUV output by roughly 30% in 2027 and another 30% in 2028; and (3) commercial validation of next-generation High NA EUV systems at Intel. Offsetting these strengths are geopolitical risks, specifically U.S. pressure on China exports and emerging domestic Chinese competition in the DUV segment, where China represented 29% of 2025 sales.
Thesis Status
The investment thesis remains intact and has strengthened since the July 15 earnings release. The second guidance raise for 2026, gross margin expansion to 54%–56%, and disclosed capacity plans for 2027–2028 provide concrete evidence of sustained demand. The July 27 selloff on China DUV competition reports proved temporary, with the stock recovering all losses and advancing to new local highs. The primary risk to the thesis—valuation expansion after a 67% YTD rally—has increased, but near-term order visibility from TSMC, Samsung, Intel, SK Hynix, and Micron appears robust.
Key Drivers
- AI Demand & Guidance Upgrade: ASML raised its full-year 2026 sales guidance to €43 billion–€45 billion (from €36 billion–€40 billion) and gross margin to 54%–56% (from 51%–53%), citing unrelenting AI-driven demand. Q2 revenue of €9.33 billion and net profit of €2.92 billion both exceeded consensus. Source: Morningstar
- Capacity Expansion Roadmap: The company is weighing roughly 30% increases in EUV output in 2027 and another 30% in 2028, with Low-NA EUV capacity potentially reaching 85–110 systems by 2028. Source: Financial Times
- Intel High NA Validation: Intel has begun deploying ASML’s EXE High NA EUV machine in production, validating the $350 million–$400 million tool. Source: Bloomberg
- China Competition & Export Restrictions: A July 27 report that a Shanghai-based firm plans to mass-produce immersion DUV systems triggered an 8% intraday drop. China accounted for 29% of 2025 sales, and the firm has warned that export restrictions and expected declines in Chinese sales are weighing on deliveries. Source: Morningstar
- Memory Recovery: ASML projects memory-related revenue will jump 75% in 2026, supported by customers such as SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron. Source: CNBC
Technical Analysis
At $1,788.33, ASML is trading in a clear near-term uptrend following the August 3 low. The +2.72% move since the last report breaks above the August 7 close of $1,740.99, turning that level into immediate support. The next technical barrier is the round-number $1,800 level; a decisive close above this would signal continuation toward uncharted highs. Downside support is layered at $1,740, $1,638, and $1,593. The 1-month flat performance (-0.50%) versus strong 5-day (+4.47%) and YTD (+67.16%) readings indicates the stock has transitioned from a digestion phase back to trend acceleration.
Bull Case
- ASML raised its full-year 2026 sales guidance for the second time to €43 billion–€45 billion and lifted gross margin guidance to 54%–56%, reflecting unrelenting AI demand and strong pricing power. Source: Morningstar
- Morningstar raised its fair value estimate to EUR 1,800 from EUR 1,200, projecting EUR 70 billion in revenue and EUR 69 in EPS by 2028 on a 28% sales CAGR from 2026–2028, driven by 30% capacity increases in 2027 and potential further expansion in 2028. Source: Morningstar
- Intel has begun using ASML’s most advanced EXE High NA EUV machine in production, validating the next-generation $350 million–$400 million system and opening a new revenue frontier. Source: Bloomberg
- Memory revenue is forecast to surge 75% in 2026, demonstrating broad-based demand beyond AI logic chips, supported by major memory customers ramping advanced node capacity. Source: CNBC
- ASML shipped 48 EUV systems in 2025 and projects sales of 65 units in 2026 and 85 in 2027, with a monopoly position in EUV lithography and over 80% share in DUV systems providing entrenched competitive moats. Source: Reuters
Bear Case
- A Shanghai-based firm reportedly plans to mass-produce domestic immersion DUV systems, threatening ASML’s market share in China, which accounted for 29% of 2025 sales and 36% of 2024 sales. Source: Morningstar
- The stock has rallied nearly 70% year-to-date and more than doubled over the past 12 months, embedding high expectations and increasing downside risk if AI capital expenditure growth decelerates or capacity digestion occurs in 2029–2030.Source: Morningstar
- U.S. export restrictions on China are intensifying, and ASML has explicitly warned that expected declines in Chinese sales are weighing on deliveries; China represented 29% of 2025 revenue, creating a material headwind to growth if further curtailments are enacted. Source: Morningstar
- Investor skepticism regarding the sustainability of artificial intelligence capital expenditure from hyperscalers such as Google and Amazon poses a risk that data center expansion could decelerate, undermining the order visibility supporting ASML's expanded capacity targets. Source: CNBC
- Execution risks across ASML's complex supply chain and among key customers including TSMC and Samsung could delay the 2027–2028 capacity expansion roadmap and compress margins if leading-edge node ramps fall behind schedule. Source: Reuters