ASML $ASML rises 3% after Q2 sales hit €9.3B; 2026 guide lifted

€9.3B of Q2 sales, €2.9B of net income and a 54.0% gross margin put ASML Holding $ASML above its own guidance range on July 15, giving semiconductor investors a fresh read on AI-linked capital spending. The company’s Q2 2026 financial release said total net sales rose to €9.326B from €8.767B in Q1, while basic EPS moved to €7.59 from €7.15.

The market reaction was immediate. CNBC’s July 15 markets feed described $ASML as up about 3% after the company raised its sales forecast for the second time this year. The move is below the 8% single-stock threshold, but the story qualifies under the earnings-surprise filter because the release supplied concrete sales, margin, income and guidance figures tied to a same-day stock reaction.

The most material change was the full-year outlook. ASML now expects 2026 net sales between €43B and €45B with gross margin of 54%-56%. Its prior investor focus had been whether demand for EUV and DUV lithography systems could absorb a higher production plan without margin pressure. Management also guided Q3 net sales to €11.0B-€12.0B with a 55%-57% gross margin, implying a step-up from Q2’s €9.326B revenue base.

The operating details point to AI memory and logic demand rather than a broad cyclical restocking story. ASML sold 86 new lithography systems in Q2 versus 67 in Q1, while installed base management sales increased to €2.762B from €2.488B. CEO Christophe Fouquet said ongoing AI-related investments were driving demand for advanced Logic and Memory chips, and the company is planning to add 30% to its 2026 low NA EUV capacity of around 65 systems for 2027.

For markets, the next check is whether customer commitments translate into firm 2027 and 2028 capacity additions without new export-control limits or component bottlenecks. ASML’s next investor call on July 15 and its June 10, 2027 Capital Markets Day are the dated events to watch for backlog, order intake and margin durability.

Not investment advice. Verify all figures with primary sources before acting.