"ASML ( NASDAQ:ASML ) dominates the semiconductor equipment market with its extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography technology, essential for producing the world's most advanced chips. No competitors can match its precision in etching circuits at nanoscale levels, creating a monopoly on tools that power the AI surge. Chipmakers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( ), Intel ( NASDAQ:INTC ), and Samsung rely on ASML machines to fabricate high-performance processors for data centers and AI applications. The stock has climbed 145% from its 52-week low, and is already up 32% in 2026 as demand keeps growing."
"The company achieved this through over 30 years of R&D, starting in the 1990s when it pivoted from older deep ultraviolet (DUV) tech while competitors like Nikon and Canon abandoned EUV due to its complexity and costs. ASML's edge comes from over 800 specialized suppliers, thousands of patents, and engineering feats like generating plasma with lasers to produce EUV light. This creates insurmountable barriers for rivals , as replicating the technology would require billions in investment and decades to catch up, solidifying ASML's 100% EUV market share."
ASML produces extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems that enable sub-5 nm features, essential for next-generation semiconductors used in AI training and inference and data-center processors. Three decades of focused R&D, collaboration with over 800 specialized suppliers, and thousands of patents underpin ASML's technological lead and 100% share of the EUV market. Major manufacturers including TSMC, Intel, and Samsung depend on ASML equipment, and rising GPU demand for AI workloads is driving orders. The stock has rallied strongly from its 52-week low and into 2026, and a Wall Street analyst recently raised a Street-high $1,642 price target ahead of upcoming quarterly results.
Read at 24/7 Wall St.
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]