Stifel analyst Brian Chin reiterated the Buy rating on Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT), with a price forecast of $230.

The company will report the second quarter of fiscal 2024 financial results on Thursday, May 16, 2024.

According to the analyst, non-China trailing-edge remains soft and that the timing on expansion in leading-edge foundry-logic and memory is more late FY24/FY25-oriented.

For now, the analyst sees revenue bias still toward China, technology, and conversion (DRAM HBM) activity.

More importantly, the analyst views capacity/growth-driven foundry/logic and DRAM investment plans for 2025.

Per Chin, Applied Materials continues to have a better line of sight than most toward establishing higher revenue and profitability in the ensuing upcycle.

The analyst projects China DRAM (~$500 million in the second quarter) to phase-out of the mix in the third quarter, representing a headwind in Applied's outlook.

Over the balance of the year, China should remain a steadying factor and might cause Applied Materials to revisit its view.

According to the analyst, Applied Materials has too many tentacles to be fully immune to a slowdown in aggregate semi investment.

Yet by that token, the company possesses a better/broader arsenal of products (portfolio) through which to attack/address semi customers' future technology roadmap scaling/integration challenges.

Ultimately, the analyst sees Applied Materials on track to establish higher peak revenue/profitability through the ensuing upcycle. It warrants a higher multiple as it demonstrates improved financial performance across the cycle.

Price Action: AMAT shares are trading higher by 3.36% to $216.87 at last check Wednesday.

Image: Courtesy of Applied Materials, Inc.