About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

5 Must-Read Analyst Questions From Applied Materials’s Q2 Earnings Call

By: StockStory

AMAT Cover Image

Applied Materials delivered a better-than-expected second quarter, but the market responded negatively amid growing concerns about future demand visibility—particularly in China. Management attributed quarterly strength to robust demand for semiconductor systems and services, with CEO Gary Dickerson highlighting "record performance" driven by investments in advanced chip manufacturing and ongoing customer engagement. However, management was clear that the positive results were partly offset by uneven demand patterns and mounting external uncertainty, especially around Chinese capacity digestion and the impact of export license restrictions.

Is now the time to buy AMAT? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).

Applied Materials (AMAT) Q2 CY2025 Highlights:

  • Revenue: $7.30 billion vs analyst estimates of $7.22 billion (7.7% year-on-year growth, 1.2% beat)
  • Adjusted EPS: $2.48 vs analyst estimates of $2.36 (5.1% beat)
  • Adjusted EBITDA: $2.36 billion vs analyst estimates of $2.27 billion (32.3% margin, 3.8% beat)
  • Revenue Guidance for Q3 CY2025 is $6.7 billion at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $7.30 billion
  • Adjusted EPS guidance for Q3 CY2025 is $2.11 at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $2.38
  • Operating Margin: 30.6%, up from 28.7% in the same quarter last year
  • Inventory Days Outstanding: 141, down from 142 in the previous quarter
  • Market Capitalization: $129.2 billion

While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.

Our Top 5 Analyst Questions From Applied Materials’s Q2 Earnings Call

  • James Edward Schneider (Goldman Sachs) asked if China demand softness and export license uncertainty could persist into 2026 and how long advanced logic weakness might last. CFO Brice Hill explained the company expects lower China business for several more quarters and that leading-edge demand will likely remain uneven due to customer timing.
  • Stacy Aaron Rasgon (Bernstein Research) probed whether China outperformed internal expectations and if non-China markets were correspondingly weaker. Hill clarified that China performance was as anticipated and that softer leading-edge logic demand was the main driver behind the quarterly guide.
  • Vivek Arya (Bank of America Securities) questioned whether strong DRAM growth could offset weakness in China and advanced logic. Hill responded that DRAM demand is robust and may set a record, but China will remain a headwind and the balance between segments will determine overall growth.
  • Harlan L. Sur (JPMorgan) inquired about growth prospects for advanced packaging amid weaker logic spending. CEO Gary Dickerson reiterated the company’s high visibility and market share in packaging, forecasting the business to more than double within a few years.
  • Christopher James Muse (Cantor Fitzgerald) asked about the drivers behind the Q4 China revenue decline and leading-edge order timing. Hill indicated that both were primarily due to customer investment schedules and regulatory uncertainties, rather than fundamental shifts in market demand.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

In future quarters, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) the trajectory of China-related equipment sales and progress on pending export license approvals, (2) the timing and scale of major customer investments in new logic and memory production nodes, and (3) developments in advanced packaging and AI-enabling product launches. Execution in these areas will be key to sustaining growth during a period of heightened industry and policy uncertainty.

Applied Materials currently trades at $161.20, down from $188.16 just before the earnings. At this price, is it a buy or sell? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

Trump’s April 2025 tariff bombshell triggered a massive market selloff, but stocks have since staged an impressive recovery, leaving those who panic sold on the sidelines.

Take advantage of the rebound by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025).

Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.

StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.

More News

View More
Datavault AI: The New AI Contender Backed by Big Funding
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers DVLT IBM SCLX
CoreWeave: Why the New King of AI Infrastructure Has Room to Run
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers CORZ CRWV META NVDA
Top 3 Dividend Achievers for October: High Yields, Growth Ahead
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence World Trade
Tickers FDX PFE UPS VZ
Etsy Partners With OpenAI—What It Means for Investors Now
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers ETSY
3 Solid Consumer Brands Offering Stability in Volatile Markets
Via MarketBeat
Topics Economy
Tickers AOUT JAKK KO PG SN
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.