ASML lifts 2026 sales forecast to €40B on AI demand

ASML raised its 2026 net sales forecast to €36 billion–€40 billion after first-quarter results topped estimates. The company reported €8.8 billion in Q1 net sales and €2.8 billion in net profit, both above analyst expectations. ASML had earlier guided Q1 sales to a range of €8.2 billion to €8.9 billion. The updated 2026 range replaces a prior outlook of €34 billion–€39 billion. ASML did not publish order numbers for the quarter. According to CEO Christophe Fouquet, the company’s order intake “continues to be very strong.” ASML shares were flat in early European trading.

Christophe Fouquet wrote in a press release, “The semiconductor industry’s growth outlook continues to solidify, driven by ongoing AI-related infrastructure investments. Demand for chips is outpacing supply. In response, our customers are accelerating their capacity expansion plans for 2026 and beyond, supported by long-term agreements with their customers.”

The company linked the forecast increase to ongoing investment in AI computing and data-center infrastructure. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., one of ASML’s largest customers, reported record first-quarter revenue as demand for AI chips remained high. South Korean memory makers Samsung and SK Hynix plan to raise production after memory prices rose on tight supply. Memory chips are used in AI systems and data centers; higher memory demand and shortages have encouraged manufacturers to expand output, which increases demand for ASML’s lithography equipment.

Other suppliers reported similar momentum. German chip-systems maker Aixtron raised its 2026 revenue guidance to about €560 million, plus or minus €30 million, up from a prior forecast of €520 million. Aixtron CEO Felix Grawert described first-quarter demand from the optoelectronics sector as “a very encouraging development” and expects the trend to continue. Aixtron shares rose after the update.

Cloud and chip companies also announced deals tied to AI capacity. Meta and Broadcom extended their partnership on Meta’s custom in-house AI accelerators through 2029. Meta committed to an initial deployment of 1 gigawatt of training and inference accelerators and plans to scale to multiple gigawatts. Broadcom described the MTIA chips as the first AI silicon built on a 2-nanometer process.

Mark Zuckerberg wrote, “Meta is partnering with Broadcom across chip design, packaging, and networking to build out the massive computing foundation we need to deliver personal superintelligence to billions of people.” Broadcom shares rose about 3% in extended trading after the announcement.

Broadcom CEO Hock Tan informed Meta that he will not stand for reelection to its board. On Broadcom’s March earnings call, Tan told investors the MTIA roadmap is advancing, that shipments are underway, and that the company expects to scale to multiple gigawatts in 2027 and beyond.

ASML’s lithography systems are used to make the most advanced semiconductors. The company cited longer-term supply agreements between chip buyers and their customers as a contributing factor behind the acceleration of capital spending planned for 2026 and beyond.