Asml share price jumps as AI chip demand lifts outlook
The ASML share price jumped more than 7% on Wednesday after the Dutch semiconductor-equipment maker raised its 2026 sales forecast for the second time this year, citing surging AI chip orders. Strong Q2 earnings overshadowed weak China GDP data and Thames Water’s funding update in a busy global business session.
ASML reported second-quarter net sales of €9.3 billion and net income of €2.9 billion, both beating its own guidance. Investors rewarded the beat-and-raise print, even as broader markets weighed China’s slowest growth pace in years and Britain’s largest water utility securing a short-term cash runway.
Key Takeaways
- The ASML share price rose over 7% at the open before paring gains to about 6% higher, with shares up roughly 115% year to date.
- ASML lifted full-year 2026 sales guidance to €43 billion–€45 billion from €36 billion–€40 billion and raised gross margin targets to 54%–56%.
- CEO Christophe Fouquet said order intake was "extremely strong" in the first half as customers accelerated AI-driven capacity plans.
- China’s Q2 GDP grew 4.3%, its slowest pace since late 2022 and one of its lowest rates on record.
- Thames Water confirmed it has sufficient funding to survive through the fourth quarter of 2026.
Why did the ASML share price jump after earnings?
Markets moved quickly once ASML confirmed stronger-than-expected Q2 results and a sharply higher annual outlook. The stock jumped over 7% at the European open before easing to trade about 6% higher, according to CNBC.
That reaction reflects confidence that AI infrastructure spending is translating into booked orders, not just headlines. ASML shares have already surged about 115% in 2026, making Wednesday’s move a fresh validation of the AI trade rather than a one-off spike.
What drove ASML’s second sales forecast hike in 2026?
ASML now expects 2026 total net sales of €43 billion to €45 billion, up from €36 billion to €40 billion announced earlier this year. Gross margin guidance rose to 54%–56%, from 51%–53%, as demand for advanced logic and memory chips stays elevated.
Fouquet said ongoing AI investments are pushing chipmakers such as TSMC to race for production capacity. Order intake remained extremely strong in the first half, and ASML plans to add 30% to its 2026 low NA EUV capacity of around 65 units for 2027, with similar expansion planned for DUV immersion tools.
The Financial Times reported that customers are accelerating expansion plans and have a strong belief that AI demand is real. For more on how chip-equipment earnings move markets, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts coverage.
How do China GDP and Thames Water fit into today’s markets?
Wednesday’s Guardian business live session paired ASML’s rally with two sobering macro headlines. China reported Q2 GDP growth of 4.3%, marking one of its lowest rates on record and its weakest quarterly expansion since the end of 2022.
In the UK, Thames Water confirmed it has sufficient funding to survive through the fourth quarter of 2026, easing immediate fears of a near-term collapse.
What should investors watch next?
ASML guided third-quarter net sales of €11 billion to €12 billion with gross margins of 55%–57%, signalling momentum may build into the second half. Capacity additions for EUV and DUV tools will be closely watched, as chipmakers such as TSMC continue ramping AI production lines.