Technology

ASML Holding (ASML.AS) said Wednesday that net income dropped, while net sales for full-year 2024 rose year over year. Net income for the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2024, was 7.57 billion euros, compared with 7.84 billion euros earlier. EPS moved to 19.24 euros from 19.89 euros. The Dutch semiconductor equipment developer’s net sales were 28.26 billion euros, compared with 27.56 billion euros a year ago. Analysts polled by FactSet were expecting 28.06 billion euros in sales, 7.48 billion euros in net income, and 19.1 euros in EPS. Meanwhile, the board proposed a third interim dividend of 1.52 euros and a final dividend of 1.84 euros per share. The third interim dividend is payable on Feb. 19. This will take the full-year dividend to 6.40 euros per share, up from 6.10 euros in the previous year.

ASML Holding reported a strong set of earnings and orders for the fourth quarter that should inject some relief into the market after the DeepSeek fallout earlier in the week, Citi analysts write in a note to clients. The Dutch semiconductor-equipment maker ended the year with a strong fourth-quarter order intake of 7.09 billion euros, the analysts say, noting the figure is well ahead of even the most bullish expectations. Analysts had forecast 3.99 billion euros in orders, according to consensus estimates by Visible Alpha.

ASML Holding’s sales and gross margin forecasts for the current quarter are stronger than expected, Citi analysts write in a note to investors. The Dutch semiconductor-equipment maker expects sales between 7.5 billion euros and 8 billion euros in the first quarter, with a gross margin between 52% and 53%. Analysts note that the mid-point of sales guidance at 7.75 billion euros is above consensus of 7.11 billion euros. The margin mid-point is also about 140 basis points above consensus of 51.1%, they say.

Competition from Chinese artificial-intelligence company DeepSeek is positive for the industry, ASML Holding CEO Christophe Fouquet says in an earnings call. DeepSeek developed AI models that it said nearly matched U.S. rivals despite using inferior chips. Fouquet says any technology that can bring down AI costs is good news since it could create opportunities for the semiconductor industry. Lowering AI costs could usher in more volume in terms of chip sales and, ultimately, better demand for ASML’s semiconductor-making machinery. ASML shares trade 8.9% higher at 703.90 euros.

ASML’s (ASML) US-listed shares spiked early Wednesday as the Dutch chip equipment maker issued an upbeat first-quarter revenue outlook after recording better-than-expected results in the preceding three-month period. The company anticipates sales to be in a range of 7.5 billion euros ($7.81 billion) to 8 billion euros ($8.33 billion) for the ongoing quarter, compared with the current consensus on FactSet for 7.21 billion euros. Gross margin is pegged at 52% to 53%. ASML’s stock on the Nasdaq spiked nearly 7% in premarket activity. “Consistent with our view from the last quarter, the growth in artificial intelligence is the key driver for growth in our industry,” Chief Executive Christophe Fouquet said in a statement. “It has created a shift in the market dynamics that is not benefiting all of our customers equally, which creates both opportunities and risks as reflected in our 2025 revenue range.” For the full year 2025, ASML

ASML stock soared after posting quarterly earnings that beat analysts’ expectations early Wednesday, erasing losses after the market went into a tailspin about DeepSeek’s low-cost AI model earlier this week. Amsterdam-listed shares of the Dutch semiconductor equipment maker jumped 7.9% to EUR698.20 ($726). The company’s American depositary receipts, or ADRs, were up 5.5% to $721.00 in early trading. ASML reported fourth-quarter earnings of EUR6.85 a share on sales of EUR9.3 billion, beating expectations for earnings of EUR6.72 on sales of EUR9.1 billion, according to FactSet. Net booking for the quarter came in at EUR7.1 billion, while analysts had expected only EUR5.7 billion. “ASML’s fourth-quarter results should provide an island of calm amidst a sea of panic for investors in the semiconductor industry,” Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Derren Nathan said. Earlier this week, U.S. tech investors got a wake-up call as news spread about the Chinese firm DeepSeek’s AI model and chatbot