Applied Materials and Atomera Shares Climb on Analyst Upgrades

Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) rose 2.4% to $602.50 after Stifel Nicolaus raised its price target to $650 and other analysts lifted their targets, signaling confidence in the company's growth amid strong AI chip demand. The stock also benefited from positive sentiment surrounding Meta's plan to produce its own AI chip, which is expected to boost demand for semiconductor equipment.

Atomera (NASDAQ:ATOM) edged up 0.6% to $6.82, trading at a modest volume despite a recent earnings miss and insider sales. The company, which licenses thin‑film technologies for the semiconductor industry, also saw its institutional investors increase holdings in the quarter.

Both companies are U.S.-based semiconductor firms whose recent stock movements reflect broader analyst optimism in the sector.