Matsuda Sangyo and Applied Materials drive semiconductor and recycling market interest

Matsuda Sangyo saw its stock hit the daily upper limit following an upward revision of its earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2027. The company raised its consolidated net sales forecast from 700 billion yen to 740 billion yen and its operating profit from 24 billion yen to 28.5 billion yen, driven by higher-than-expected precious metal recycling volumes in the electronic device sector.

In the semiconductor equipment sector, attention is turning toward Applied Materials (AMAT) ahead of its earnings report. Following strong guidance from competitors Lam Research and Tokyo Electron, which both projected system shipment growth of over 30%, analysts are evaluating AMAT's position. Morgan Stanley noted that while AMAT has a high exposure to the DRAM market—comprising 31% of its 2026 portfolio—the company is well-positioned for significant growth throughout 2026, with total system shipment growth potentially reaching 44% for the year.