ASML hikes outlook for 2026 as AI keeps driving chip demand; €2.9 billion profit in Q2
ASML has increased its outlook for 2026 after a solid second quarter in which AI developments continued to drive the demand for chips, the Dutch chip machine maker announced with its quarterly results on Wednesday.
In the second quarter, ASML booked €9.326 billion in net sales and a profit of €2.918 billion, up from €8767 billion and €2.575 billion in the previous quarter. CEO Christophe Fouquet is pleased with the second quarter results, pointing out that both net sales and gross margin came in above guidance.
The company expects sales between €11 billion and €12 billion for quarter three, and net sales between €43 billion and €45 billion for the entire year 2026.
“Ongoing AI-related investments and continued progress in AI technologies are driving demand for advanced Logic and Memory chips, further strengthening the semiconductor industry's growth outlook,” Fouquet said.
The AI boom is driving tech companies worldwide to build data centers at a rapid pace. As the world’s only producer of very advanced chip-making lithography systems, ASML’s products are essential for these expansion plans. ASML is receiving more orders across its product portfolio. The chip machine maker is therefore planning to further increase its production capacity for both its most advanced EUV machines and its second-tier DUV machines.
“Our order intake remained extremely strong in the first half of the year. Based on this momentum, we are planning to add 30% to our 2026 low NA EUV capacity of around 65 for 2027, and we are investigating to increase capacity with another 30% for 2028. Similarly, we plan to add 30% to our 2026 DUV immersion capacity of around 130 for 2027, and we are investigating to increase capacity with another 30% in 2028. In addition, we are continuing to significantly expand our upgrade portfolio,” Foquet said.
