Insider Trading February 24, 2026

Applied Materials CAO Sells $202K in Shares, Retains Majority of Holdings as RSUs Vest Over Time

Controller and CAO Adam Sanders disposed of 534 shares on Feb. 24, 2026; analysts have raised price targets amid strong semiconductor equipment demand

By Ajmal Hussain AMAT
Applied Materials CAO Sells $202K in Shares, Retains Majority of Holdings as RSUs Vest Over Time
AMAT

Applied Materials Controller and Chief Accounting Officer Adam Sanders sold 534 shares on February 24, 2026, generating proceeds of $202,471. After the sale he retains 4,625 shares, the bulk of which are restricted stock units scheduled to convert in installments from April 2026 through January 2030, subject to continued employment. Separately, several analyst firms have lifted price targets and ratings, while InvestingPro flags the stock as appearing overvalued versus its Fair Value based on its P/E of 38.7.

Key Points

  • Applied Materials Controller and CAO Adam Sanders sold 534 shares on February 24, 2026 for $379.16 each, totaling $202,471.
  • After the sale, Sanders retains 4,625 shares, including 4,489 restricted stock units that vest in installments from April 2026 through January 2030, contingent on continued employment.
  • Analysts at TD Cowen, RBC Capital, Craig-Hallum, Needham, and Summit Insights recently raised price targets or upgraded ratings, reflecting bullish expectations for semiconductor equipment demand; InvestingPro indicates the stock appears overvalued relative to its Fair Value given a P/E of 38.7.

Adam Sanders, who serves as Controller and Chief Accounting Officer at Applied Materials, Inc., sold 534 shares of the company's common stock on February 24, 2026. The shares traded at $379.16 apiece, producing a transaction value of $202,471.

Following that sale, Sanders directly holds 4,625 shares of Applied Materials common stock. Of those, 4,489 are restricted stock units that will convert on a one-for-one basis into common shares as they vest. The vesting schedule for those RSUs is set to distribute installments beginning in April 2026 and continuing through January 2030. All vesting is contingent on continued employment through each applicable vesting date.


Valuation snapshot

Applied Materials currently trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.7. InvestingPro's analysis, cited in relation to the company, indicates the stock appears overvalued compared with its Fair Value. Investors interested in more detailed coverage are directed to AMAT's Pro Research Report, which is one of the research products available on the platform.


Recent analyst moves

Multiple brokerages and research firms have recently updated their views on Applied Materials, lifting price targets and, in some cases, ratings.

  • TD Cowen raised its price target to $450 and maintained a Buy rating, citing upside tied to growth in the semiconductor systems market.
  • RBC Capital boosted its price target to $430, pointing to strong results driven by a robust wafer fabrication equipment environment and secular technology trends.
  • Craig-Hallum upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy and set a price target of $450, based on expectations for strong growth in semiconductor equipment.
  • Needham increased its price target to $440 and kept a Buy rating, noting recent quarterly results as a material positive.
  • Summit Insights upgraded Applied Materials to Buy, citing anticipated substantial spending in areas such as artificial intelligence and smartphones.

Collectively these analyst actions signal a consensus view among the firms mentioned that Applied Materials occupies a favorable position within its market, according to the information provided.


What the filing shows and what remains unchanged

The transaction details reported show a routine insider sale of a relatively small block of shares in relation to Sanders' remaining direct holdings, much of which are held as time-vesting RSUs. The RSU conversion timetable and the condition that vesting is subject to continued employment are explicitly noted in the filing. Separately, market valuation metrics and the referenced analyst updates provide context on how the broader market and selected research firms are viewing the company at this time.

Risks

  • Vesting of the majority of Sanders' remaining holdings is contingent on continued employment, creating timing and retention uncertainty for eventual share conversion - this affects the individual insider's future holding schedule.
  • InvestingPro's assessment that Applied Materials appears overvalued relative to its Fair Value, combined with a P/E of 38.7, highlights valuation risk for investors considering new positions.
  • Analyst price-target and rating changes reflect expectations about semiconductor equipment spending; shifts in that demand environment or in quarterly results could alter these outlooks and market sentiment.

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