AI boom: ASML posts record sales and says it cannot build machines fast enough
The chip equipment maker posted third-quarter sales of 11.7 billion euros and net income of 5.0 billion euros. ASML said planned output for 2027 and 2028 will not fully meet demand.
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Dutch chip equipment maker ASML posted record third-quarter sales of 11.7 billion euros, up more than half from 7.5 billion euros a year earlier. Net income rose to 5.0 billion euros from 2.9 billion euros in the previous quarter, and the gross margin of 57.5% beat the company's own guidance. ASML said this was driven mainly by strong demand for upgrades and service on installed machines, which contributed 3.3 billion euros.
For the fourth quarter, ASML expects sales of 14.2 billion to 15.2 billion euros. It narrowed its 2026 forecast to 44 billion to 45 billion euros from 43 billion to 45 billion euros. Driven by investment in artificial intelligence, some customers are already expressing interest in placing orders for 2029 and even 2030, the company said.
Planned supply for 2027 and 2028 will not fully meet customer demand, ASML said. CEO Christophe Fouquet said ASML is "investigating ways to increase capacity for 2028 beyond the 30% increase" it had announced. ASML is the world's only maker of EUV lithography systems used to produce the most advanced chips.