ASML lifts sales outlook after record €11.66 billion quarter
The Dutch semiconductor equipment maker says its production plans cannot meet expected customer demand in 2027 and 2028.
ASML reported a quarterly sales record of €11.66 billion for the third quarter, 55 per cent above the year-earlier level, and increased the lower end of its 2026 revenue guidance. The Netherlands-based company also warned that rising orders linked to artificial intelligence investment would exceed its planned production in 2027 and 2028.
For 2026, ASML forecasts sales between €44 billion and €45 billion, compared with its previous range of €43 billion to €45 billion. Its gross margin expectation is now around 56 per cent rather than 54–56 per cent. Revenue guidance for the fourth quarter is €14.2–15.2 billion.
Third-quarter net income was €5 billion, more than double the result a year earlier. A gain of €510 million on stakes in other companies helped lift earnings. Gross margin reached 57.5 per cent, exceeding ASML’s forecast, chiefly because servicing and upgrading installed machines generated €3.3 billion in sales.
Customers are revising equipment requirements upwards as they assess the likely scale and duration of AI investment, ASML said. Some want to reserve equipment for 2029 or 2030.
In July, ASML announced a 30 per cent capacity expansion for 2027 covering low-NA extreme ultraviolet (EUV) machines and deep ultraviolet (DUV) immersion machines. It was also examining a further increase of 30 per cent for 2028. Chief executive Christophe Fouquet said it is now exploring options to take 2028 capacity beyond that increase.
