Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) has surged 78% in the past year, driven by recent upgrades from Mizuho and Deutsche Bank, which boosted their price targets significantly. The stock is now rated 'Outperform' and 'Buy' following a strong earnings report for Q4 fiscal 2025 that exceeded expectations and a positive Q1 fiscal 2026 topline forecast of $6.85 billion. Analysts project continued growth, citing rising demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment and increased capital expenditures from key clients like TSMC.