ASML reports record third-quarter sales and narrows 2026 outlook
ASML Holding (NASDAQ: ASML), the Dutch maker of equipment used to produce semiconductors, reported its third-quarter 2026 results on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Total net sales reached a record €11.7 billion, towards the high end of the company's guidance of €11.0 billion to €12.0 billion.
Third-quarter results
According to ASML's results release:
- total net sales were €11,662 million, compared with €9,326 million in the second quarter
- gross margin was 57.5%, above the guided range of 55% to 57% and up from 54.0% in the second quarter
- net income was €4,960 million, or €12.95 per share (basic)
- Installed Base Management sales, which come from servicing and upgrading machines already installed at customers, were €3,289 million
- ASML sold 113 new and 8 used lithography systems in the quarter
Chief executive Christophe Fouquet described the quarter as delivering "record total net sales of €11.7 billion".
Outlook
For the fourth quarter of 2026, ASML expects total net sales of €14.2 billion to €15.2 billion and a gross margin of around 57%. It expects research and development costs of around €1.2 billion and selling, general and administrative costs of around €0.4 billion.
For the full year 2026, the company now expects total net sales of €44 billion to €45 billion, compared with its previous range of €43 billion to €45 billion, and a gross margin of around 56%.
ASML also said it expects currently planned supply to fall short of customer demand in both 2027 and 2028, and that it is investigating ways to increase 2028 capacity beyond the 30% increase it had previously communicated. These are company expectations and may change.
Capital returns
ASML said it repurchased shares worth about €4.1 billion in the third quarter under its 2026–2028 buyback programme. It also declared an interim 2026 dividend of €1.88 per ordinary share, payable on November 4, 2026.
About ASML
ASML, based in Veldhoven in the Netherlands, makes lithography systems that print circuit patterns onto silicon wafers. It is the only commercial producer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems, which are used to make the most advanced chips. Its customers include the world's largest chipmakers, and its results are widely followed as an indicator of investment in chip manufacturing capacity.
No more quarterly orders
From 2026, ASML no longer reports quarterly order bookings, a figure investors previously used to gauge future demand. As a result, attention has shifted to the company's sales guidance and its comments on demand and capacity.
How the quarter compares
Third-quarter net sales were about 25% higher than in the second quarter, and the gross margin improved by 3.5 percentage points over the same period. The fourth-quarter guidance implies a further increase in sales from the third quarter. Quarterly results for equipment makers can vary depending on when systems are shipped and accepted by customers.
What to watch
Key items for the coming months include whether fourth-quarter sales fall within the €14.2 billion to €15.2 billion range, the company's first guidance for 2027, and any updates on capacity expansion and export restrictions on chip equipment.
Risks and uncertainties
ASML's results can be affected by changes in chipmakers' investment plans, the timing of system deliveries, export controls and trade restrictions, supply chain constraints and currency movements. Guidance is based on the company's current expectations, and actual results may differ materially. Semiconductor equipment stocks can be volatile.
What this means for investors
For Investing.one users following ASML, the record quarter and the updated 2026 outlook may be relevant. The figures above are reported results and company guidance; past results do not indicate future performance.
Sources
- ASML Q3 2026 press release (GlobeNewswire)
- ASML release (via StockTitan)
- ASML Q2 2026 release (SEC 6-K)
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