Dutch lithography equipment giant ASML Holding NV reported third-quarter new orders doubled compared to the same period last year.

ASML Holding NV secured new orders worth €5.4 billion (approximately $6.27 billion) in the third quarter, doubling from €2.63 billion in the same period last year and exceeding market expectations of €5.36 billion. This surge reflects the sustained spike in demand for advanced chip manufacturing equipment driven by the global AI computing investment wave.

EUV lithography machine orders reached €3.6 billion, significantly surpassing analysts' estimates of €2.22 billion and serving as the primary performance driver. ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet stated: "AI-related investments maintain strong momentum and have expanded to more customers."

Boosted by the AI industry chain, ASML's stock has risen nearly 25% year-to-date, maintaining its position as Europe's largest company by market capitalization. Collaborations including NVIDIA and Intel's joint development of data center and personal computing chips, Samsung's AI infrastructure partnership with OpenAI, and AMD's announcement of joint AI data center development with OpenAI are all viewed as precursors to ASML's order growth.

The company confirmed its 2025 sales target of approximately 15% growth to €32.5 billion with a gross margin of about 52%. This quarter's revenue reached €7.52 billion, slightly below market expectations but aligned with guidance; net profit hit €2.13 billion, beating expectations; gross margin achieved 51.6%, reaching the upper limit of company guidance.

ASML also anticipates that EUV equipment demand will continue rising next year, while demand for lower-end DUV equipment will decline, particularly in Asian markets.

Fouquet noted that the semiconductor tariff cap agreement (15% ceiling) reached between the EU and US brings short-term stability to transatlantic trade. The company expects fourth-quarter revenue to range between €9.2 billion and €9.8 billion, with gross margins between 51% and 53%.