ASE Technology (ASX), a leading semiconductor manufacturing services provider, saw its stock price surge 6.38% in pre-market trading on Friday. The significant uptick comes on the heels of the company's impressive third-quarter earnings report for 2025 and a notable analyst upgrade.

The company's Q3 2025 financial results substantially exceeded market expectations. Net income attributable to shareholders reached NT$10,870 million, up from NT$9,733 million year-over-year. Earnings per share (EPS) came in at NT$2.50 (US$0.168 per ADS), significantly surpassing analysts' projections of NT$2.01. Total net revenues for the quarter increased by 5.3% year-over-year to NT$168,569 million.

ASE Technology's core assembly, testing, and materials (ATM) operations showed particularly strong growth, with net revenues rising 16.9% year-over-year to NT$100,289 million. The company also demonstrated improved profitability, with gross margin expanding to 17.1% and operating margin increasing to 7.8% in Q3.

Adding fuel to the stock's rise, Nomura analyst Aaron Jeng upgraded ASE Technology from Neutral to Buy, while substantially raising the price target from NT$150 to NT$260. This upgrade, coupled with the strong earnings report, underscores growing confidence in ASE Technology's market position and future prospects in the semiconductor industry. The company's ability to capitalize on increasing demand for semiconductor manufacturing services and its strategic importance in the global tech supply chain appear to be key factors driving investor enthusiasm.