Check your likely Japan PR eligibility
Use the calculator to estimate your points before you plan your next step.
ASML reported first-quarter 2026 net sales of €8.8 billion and raised its full-year revenue outlook on April 15, after record order intake driven by accelerating AI infrastructure investment sent U.S.-listed shares up roughly 4% in premarket trading.
Key developments
-
Earnings beat the high end on margins: Net income reached €2.8 billion on €8.8 billion in sales, with a gross margin of 53.0%—at the top of the company's guided range—and basic earnings per share of €7.15.
-
Record backlog and raised outlook: ASML lifted its full-year 2026 net sales forecast to €36–40 billion, up from €34–39 billion, citing sustained AI-driven capacity expansion by major foundries and memory makers. The order backlog is estimated at €38–45 billion, bolstered by SK Hynix placing an order exceeding €8 billion for EUV lithography systems.
-
New share buyback and higher dividend: The company announced a new €12 billion share repurchase program over three years, having already completed €7.6 billion of its prior €12 billion buyback. ASML also proposed a 2025 full-year dividend of €7.50 per ordinary share, a 17% increase over 2024.
-
China share declines sharply: Sales to China fell to 19% of total net sales, down from 36% the prior quarter, as tightening U.S. export controls continued to limit shipments of certain lithography tools. Memory customers in South Korea and Taiwan offset that decline, accounting for 51% of Q1 net system sales—up from 30% the prior quarter.
What to watch
ASML guided Q2 2026 net sales of €8.4–9.0 billion with a gross margin of 51–52%. The primary risk to monitor is U.S. export control policy: proposed legislation could further restrict DUV tool exports to China, a scenario the company has acknowledged could represent a material revenue headwind if fully enacted.
The next formal update will be ASML's Q2 2026 earnings release, expected in mid-July. Progress on the SK Hynix EUV delivery schedule and any new regulatory announcements on semiconductor equipment trade will be closely tracked by investors in the interim.
Sources
About this content
Japan PR Checker
Japan Permanent Residency Checker - Check your eligibility for Japan PR in minutes!
Want the practical next step?
If you are comparing routes, timelines, or likely eligibility, use the calculator now so your planning starts from a clearer baseline.
Recommended next reads
Foreign investors swing back into Japanese stocks after March selloff
Japan's latest securities flow data showed overseas investors returned to local equities in early April, reversing part of March's heavy selling.
Japanese stocks surge after U.S.-Iran ceasefire as Tokyo pushes for a lasting deal
The Nikkei 225 jumped 5.38% on April 8, 2026, after a two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire, while Japan welcomed the truce and called for secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.