Applied Materials, Inc. ( AMAT ) shares are trading higher by 1.44% to $187.25 during Thursday’s session. Shares of several semiconductor and chip companies saw a lift on Thursday following a strong earnings report from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).

What Happened: TSMC's impressive quarterly results, driven by a 39% revenue increase year-over-year and strong demand for advanced chips, fueled positive sentiment across the semiconductor industry, benefiting companies like Applied Materials ( AMAT ).

As a leading supplier of equipment used in semiconductor manufacturing, Applied Materials ( AMAT ) is closely tied to the fortunes of chipmakers like TSMC. With TSMC ramping up production of its advanced 3-nanometer and 5-nanometer chips to meet surging demand in AI and smartphones, the demand for Applied Materials' ( AMAT ) tools is expected to grow.

The company plays a critical role in enabling the production of these next-generation chips, positioning it to capitalize on the ongoing expansion in high-performance chip manufacturing.

TSMC's stronger-than-expected guidance for the next quarter further bolstered optimism in the sector. As a result, Applied Materials’ stock rose in early trading, as investors anticipate robust demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, driven by the growth in AI and advanced data processing technologies.

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How To Buy AMAT Stock

Besides going to a brokerage platform to purchase a share – or fractional share – of stock, you can also gain access to shares either by buying an exchange traded fund (ETF) that holds the stock itself, or by allocating yourself to a strategy in your 401(k) that would seek to acquire shares in a mutual fund or other instrument.

For example, in Applied Materials’ case, it is in the Information Technology sector. An ETF will likely hold shares in many liquid and large companies that help track that sector, allowing an investor to gain exposure to the trends within that segment.

According to data from Benzinga Pro, AMAT has a 52-week high of $255.89 and a 52-week low of $129.23.