Applied Materials, Lam Research, and Teradyne drop 4-5% amid lower-than-expected AI infrastructure spending projections from Anthropic.
Shares of Applied Materials, Lam Research, and Teradyne fell 4-5% Wednesday, driven by concerns over AI capital expenditure repricing. Applied Materials dropped to $494.82, erasing gains from a 101% YTD rally through Tuesday’s close, while Lam Research and Teradyne followed suit in a broader pullback among chip equipment providers.
The selloff contrasts with a decline in long-end Treasury yields, suggesting the move is tied to AI-specific fundamentals rather than macro conditions. Anthropic’s $65 billion annualized run rate and 2028 revenue forecast of $190-$200 billion fell short of investor expectations, undermining confidence in near-term AI infrastructure demand.
The downturn is concentrated in picks-and-shovels suppliers, which have led the AI trade this year but now face pressure as growth projections soften. The NASDAQ-listed SOXX ETF’s 77% YTD gain masks stress in pure-play equipment names like KLA, which also declined 4%.