ASML Holding NV (ASML.US) tumbled over 7% in pre-market trading, hitting $764.25 per share. The semiconductor equipment giant reported robust second-quarter results, with net sales soaring to €7.69 billion and net profit reaching €2.29 billion. Gross margin climbed to 53.7%, exceeding market projections across all key metrics. Order bookings surged 41% quarter-over-quarter to €5.54 billion, outpacing consensus estimates of €4.8 billion.
Despite these strong figures, CEO Christophe Fouquet struck a cautious note during the earnings call. While acknowledging that AI-driven customer demand fundamentals remain solid through 2026, he highlighted mounting uncertainties from macroeconomic volatility and geopolitical tensions. "We continue preparing for 2026 expansion," Fouquet stated, "but cannot currently confirm whether actual growth will materialize given these evolving headwinds." This unexpected guidance overshadowed the stellar quarterly performance, triggering significant investor retreat ahead of the market open.