ASML Holding, the Dutch company that makes the machines that make the chips that power basically everything, is closing in on a $1 trillion market capitalization. If it crosses that threshold, it would become the first European company to join the twelve-figure club.
The company reported €9.3 billion in sales for Q2 2026, alongside €2.9 billion in net income. Those numbers were strong enough that ASML revised its full-year outlook upward, citing tight AI chip capacity as a key driver. CEO Christophe Fouquet announced plans to increase production capacity by 30%, a move designed to keep pace with demand that shows no signs of cooling.
The machine behind the machines
ASML holds a near-monopoly on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems. It’s the only company on Earth capable of manufacturing the tools required to etch transistors small enough for cutting-edge AI processors. Its client list reads like a semiconductor hall of fame: TSMC, Samsung, and Intel, the foundries that produce chips for NVIDIA and other AI-focused companies.
That monopoly position translated into €7.09 billion in bookings in early 2025, a record driven by surging requirements from both the AI sector and cryptocurrency mining hardware.
