Applied Materials Rockets 98% in 2026: How Does AMAT Compare to Lam Research and KLA as AI Capex Powers Chip Gear Stocks?

Chip equipment stocks have surged far ahead of the broader tech market in 2026, but a single week of doubts about AI spending just wiped billions in gains across the group. Here is what the gap between Applied Materials, Lam Research, and KLA signals about where the trade goes next.