Bernstein has issued an Outperform rating for six leading semiconductor equipment companies from China and the US, according to the Global Semiconductor Equipment Monthly Tracker released on July 1. The report maintains a forecast for global wafer fab equipment (WFE) growth of 21.4% in 2026 and 18.2% in 2027, driven by DRAM and NAND capital expenditures. The companies rated include Applied Materials, Lam Research, KLA, Naura Technology, AMEC, and Piotech. Additionally, Japan's Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan (SEAJ) reported a May equipment shipment value of 420 billion yen, marking an 11% year-on-year increase and an 18% rise in the three-month moving average, highlighting a positive trend in the sector.