Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 24th, 2026

Fifth Third Bancorp raised its position in shares of Amkor Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMKR – Free Report) by 2,046.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 32,856 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after purchasing an additional 31,325 shares during the quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp’s holdings in Amkor Technology were worth $1,479,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AMKR. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Amkor Technology by 180.3% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 684 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 440 shares during the period. Root Financial Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Amkor Technology by 38.8% in the fourth quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC now owns 937 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 262 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc boosted its position in Amkor Technology by 91.2% during the third quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 937 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 447 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming bought a new stake in Amkor Technology during the fourth quarter valued at $41,000. Finally, Quarry LP acquired a new stake in Amkor Technology during the 4th quarter worth about $42,000. Institutional investors own 42.76% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Amkor Technology Here are the key news stories impacting Amkor Technology this week:

Positive Sentiment: Amkor announced a multi-year strategic partnership with NVIDIA to expand advanced semiconductor packaging and test capacity in the U.S. for AI infrastructure. NVIDIA will also provide a prepayment to help fund the expansion, and Reuters reported the deal is worth $1.5 billion, which should support revenue visibility and strengthen Amkor’s role in AI chip supply chains. Article Title Positive Sentiment: Market coverage noted the NVIDIA deal helped send Amkor shares sharply higher intraday, reflecting investor enthusiasm around the company’s exposure to AI hardware spending and long-term packaging demand. Article Title Neutral Sentiment: Despite the strategic win, a Zacks-style market recap said Amkor was still down relative to the broader market in the latest session, suggesting some profit-taking or volatility after the big move. Article Title Neutral Sentiment: Analyst sentiment has been mixed: B. Riley cut its price target to $75 and kept a neutral rating, while Zacks Research upgraded the stock to strong-buy, indicating no clear consensus on near-term upside. Article Title Insider Activity at Amkor Technology In related news, Director Guillaume Marie Jean Rutten sold 50,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.28, for a total value of $3,714,000.00. Following the sale, the director owned 502,558 shares in the company, valued at $37,330,008.24. This represents a 9.05% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Winston J. Churchill sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.20, for a total transaction of $391,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 28,781 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,250,674.20. The trade was a 14.80% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 114,000 shares of company stock valued at $8,631,450 over the last quarter. 26.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have recently weighed in on AMKR shares. Melius Research raised Amkor Technology from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $60.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, April 6th. Zacks Research raised Amkor Technology from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Amkor Technology in a report on Friday, July 17th. UBS Group reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $80.00 price target on shares of Amkor Technology in a research note on Tuesday, May 26th. Finally, B. Riley Financial cut their price target on Amkor Technology from $90.00 to $75.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $68.00.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Amkor Technology

Amkor Technology Stock Performance Shares of Amkor Technology stock opened at $65.33 on Friday. Amkor Technology, Inc. has a one year low of $20.86 and a one year high of $96.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.33 and a beta of 2.20. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $73.47 and a 200 day simple moving average of $60.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 2.01 and a quick ratio of 1.74.

Amkor Technology (NASDAQ:AMKR – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 27th. The semiconductor company reported $0.33 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.23 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $1.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.63 billion. Amkor Technology had a return on equity of 9.88% and a net margin of 6.17%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 27.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.09 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Amkor Technology, Inc. will post 2.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Amkor Technology Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 23rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, June 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.0835 per share. This represents a $0.33 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 3rd. Amkor Technology’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 18.86%.

Amkor Technology Company Profile (Free Report)

Amkor Technology, Inc (NASDAQ:AMKR) is a leading provider of outsourced semiconductor packaging and test (OSAT) services, supporting integrated device manufacturers and semiconductor foundries worldwide. The company offers a broad range of advanced packaging solutions, including wafer bumping, flip chip, system-in-package and ball grid array technologies, designed to meet the performance, power and form-factor demands of applications across consumer electronics, automotive, communications and industrial markets.

In addition to packaging, Amkor delivers comprehensive test services such as wafer probing, final test, system-level test and digital, analog and mixed-signal testing, enabling customers to accelerate time-to-market and reduce total costs.

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SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LG Chem (KRX: 051910) announced on July 16 that it has begun mass production and supply of semiconductor strippers to Amkor Technology, marking the company’s first entry into the semiconductor stripper market and accelerating its strategy to expand its semiconductor materials business.

Through our collaboration with Amkor, a world-class semiconductor packaging and testing company, we will further strengthen our competitiveness in delivering customized materials optimized for customers’ manufacturing processes.

Share Amkor Technology is a global leader in outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT), providing semiconductor packaging and testing services to leading semiconductor manufacturers worldwide.

A semiconductor stripper is a critical process material used to remove photoresist (PR) and residue remaining on semiconductor substrates after circuit patterning. As semiconductor circuits continue to shrink, residue removal performance has become increasingly important, directly affecting manufacturing yield and product reliability. As a result, stripper performance is considered a key factor in determining semiconductor quality.

LG Chem entered the semiconductor stripper market by leveraging the technological expertise and customer support capabilities it developed through its display stripper business. The company demonstrated its technology’s competitiveness by successfully passing the rigorous qualification process required by Amkor, a leading global OSAT customer, with its first semiconductor stripper product.

The stripper supplied to Amkor has been customized and optimized for the company’s new production line. Compared with existing products, it reduces the process time required to remove photoresist and process residue by approximately 50%, significantly improving manufacturing efficiency.

Demand for advanced process materials continues to grow as artificial intelligence (AI) investments and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) demand drive the expansion of advanced semiconductor packaging technologies.

Kim Dong Choon, CEO of LG Chem, said, “Through our collaboration with Amkor, a world-class semiconductor packaging and testing company, we will further strengthen our competitiveness in delivering customized materials optimized for customers’ manufacturing processes.”

Earlier this year, LG Chem announced a strategy to more than double the size of its electronics materials business. As part of this initiative, the company is expanding its semiconductor packaging materials portfolio — including copper-clad laminates (CCL), die attach films (DAF), and photo imageable dielectric (PID) — while accelerating the growth of its high-value-added electronic materials business.

More News From LG Chem, Ltd.

Key Takeaways Amkor is benefiting from rising semiconductor content in premium smartphones powered by on-device AI.AMKR expects Q2 communications revenues to rise mid to high single digits sequentially.Amkor sees premium smartphones, AI, HPC and automotive supporting long-term packaging demand. Amkor Technology (AMKR - Free Report) continues to draw strength from resilient premium smartphone demand, a trend that is directly benefiting its communications business. As device makers pack in more on-device AI, higher-performance application processors, upgraded camera systems, and more advanced 5G connectivity, semiconductor content per handset keeps climbing. This rising complexity is fueling demand for advanced packaging solutions, a space where Amkor is well-positioned to capture growth. The communications segment posted 42% year over year revenue growth in the first quarter of 2026, and management expects sequential growth in the mid to high single digits for the second quarter, reflecting sustained momentum across premium iOS and Android devices.

Amkor's packaging portfolio adds further weight to this opportunity. The company supports application processors, modems, RF front-end modules, memory, sensors and system-in-package solutions, giving it broad exposure across the components that define premium smartphone performance. Semiconductor content in premium smartphones is expected to rise from around $225 currently to nearly $400 over the next several years, driven by richer AI functionality and deeper integration. This expansion should widen Amkor's addressable market and reinforce long-term demand for its advanced packaging technologies.

Premium smartphones are expected to remain a key growth driver for Amkor, supported by its wide reach across leading smartphone platforms and differentiated packaging capabilities. Combined with expanding opportunities in AI, high-performance computing and automotive applications, this positions Amkor to sustain its growth trajectory, with premium smartphone demand set to remain a steady tailwind ahead.

How Amkor Stacks Up Against PeersAmkor is benefiting from the growing semiconductor content in premium smartphones, a trend that is also supporting peers ASE Technology (ASX - Free Report) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM - Free Report) .

ASE Technology continues to expand its advanced system in package and flip chip solutions to support increasingly sophisticated flagship smartphones, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is scaling advanced packaging capacity for next-generation smartphone application processors. Like ASE Technology and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Amkor is well positioned to benefit as smartphone manufacturers integrate more AI features, advanced processors and enhanced connectivity into premium devices. Continued investments by ASX and TSM highlight the robust demand outlook for advanced packaging in premium smartphones, reinforcing Amkor's long-term growth opportunity.

AMKR’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesAmkor shares have surged 78.5% in the year-to-date period compared with the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry’s appreciation of 50.3% and the Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s return of 17%.

AMKR’s Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Amkor stock is trading at a forward 12-month price/sales of 2.2X compared with the industry’s 9.33X. AMKR has a Value Score of C.

AMKR’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMKR’s second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at 47 cents per share, indicating growth of 113.64% year over year.

AMKR currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Key Takeaways ASE Technology and Amkor are benefiting as AI demand lifts advanced chip packaging.ASE Technology's ATM revenues hit a record NT$112.4B, rising nearly 30% in Q1 2026.Amkor posted record Q1 revenues of $1.68B, up 27%, with EPS climbing to $0.33. Artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing are driving unprecedented demand for advanced semiconductor packaging, making outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) providers increasingly important to the semiconductor value chain. ASE Technology Holding (ASX - Free Report) and Amkor Technology (AMKR - Free Report) are two global leaders benefiting from this trend, with both reporting strong first-quarter 2026 results and expanding their advanced packaging capabilities.

While both companies are well-positioned to capitalize on the AI-driven packaging cycle, differences in their growth outlook, profitability and earnings trajectory could determine which stock offers superior long-term returns. Let's dive deep and closely compare the fundamentals of the two stocks to determine which one is a better investment now.

The Case for ASE Technology StockASE Technology continues to strengthen its leadership in advanced semiconductor packaging as AI demand reshapes the industry. The company reported first-quarter 2026 revenues of NT$173.7 billion, up 17% year over year, while its Assembly, Testing and Material (ATM) business delivered record revenues of NT$112.4 billion, increasing nearly 30%. Even during a seasonally weak quarter, ATM revenues grew sequentially as demand for AI-related products remained exceptionally strong. Gross margin expanded to 20.1%, and operating income jumped 81% year over year.

AI has become ASE Technology's biggest growth engine. Management noted that AI workloads are reducing the traditional seasonality of the packaging business, with strong demand across LEAP advanced packaging, traditional advanced packaging and wirebond solutions. Computing applications continue to represent a growing portion of revenues as AI accelerators, high-bandwidth memory and advanced processors require increasingly sophisticated packaging technologies.

To support future demand, ASE Technology continues to expand LEAP capacity despite higher near-term depreciation expenses. Management expects newly installed production lines to ramp up primarily during the fourth quarter, supporting sequential margin expansion through the remainder of 2026. The company also benefits from its integrated packaging, testing and EMS operations, diversified customer base and improving factory utilization, all of which strengthen its competitive position.

The primary risks stem from elevated capital expenditures, higher depreciation during capacity expansion, foreign exchange volatility and geopolitical uncertainties. Nevertheless, these appear manageable considering the robust structural demand for AI packaging.

The Case for Amkor StockAmkor has also entered 2026 with considerable momentum. First-quarter revenues reached a record $1.68 billion, increasing 27% year over year as broad-based demand lifted every major end market. Improved factory utilization, growing advanced packaging programs and disciplined execution helped earnings per share climb to 33 cents from 9 cents a year ago.

Advanced packaging remains the centerpiece of Amkor's long-term strategy. Management continues investing heavily in HDFO, flip-chip packaging and advanced testing technologies to support AI servers and data-center processors. Several AI-focused customer programs are expected to ramp up during the second half of 2026, while the company believes advanced packaging will remain its primary long-term growth engine.

Amkor is simultaneously expanding its manufacturing footprint. Construction of its advanced packaging facility in Arizona remains on schedule, while additional manufacturing capacity in Korea will support growing AI infrastructure demand. These investments strengthen relationships with leading semiconductor customers seeking geographically diversified supply chains.

However, Amkor's investment cycle also creates challenges. The company expects capital expenditures of $2.5-$3 billion this year, which will pressure free cash flow in the near term. Export controls, geopolitical uncertainty, supply constraints involving advanced silicon and substrates, and rising material costs also remain important execution risks.

ASE Technology Leads the Performance RaceBoth stocks have significantly outperformed the broader semiconductor industry this year as investors increasingly favor AI infrastructure beneficiaries. ASE Technology shares have surged 149.8% year to date, comfortably ahead of Amkor's impressive 99.4% gain. Both stocks have substantially outperformed the Zacks Electronics-Semiconductors industry's 48.6% return, the Zacks Computer and Technology sector's 13.1% gain and the S&P 500's 7.2% advance.

ASX vs AMKR Price Performance (YTD)

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The strength extends across semiconductor infrastructure stocks. Applied Materials (AMAT - Free Report) and KLA Corporation (KLAC - Free Report) have also benefited from AI-driven semiconductor investment and advanced manufacturing demand, rising 143.9% and 104.6% YTD, respectively. However, ASE Technology has delivered the strongest stock performance among this group, highlighting investor confidence in its AI packaging growth strategy.

ASX vs AMKR: Valuation ComparisonFollowing their strong rallies, both stocks trade at premiums to the industry average. ASE Technology currently trades at 35.33X forward 12-month earnings, slightly below Amkor's 37.11X, while the Zacks Electronics-Semiconductors industry trades at 33.61X.

ASX vs AMKR Valuation (P/E F12M)

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Compared with semiconductor equipment leaders AMAT (42.78X) and KLAC (50.18X), both ASE Technology and Amkor continue to command healthy valuations as investors increasingly recognize advanced packaging as one of the fastest-growing segments of the semiconductor supply chain. Even so, ASE Technology offers the more attractive valuation of the two while also providing stronger projected earnings growth.

Analysts Continue Raising Earnings EstimatesAnalysts have become increasingly optimistic about both companies, though ASE Technology enjoys stronger long-term growth expectations.

Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for ASE Technology's 2026 earnings has increased to 84 cents per share from 77 cents. Analysts expect earnings per share (EPS) to grow 47.4% on 19.6% revenue growth this year, followed by another 73.2% earnings increase on 22.4% revenue growth in 2027.

ASX Estimate Revision Trend

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Amkor has also witnessed positive estimate revisions, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS increasing to $2.08 from $1.94 over the past 60 days. Analysts currently expect 38.7% earnings growth on 13.2% revenue growth in 2026. However, growth is projected to moderate sharply in 2027, with EPS expected to increase just 3.7% on 9% revenue growth.

AMKR Estimate Revision Trend

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ASE Technology's stronger earnings trajectory reflects its larger exposure to AI-driven advanced packaging and suggests greater operating leverage as new capacity ramps.

Which Stock Offers Better Upside?Both ASE Technology and Amkor stand to benefit from the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure, advanced chip architectures and increasing semiconductor packaging complexity. Both companies delivered impressive first-quarter results, continue investing aggressively in advanced packaging capacity and maintain strong relationships with leading semiconductor customers.

However, ASE Technology currently appears to be the stronger investment. The company offers faster revenue growth, superior margin profile, stronger AI-driven ATM momentum, a slightly lower valuation and meaningfully better long-term earnings growth expectations. Its expanding LEAP platform and improving profitability further strengthen its competitive position as AI packaging demand accelerates.

Amkor, having a favorable Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), remains a compelling long-term semiconductor packaging company with solid execution and expanding global capacity. Nevertheless, ASE Technology's stronger fundamentals and better earnings outlook give it the edge as the better chip packaging stock for investors seeking greater upside from the ongoing AI infrastructure buildout. ASE Technology currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.