'AI Boom' Drives ASML to Record 56 Trillion Won in Sales Last Year

High-NA EUV Revenue Recognized
Order Backlog Reaches Approximately 66 Trillion Won
"AI Demand Surges, Driving Revenue Growth"

ASML, the world's leading semiconductor equipment manufacturer based in the Netherlands, achieved record-breaking results last year, driven by revenue recognition from its latest lithography equipment, the High-NA EUV.

On January 28, ASML announced that its total net sales for the previous year reached 32.667 billion euros (approximately 55.8 trillion won), with net profit at 9.609 billion euros (about 16.4 trillion won). These figures represent increases of 15.6% and 26.9%, respectively, compared to the previous year, marking all-time highs for the company.

In the fourth quarter of last year, sales and net profit were 9.718 billion euros and 2.84 billion euros, respectively, up 4.9% and 5.6% from the same period a year earlier.

During the fourth quarter, two units of the High-NA EUV lithography equipment-which can etch finer circuit patterns onto wafers than conventional EUV lithography equipment-were recognized as revenue. Each unit, priced at over 500 billion won, is an essential tool for advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes, prompting major companies to compete for procurement. The order backlog reached 38.797 billion euros (approximately 66.3 trillion won).

Christophe Fouquet, CEO of ASML, stated, "Based on expectations that demand related to artificial intelligence (AI) will continue, many customers have assessed the mid-term market outlook much more positively in recent months compared to before." He added, "These assessments have resulted in a clear upward revision of customers' mid-term capacity plans and an unprecedented volume of orders for ASML."

He continued, "This year will be another year of growth," and added, "A significant increase in EUV sales and growth in revenue related to installed equipment management will be the main drivers."

ASML forecast first-quarter net sales between 8.2 billion and 8.9 billion euros, a gross margin of 51% to 53%, and research and development expenses of about 1.2 billion euros. The company expects annual net sales for this year to be between 34 billion and 39 billion euros, with a gross margin of 51% to 53%.

Meanwhile, ASML plans to implement a new share buyback program worth up to 12 billion euros (about 20.5 trillion won) by December 31, 2028.