ASML N.V.

ASML Holding N.V. is a Dutch multinational corporation founded in 1984 as a joint venture between technology companies Philips and ASM International, originally named Advanced Semiconductor Materials Lithography. Headquartered in Veldhoven, Netherlands, ASML has become the world's leading supplier of photolithography equipment to the semiconductor industry, holding a near-monopoly in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography technology. The company manufactures the most advanced lithography systems critical for producing cutting-edge microchips, with machines capable of etching patterns as small as 8 nanometers, approximately 1/10,000th the width of a human hair. ASML's EUV systems are essential for manufacturing the most advanced semiconductors used in artificial intelligence chips, smartphones, and high-performance computing applications. With over 44,000 employees across more than 60 locations worldwide, ASML generated record revenues of €28.3 billion in 2024, driven by unprecedented demand from the AI revolution. The company's primary customers include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Samsung, and Intel, which together represent nearly 84% of its business. ASML's technological leadership is exemplified by its High-NA EUV systems, costing approximately $380 million per machine, which enable chip manufacturers to produce semiconductors below 3 nanometers. As of November 2024, ASML ranks as the fourth most valuable company in Europe and the second most valued European technology company, with a market capitalization of approximately $264 billion. The company's Veldhoven headquarters houses over half of all employees and serves as the primary research, development, and manufacturing facility. ASML's near-monopolistic position in EUV technology, combined with the complexity and time-intensive nature of manufacturing these systems, ensures sustained long-term growth and market dominance in the critical semiconductor manufacturing equipment sector.