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Lithography leaders ASML, Canon, and Nikon issue fiscal 2026 revenue outlooks
Monday, February 16, 2026 at 11:33 AM
A financial summary of the three major semiconductor lithography equipment manufacturers highlights divergent 2026 revenue projections. ASML expects growth between 340 and 390 billion euros as it enters back-end processing. Canon forecasts stable revenue of 256.6 billion yen for its optical equipment division, while Nikon anticipates an 18.3% decline in its precision machinery revenue to 165 billion yen.
Context
ASML, Canon, and Nikon have issued divergent revenue outlooks for fiscal 2026, signaling a widening performance gap in the lithography sector. ASML projects robust growth of €34–€39 billion (up to +13.3%), driven by surging AI-related demand for EUV systems and a strategic entry into back-end advanced packaging. Conversely, Nikon expects its precision equipment revenue to slide 18.3% to 165 billion yen as it grapples with a record corporate net loss and a total leadership overhaul aimed at stabilizing the business by 2029.
Canon maintains a steady trajectory with a forecast of 256.6 billion yen, focusing on cost-efficient, industry-standard lithography and nanoimprint technology. While ASML dominates the leading-edge front-end, both ASML and Nikon are increasingly pivoting toward the back-end packaging market to capitalize on the AI hardware boom. This shift underscores a critical transition period where legacy equipment providers must adapt their portfolios to remain relevant as chip architecture moves toward heterogeneous integration and high-performance computing requirements.
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