ASML Holding: Steady and Gradual Quarterly Revenue Growth

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) generates its revenue primarily by supplying advanced extreme ultraviolet lithography equipment, specialized wafer inspection systems, and related computational control software to integrated circuit manufacturers operating in locations across the globe.

It recently announced plans to increase manufacturing capacity for specific immersion systems by 30%, launched a collaborative industry initiative with multiple foundries for larger photomasks, and initiated construction on an additional corporate engineering campus in the Netherlands.

SK Hynix: Rapid and Sustained Quarterly Revenue Expansion

SK Hynix (NASDAQ:SKHY) earns its revenue primarily by designing, producing, and selling a wide variety of advanced memory semiconductors, including various customized flash memory products tailored specifically for complex technical computing and mobile applications.

It recently completed an oversubscribed initial listing of its American Depositary Receipts on the Nasdaq exchange, reassigned three senior vice chairpersons to oversee global strategy, and simultaneously faced a class action antitrust lawsuit regarding component pricing.

Why Revenue Matters for Investors

Revenue provides individual investors with a transparent, direct baseline measurement of all incoming capital over a specific timeframe before any operational business expenses are formally deducted. Closely tracking this top-line financial figure helps investors understand the total scale and growth trajectory of a business.

Quarterly Revenue for ASML Holding and SK Hynix

Data source: Financial Modeling Prep. ASML Holding's figures are converted from euros to U.S. dollars. SK Hynix's figures are converted from South Korean won to U.S. dollars. Data as of Sept. 25, 2026.

Foolish Take

For investors interested in gaining exposure to the artificial intelligence boom, ASML and SK Hynix are two great companies to invest in. Both provide key products to the AI industry, and as a result, are seeing year-over-year revenue growth.

That said, examining their sales trends provides investors with revealing insights. ASML's extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment is essential for semiconductor manufacturers to produce AI chips, giving the company a legal monopoly since competitors have not been entirely successful in providing rival EUV tools. However, the complex machinery takes time to build, resulting in a slow revenue ramp for ASML.

In contrast, SK Hynix manufactures high-bandwidth memory (HBM) products, which can be produced faster. The company's massive sales growth in recent quarters is evidence that tech giants are pouring funds into memory components right now. The demand is so great, it's led to rising memory prices, which further fuels SK Hynix's spectacular sales ascent.

Robert Izquierdo has positions in ASML. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF (NYSEMKT:IAT) and iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF (NASDAQ:EUFN) provide targeted banking exposure, with the European fund offering broader diversification and higher income potential.

Investors looking at the financial sector often choose between domestic focus and international diversification. Comparing a regional banking fund to a broad European financial fund highlights differences in concentration, dividend potential, and risk profiles, ranging from localized U.S. credit cycles to the systemic regulatory environments of the Eurozone.

This comparison examines how investors might balance the concentrated exposure of a regional portfolio against the broader reach of developed European institutions.

Snapshot (cost & size)

Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-year return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.

The iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF maintains a cost advantage with its 0.37% expense ratio, making it a relatively efficient choice for domestic bank exposure. On the income side, the iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF offers a more substantial yield, as its 4.1% payout provides a notable margin over the 2.9% distribution from the American fund. This yield gap of 1.22 ppt may be a deciding factor for income-focused investors.

Furthermore, with $4.0 billion in assets under management (AUM), the European fund is considerably larger than the domestic regional bank fund, which manages $614.1 million.

Performance & risk comparison

The iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF aims to replicate a benchmark of companies within the financial services industry in developed European markets. Its portfolio includes 84 positions, primarily concentrated in financial services at 98%, with minor 1% allocations to technology and industrials. Its largest positions include HSBC Holdings at 9.66%, Banco Santander at 5.76%, and Allianz at 5.13%. This fund was launched in 2010, and has paid $1.65 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$40.85 share price works out to a 4.1% yield.

The iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF seeks to mirror the performance of an index consisting of domestic stocks specifically within the regional banking industry. It is significantly more concentrated than its European peer, holding just 30 positions with 100% exposure to financial services. Top holdings include Us Bancorp at 15.14%, PNC Financial Services Group at 14.82%, and Truist Financial at 9.59%. This fund was launched in 2006, and has paid $1.64 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$57.97 share price works out to a 2.9% yield.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

Which looks like the better buy

The iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF (EUFN) and iShares U.S. Regional Banks ETF (IAT) gives you very different types of exposure to the financial sector. Choosing between them comes down to whether you want to invest in the European financial market or "main street USA." That said, several additional factors may sway the decision to one fund, or you could invest in both to gain global exposure as the holdings do not overlap.

IAT's regional banks focus means you're investing in local economies within the U.S. It delivers a solid dividend yield, and smaller banks have the potential to outperform larger companies. However, those benefits come with far greater volatility, as demonstrated by the ETF's larger max drawdown. Also, its AUM is much smaller, so the liquidity isn't as great as the European-targeted fund.

EUFN is ideal for conservative investors, given its lower volatility. It's an all-around excellent ETF compared to IAT, delivering a better total return, higher dividend yield, and a greater AUM. These pros are offset by a larger expense ratio, as well as currency risks that can impact your return.

HSBC Holdings is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Robert Izquierdo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Truist Financial and U.S. Bancorp. The Motley Fool recommends HSBC Holdings. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The primary distinction between the Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (NYSEMKT:VT) and State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (NYSEMKT:SPDW) is their geographic scope and inclusion of domestic equities.

These funds serve different roles in a portfolio. While one aims to capture the entire global stock market in a single fund, the other acts as a specialized tool for investors who already have U.S. exposure and want to add developed foreign markets efficiently.

Snapshot (cost & size)

Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-year return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.

The State Street fund is the more affordable option with its 0.03% expense ratio. It also offers a higher payout, with a 3% yield that is double the 1.5% yield offered by the Vanguard fund.

Performance & risk comparison

What's inside

The Vanguard Total World Stock ETF provides massive diversification with 9,773 holdings. Its sector exposure is led by technology at 30%, financial services at 16%, and industrials at 11%. Its largest positions include Nvidia at 4.32%, Apple at 3.84%, and Microsoft at 3.16%. The fund was launched in 2008, and has paid $2.41 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$158.81 share price works out to a 1.5% yield.

The State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF holds 2,436 stocks, focusing on financial services at 24%, industrials at 18%, and technology at 15%. Its largest positions include Samsung Electronics at 2.64%, SK Hynix at 2.23%, and ASML Holding at 2.02%. The fund was launched in 2007, and has paid $1.52 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$50.69 share price works out to a 3% yield.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

Which looks like the better buy

For an investor with a U.S.-centric investment portfolio, gaining exposure to foreign markets is a key means of diversification. The Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT) and State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (SPDW) provide this. Choosing between them comes down to how they complement your existing equity ownership.

Vanguard's VT delivers what its name indicates, a fund containing stocks from around the world, including the U.S. This is a great ETF for those new to investing, as it captures key global companies in one spot. It can also be good for more seasoned investors as it provides exposure to prominent businesses driving the artificial intelligence boom.

However, if you already own many U.S. stocks, you may have too much overlap with VT. The fund's holdings are heavily focused in North America, which represents a hefty 65% of the ETF. So if you possess shares in Nvidia and other top VT holdings, SPDW may be the better fit.

SPDW provides robust international stock exposure, while also offering a superior dividend yield and lower expense ratio. Its top holdings include AI giants such as ASML and SK Hynix, so you benefit from the AI sector's rapid growth as well. Its one downside is that it does not cover emerging markets, which VT does include.

Robert Izquierdo has positions in ASML, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.