<div id="readability-page-1"><div> By Jason Chau <pre></pre> Advantest shares rose sharply after the Japanese chip-equipment maker reported better-than expected third-quarter results and raised its annual guidance, benefiting from the AI boom fueling demand for advanced semiconductors. The Tokyo-listed stock surged as much as 14.5% to an intraday record before paring gains to close 5.2% higher, significantly outperforming the benchmark Nikkei Stock Average, which was flat on Thursday. The gains came after the company on Wednesday reported operating profit of 113.6 billion yen, equivalent to $740.4 million, for the October-December period. For the nine months ended December, revenue climbed 46%, with both operating profit and net profit doubling from a year earlier. The chip-equipment maker also raised its annual guidance following the strong quarter, forecasting revenue to rise 37% and net profit to double. &#34;Advantest numbers yesterday absolutely smashed it,&#34; said Andrew Jackson, head of Japan equity strategy at Ortus Advisors, noting that they were well ahead of street estimates and contrary to earlier management comments hinting at softer performance. The company, which produces testing and measurement devices for semiconductor design and production, has benefited from a surge in global demand for advanced chips powering artificial intelligence as well as massive capital spending on data centers. TSMC's strong earnings guidance and increased investment in chip packaging and testing have helped provide a tailwind for Advantest, said Macquarie analyst Hiroshi Taguchi in a note earlier this month. Shares in the Japanese company have reflected that optimism, rising by over 35% this year after more than doubling in 2025. <pre></pre> Write to Jason Chau at jason.chau@wsj.com <pre></pre> (END) Dow Jones Newswires January 29, 2026 03:27 ET (08:27 GMT)Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones &amp; Company, Inc.</div></div>

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Advantest, a Japanese chip-equipment maker, saw its shares rise sharply by 5.2% after reporting strong third-quarter results, with an operating profit of 113.6 billion yen ($740.4 million) and a 46% revenue increase. The company raised its annual guidance, forecasting a 37% revenue rise and doubling net profit, driven by demand for advanced semiconductors amid the AI boom. Analysts noted the results exceeded expectations, contributing to a 35% stock increase this year.

Japanese Chip-Equipment Maker Advantest Jumps on Strong Earnings, Guidance Upgrade