PREVIEW: Applied Materials slides; results due after the bell

** Shares of Applied Materials AMAT.O slipping 3.2% on Thurs ahead of qtrly results, due after the closing bell, with investors watching for updates on the chipmaking equipment supplier's increased stake in Besi and AI chip demand

** Analysts expect qtrly rev to rise 51% to $10.30 bln and adj EPS of $4.05 vs $2.17 a yr ago, per LSEG

** The company has beaten analysts' estimates for earnings in all of the past eight reporting periods

** Nvidia NVDA.O CEO Jensen Huang stepped down on Thursday, sparking volatility in AI-related shares and worries about the future of the broader AI ecosystem

** AMAT in late Oct said it would increase its stake in Dutch peer BE Semiconductor Industries (Besi) BESI.AS to ~20%, expanding a partnership in hybrid bonding tech for next-gen AI chips

** Analyst ratings on AMAT include 35 "strong buy" or "buy" ratings and four "hold" ratings, based on LSEG data

** AMAT has jumped 49% YTD, far outpacing a 9% rise for the Nasdaq .IXIC