Archer-Daniels-Midland Co vs Applied Materials, Inc. — how do they compare? Archer-Daniels-Midland Co trades at $80.15 (market cap $38.78B), while Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $552.13 (market cap $417.31B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 10.8× Archer-Daniels-Midland Co's market cap, and Archer-Daniels-Midland Co pays the higher dividend (2.59%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ADM | AMAT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $38.78B | $417.31B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $87.32 | $723.00 |
52-Week Low | $56.00 | $156.25 |
Enterprise Value | $47.03B | $416.34B |
Dividend Yield | 2.59% | 0.4% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ADM trades at $79.41, down 1.34% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong earnings beats in recent quarters. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $1.84, exceeding expectations, and raised its full-year outlook, driven by biofuels and crushing margins. Valuation ratios like P/E of 21.98 and P/S of 0.48 suggest reasonable pricing relative to peers. Cash flow improved in 2025 with net cash flow of $1.58 billion.
The outlook is positive with analyst consensus price target of $88.00, implying upside. Key opportunities include growth in AgTech and biofuels, while risks involve execution challenges and volatile commodity markets. The stock offers a dividend yield supported by consistent payments, but investors should monitor margin pressures from input costs.
Applied Materials (AMAT) trades at $522.12, down 3.16% on the day, amid a neutral technical signal with support at $510 and resistance at $546. The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.86 surpassing the $2.68 forecast. Strong profitability is evident with a net margin of 29.31% and ROE of 39.69%, though valuation ratios like a P/E of 49.45 are elevated. Recent news highlights robust AI-driven demand in semiconductor equipment, with CEO Gary Dickerson calling it the industry's strongest period ever (CNBC, 2026-05-28).
The outlook remains positive given analyst consensus with a $662.82 price target and 76.9% buy ratings, but risks include high valuation sensitivity and cyclical semiconductor capital spending. Revenue growth to $29.0B in 2026 with a projected 29.31% net margin supports upside, though investors should monitor competitive pressures and macroeconomic impacts on tech spending.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Archer-Daniels Midland is a major processor of oilseeds, corn, wheat, and other agricultural commodities. Additionally, the company owns an extensive network of logistical assets to store and transport crops around the globe. ADM also runs a nutrition business that focuses on both human and animal ingredients. The company is also a large producer of corn-based sweeteners, starches, and ethanol.
Read more on ADM →Applied Materials is the world's largest supplier of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, providing materials engineering solutions to help make nearly every chip in the world. The firm's systems are used in nearly every major process step with the exception of lithography. Key tools include those for chemical and physical vapor deposition, etching, chemical mechanical polishing, wafer- and reticle-inspection, critical dimension measurement, and defect-inspection scanning electron microscopes.
Read more on AMAT →