Price movement over the last 24 hours
Automatic Data Processing Inc vs Applied Materials, Inc. — how do they compare? Automatic Data Processing Inc trades at $241.95 (market cap $98.17B), while Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $568.24 (market cap $440.25B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 4.5× Automatic Data Processing Inc's market cap, and Automatic Data Processing Inc pays the higher dividend (2.77%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ADP | AMAT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $98.17B | $440.25B |
Sector | Industrials | Technology |
52-Week High | $310.94 | $723.00 |
52-Week Low | $188.79 | $156.25 |
Enterprise Value | $99.24B | $439.28B |
Dividend Yield | 2.77% | 0.38% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ADP trades at $245.60, up 1.37% on the day, near its 52-week high. The stock shows bullish technical signals with consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. Revenue grew to $20.56 billion in 2025, with a net income margin of 20.12%. Analyst sentiment is mixed, with a consensus hold rating but a technical outlook suggesting strength. The company maintains strong profitability metrics and recently announced a dividend payment.
Outlook remains stable with projected revenue growth to $21.6 billion in 2026. Risks include competitive pressures and economic sensitivity. Opportunities lie in AI integration and margin expansion. The stock offers value through dividends and steady performance, though valuation multiples are elevated relative to historical averages.
Applied Materials (AMAT) trades at $592.79, down 1.78% on the day, amid a broader bullish technical trend. The stock has consistently beaten earnings expectations in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.86 surpassing the $2.68 estimate. Strong profitability is evident with a net income margin of 29.31% and ROE of 39.69%. Recent news highlights the company's positioning in the AI-driven semiconductor equipment boom, with the CEO calling it 'the greatest time in the history of our industry' (CNBC, 2026-05-28).
The outlook remains positive, supported by robust analyst sentiment (76.92% buy ratings) and a consensus price target of $622.57, offering potential upside. Key risks include high valuation multiples (P/E of 55.77) and dependence on sustained semiconductor capital expenditure cycles. The stock presents an opportunity for growth investors aligned with the AI infrastructure theme, but requires monitoring of execution and market cyclicality.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
ADP is a provider of payroll and human capital management solutions servicing the full scope of businesses from micro to global enterprises. ADP was established in 1949 and serves over 990,000 clients primarily in the United States. ADP's employer services segment offers payroll, HCM solutions, HR outsourcing, insurance and retirement services. The smaller but faster-growing PEO segment provides HR outsourcing solutions to small and midsize businesses through a co-employment model.
Read more on ADP →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 →