Price movement over the last 24 hours
Alcon AG vs Applied Materials, Inc. — how do they compare? Alcon AG trades at $66.87 (market cap $32.69B), while Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $573.2 (market cap $440.25B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 13.5× Alcon AG's market cap, and Alcon AG pays the higher dividend (0.54%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALC | AMAT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $32.69B | $440.25B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $92.22 | $723.00 |
52-Week Low | $62.02 | $156.25 |
Enterprise Value | $36.28B | $439.28B |
Dividend Yield | 0.54% | 0.38% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ALC trades at $66.87, down 4.01% on the day, amid a mixed technical and fundamental backdrop. The stock exhibits a bullish technical signal overall, with moving averages supporting a positive trend, while oscillators remain neutral. Fundamentally, revenue growth is steady, reaching $10.40 billion in 2025, though net income margin compressed to 7.7%. Recent news highlights product innovation, including a collaboration with RxSight for adjustable PCIOLs, signaling ongoing R&D investment. Analyst sentiment is predominantly positive, with a consensus price target of $86.00 implying significant upside.
The outlook for ALC is cautiously optimistic, driven by new product launches and strategic partnerships that may fuel growth. However, risks include competitive pressures, macroeconomic headwinds, and margin compression. With a P/E of 40.92, the valuation appears rich relative to historical norms, requiring strong earnings delivery to justify current levels. Investors should weigh robust analyst buy ratings against execution risks and market volatility.
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
Alcon, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the global eyecare leader with a diverse portfolio in ophthalmology including contact lenses, eye drops, surgical equipment, and related surgical products. Novartis purchased Alcon from Nestle in 2010 and, following nine years as a Novartis subsidiary, the company was spun off as a public company in April 2019. The company reports five distinct segments: implantables (16% of revenue), consumables (31%), equipment (9%), contact lenses (27%), and ocular health (17%). The company is geographically diversified, with only about 40% of revenue from the U.S. market, and the firm has a strong presence in the European Union and Japan.
Read more on ALC →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 →