Applied Materials, Inc. vs ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $549.28 (market cap $417.31B), while ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd trades at $39.37 (market cap $85.75B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 4.9× ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd's market cap, and ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd pays the higher dividend (1.08%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | ASX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $85.75B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $45.12 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $9.63 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $90.15B |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | 1.08% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
ASE Technology Holding (ASX) trades at $39.56, up 5.23% today, showing strong momentum with three consecutive earnings beats. The stock maintains bullish technical signals with support at $38 and resistance at $40. Recent Q2 2026 results demonstrated robust growth in AI-driven semiconductor packaging demand, with the company increasing 2026 capital expenditure to $10.5 billion to expand capacity.
Outlook remains positive with 80% analyst buy ratings and projected revenue growth to $711.2 billion in 2026. Key risks include high valuation multiples (P/E 47.78) and significant capital investment requirements. The AI semiconductor boom provides substantial growth opportunity, though execution on expansion plans will be critical for sustained performance.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd is a semiconductor assembly and testing firm. The company operates in segments: Packaging, Testing, and Electronic Manufacturing Services. Of these, packaging services contribute the most revenue. It involves packaging bare semiconductors into completed semiconductors with improved electrical and thermal characteristics. The Testing Segment includes front-end engineering testing, wafer probing, and final testing services. In the EMS segment, the company designs manufacture and sells electronic components and telecommunication equipment motherboards. The company is based in Taiwan but garners over half its sales from firms in the United States.
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