Applied Materials, Inc. vs Broadcom Inc — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $551.72 (market cap $417.31B), while Broadcom Inc trades at $417.6 (market cap $1.98T). The key difference: Broadcom Inc is far larger — about 4.7× Applied Materials, Inc.'s market cap, and Broadcom Inc pays the higher dividend (0.62%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | AVGO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $1.98T |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $481.57 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $289.60 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $2.02T |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | 0.62% |
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.
Broadcom (AVGO) trades at $419.67, down 0.65% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong support at $412. The company reported robust earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.44 exceeding the $2.40 estimate. Revenue grew to $63.89 billion in 2025, and net income surged to $23.13 billion, reflecting a 36.19% margin. Analysts maintain a strong buy consensus, with a $510.21 price target, citing AI-driven growth prospects.
The outlook for AVGO remains positive, driven by AI semiconductor demand and solid cash flow generation. However, high valuation multiples like a P/E of 69.23 pose risks if growth slows. Competitive pressures in the chip industry and macroeconomic volatility could challenge future performance, but institutional confidence and consistent earnings strength support a favorable investment case for long-term holders.
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 →Broadcom--the combined entity of Broadcom and Avago--boasts a highly diverse product portfolio across an array of end markets. Avago focused primarily on radio frequency filters and amplifiers used in high-end smartphones, such as the Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy devices, in addition to an assortment of solutions for wired infrastructure, enterprise storage, and industrial end markets. Legacy Broadcom targeted networking semiconductors, such as switch and physical layer chips, broadband products (such as television set-top box processors), and connectivity chips that handle standards such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The company has acquired Brocade, CA Technologies, Symantec's enterprise security business, and has a pending deal to acquire VMware to bolster its offerings in software.
Read more on AVGO →