Applied Materials, Inc. vs AXT Inc — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $546.98 (market cap $417.31B), while AXT Inc trades at $77.56 (market cap $4.83B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 86.4× AXT Inc's market cap, and Applied Materials, Inc. pays a 0.4% dividend while AXT Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | AXTI | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $4.83B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $140.83 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $2.05 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $4.50B |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | — |
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.
AXTI is trading at $76.84, up 4.11% with strong bullish momentum following better-than-expected Q2 2026 earnings. The stock shows bullish technical signals with support at $72 and resistance at $77. Recent financials indicate a turnaround with Q2 EPS of $0.19 beating estimates and revenue growth driven by record indium phosphide demand for AI data centers.
The outlook appears positive with strong AI-driven demand and capacity expansion plans, though valuation metrics remain elevated with P/S of 30.53. Key risks include execution challenges in meeting demand and competitive pressures in the semiconductor substrate market. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with 73% buy ratings and $72.50 price target.
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 →AXT develops and manufactures high-performance compound semiconductor wafer substrates. Its products, like indium phosphide and gallium arsenide, are essential for data centers, 5G, and consumer electronics.
Read more on AXTI →