Applied Materials, Inc. vs Baxter International Inc — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $580.95 (market cap $478.36B), while Baxter International Inc trades at $22.77 (market cap $11.68B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 41× Baxter International Inc's market cap, and Baxter International Inc pays the higher dividend (0.88%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | BAX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $478.36B | $11.68B |
Sector | Technology | Health |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $29.22 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $15.80 |
Enterprise Value | $477.39B | $19.35B |
Dividend Yield | 0.35% | 0.88% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Applied Materials (AMAT) trades at $602.50, up 2.35% recently, with strong technical support near $573 and resistance at $617. The company demonstrates robust fundamentals, including a 29.31% net income margin and consistent earnings beats, while benefiting from AI-driven semiconductor demand highlighted in recent CEO commentary (CNBC, 2026-05-28).
Outlook remains positive given analyst consensus of $644.33 price target and 76.9% buy ratings, though elevated P/E of 56.68 poses valuation risk. Key opportunities include AI infrastructure growth, while risks involve cyclical semiconductor demand and execution challenges in scaling operations.
Baxter International (BAX) trades at $22.62, up 0.71% on the day, near the consensus price target of $22.67. The stock shows a bullish technical trend with recent earnings beats in Q1 2026, though profitability remains challenged with negative net income margins. Recent news highlights sustainability initiatives and upcoming Q2 2026 earnings, with analyst sentiment mixed but leaning hold.
Outlook hinges on operational turnaround amid margin pressures; upside exists if cost controls and innovation boost profits, but high debt and inconsistent cash flow pose risks. The stock offers speculative value for patient investors betting on recovery, but near-term volatility is likely until earnings stabilize.
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 →Baxter offers a variety of medical instruments and supplies to caregivers. It enhanced its portfolio of hospital-focused offerings by acquiring Hillrom in late 2021. Legacy Baxter offers tools to help patients with acute and chronic kidney failure. It also sells a variety of injectable therapies for use in care settings, such as IV pumps, and administrative sets.
Read more on BAX →