Applied Materials, Inc. vs Becton Dickinson and Co — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $576.79 (market cap $478.36B), while Becton Dickinson and Co trades at $151.94 (market cap $41.87B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 11.4× Becton Dickinson and Co's market cap, and Becton Dickinson and Co pays the higher dividend (2.76%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | BDX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $478.36B | $41.87B |
Sector | Technology | Health |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $185.39 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $135.49 |
Enterprise Value | $477.39B | $58.33B |
Dividend Yield | 0.35% | 2.76% |
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.
BDX trades at $151.94, up 0.72% on the day, with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The stock is supported by consistent revenue growth, reaching $21.84B in 2025, and a forward P/E of 26.52. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $173.40 price target, and the company maintains a solid dividend, recently paying $1.05 per share. Cash flow trends show variability, with 2025 net cash flow negative $1.00B, though 2026 projects a positive $346M.
The outlook for BDX balances strong fundamentals against near-term headwinds. Revenue growth and strategic positioning in medical technology offer upside, but investor sentiment is cautious due to bearish technicals and margin pressures. Risks include hospital spending caution and competitive dynamics. The stock presents a hold case for long-term investors, with potential catalysts from continued earnings outperformance and innovation in healthcare technology.
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 →Becton, Dickinson is the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of medical surgical products, such as needles, syringes, and sharps-disposal units. The company also manufactures diagnostic instruments and reagents, as well as flow cytometry and cell-imaging systems. BD Interventional (largely the former Bard business) accounts for 23% of revenue. International revenue accounts for 44% of the company's business.
Read more on BDX →