Applied Materials, Inc. vs Baidu Inc — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $551.47 (market cap $417.31B), while Baidu Inc trades at $104.47 (market cap $36.18B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 11.5× Baidu Inc's market cap, and Applied Materials, Inc. pays a 0.4% dividend while Baidu Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | BIDU | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $36.18B |
Sector | Technology | Media |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $162.52 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $86.76 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $32.81B |
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.
Baidu (BIDU) trades at $103.7, down 5.3% in the last session, reflecting bearish technical signals and recent earnings volatility. The stock shows weak profitability with a net margin of 1.02% and elevated P/E of 78.19, though it trades below book value. Recent news highlights autonomous vehicle testing in London and an upcoming Q2 2026 earnings report on August 18, 2026 (PRNewsWire, 2026-07-31).
Outlook is mixed: strong analyst buy consensus (75.47%) and a $169.80 price target suggest upside, but declining revenue, negative cash flows, and China market risks pose headwinds. AI initiatives offer growth potential, but investors face execution and macroeconomic uncertainties.
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 →Baidu, Inc. operates an Internet search engine. The Company offers algorithmic search, enterprise search, news, MP3, and image searches, voice assistance, online storage, and navigation services. Baidu serves clients globally.
Read more on BIDU →