Applied Materials, Inc. vs Caterpillar Inc — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $572 (market cap $478.36B), while Caterpillar Inc trades at $933.98 (market cap $438.67B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. and Caterpillar Inc are close in size by market cap, and Caterpillar Inc pays the higher dividend (0.68%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | CAT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $478.36B | $438.67B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $1.06K |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $404.64 |
Enterprise Value | $477.39B | $477.67B |
Dividend Yield | 0.35% | 0.68% |
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.
Caterpillar (CAT) trades at $952.41, up 1.49% on the day, with strong year-to-date momentum driven by robust earnings beats and AI infrastructure demand. The stock shows a bullish moving average trend but neutral oscillators, with key resistance at $1,000. Revenue reached $67.59B in 2025, though net income dipped to $8.88B, while valuation ratios like P/E of 47.43 appear elevated. Recent news highlights CAT's exposure to data center power generation, contributing to positive investor sentiment.
Outlook remains favorable with analyst consensus pointing to a $1,010 price target and 55% buy ratings, supported by dividend growth and AI-related revenue streams. Risks include cyclical demand, high debt levels, and macroeconomic sensitivity. The stock offers growth potential but requires monitoring of margin pressures and valuation sustainability.
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 →Caterpillar Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets construction, mining, and forestry machinery. The Company also manufactures engines and other related parts for its equipment, and offers financing and insurance. Caterpillar distributes its products through a worldwide organization of dealers.
Read more on CAT →