Applied Materials, Inc. vs Core and Main Inc — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $549.37 (market cap $417.31B), while Core and Main Inc trades at $45.88 (market cap $8.73B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 47.8× Core and Main Inc's market cap, and Applied Materials, Inc. pays a 0.4% dividend while Core and Main Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | CNM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $8.73B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $66.98 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $42.37 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $11.02B |
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.
Core & Main (CNM) trades at $45.85, down 0.97% on the day, with a bullish technical signal despite mixed moving averages. The company reported strong Q1 2026 earnings of $0.57 per share, beating estimates, and maintains solid fundamentals including a 23.73% ROE and 5.87% net margin. Recent news highlights institutional activity, such as California State Teachers Retirement System increasing its stake by 22.3% in Q1 2026 (Defense World, 2026-08-04).
The outlook is positive with analyst consensus at 57% buy ratings, supported by revenue growth to $7.6B in 2026 and expanding margins. Risks include high debt levels at $2.24B long-term and competitive pressures in the tools sector. Investors should monitor execution against FY26 guidance of $7.8–$7.9B revenue.
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 →Core & Main is a leading US distributor of water, wastewater, storm drainage, and fire protection products. It provides essential infrastructure solutions to municipalities, private water companies, and contractors.
Read more on CNM →