Applied Materials, Inc. vs CSX Corporation — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $550.99 (market cap $417.31B), while CSX Corporation trades at $50.1 (market cap $92.55B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 4.5× CSX Corporation's market cap, and CSX Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.12%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | CSX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $92.55B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $53.21 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $32.05 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $110.52B |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | 1.12% |
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.
CSX trades at $50.08, down slightly by 0.09% today, with a neutral technical signal despite bullish moving averages. The railroad operator posted strong Q2 2026 results with EPS of $0.54 beating estimates by 4.2% and revenue growth of 10%, driving improved investor sentiment. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 29.05 and P/S of 6.41, while profitability remains solid with 22.21% net margins and 24.37% ROE. Recent news highlights volume growth and margin expansion as key catalysts.
CSX demonstrates operational strength with consecutive earnings beats and raised 2026 guidance, supported by intermodal demand and cost controls. However, declining revenue trends from $14.9B in 2022 to $14.1B in 2025 and high debt levels pose risks. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $52.57 price target (4.9% upside), though competitive pressures and fuel costs require monitoring for sustained growth.
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 →Operating in the Eastern United States, Class I railroad CSX generated revenue near $12.5 billion in 2021. On its more than 21,000 miles of track, CSX hauls shipments of coal (13% of consolidated revenue), chemicals (22%), intermodal containers (16%), automotive cargo (9%), and a diverse mix of other bulk and industrial merchandise.
Read more on CSX →