Applied Materials, Inc. vs Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $547.99 (market cap $417.31B), while Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp trades at $58.99 (market cap $26.40B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 15.8× Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp's market cap, and Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp pays the higher dividend (2.25%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | CTSH | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $26.40B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $86.70 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $38.73 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $27.44B |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | 2.25% |
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.
Cognizant (CTSH) trades at $58.19, down 0.21% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong cash flow. Recent Q2 2026 earnings missed estimates at $1.37 EPS, but revenue beat. The company maintains a solid net income margin of 10.26% and trades at a P/E of 12.58, below industry averages. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $59.92 price target, and the stock shows resilience amid AI-driven strategic shifts.
Outlook remains cautiously optimistic with upside potential from AI initiatives and financial services growth, though risks include client spending caution and competitive pressures. The stock's current valuation offers a margin of safety, but investors should monitor execution on AI integration and macroeconomic headwinds affecting IT spending.
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 →Cognizant is a global IT services provider, offering consulting and outsourcing services to some of the world's largest enterprises spanning the financial services, media and communications, healthcare, natural resources, and consumer products industries. Cognizant employs nearly 300,000 people globally, roughly 70% of whom are in India, although the company's headquarters are in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Read more on CTSH →