Applied Materials, Inc. vs Dollar General Corp. — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $576.9 (market cap $478.36B), while Dollar General Corp. trades at $119.22 (market cap $26.23B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 18.2× Dollar General Corp.'s market cap, and Dollar General Corp. pays the higher dividend (1.98%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | DG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $478.36B | $26.23B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $156.26 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $95.94 |
Enterprise Value | $477.39B | $40.68B |
Dividend Yield | 0.35% | 1.98% |
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.
Dollar General (DG) trades at $118.92, up 2.76% today, with a neutral technical signal and bearish moving averages. The stock shows strong valuation metrics with a P/E of 16.82 and P/S of 0.61, supported by three consecutive quarterly earnings beats. Revenue grew to $40.61B in 2025, though net margins compressed to 2.77%. Positive news highlights margin expansion and back-to-school initiatives, while cash flow improved to $395M net.
Outlook remains cautiously optimistic with a $128.45 consensus price target implying 8% upside. Risks include margin pressure from inflation and competitive threats. Analyst consensus is 52% Buy, but weak consumer sentiment and technical resistance near $120 may limit near-term gains. Debt reduction trends and dividend coverage provide stability.
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 →A leading American discount retailer, Dollar General operates over 18,000 stores in 47 states, selling branded and private-label products across a wide variety of categories. In fiscal 2021, 77% of net sales came from consumables (including paper and cleaning products, packaged and perishable food, tobacco, and health and beauty items), 12% from seasonal merchandise (such as toys, greeting cards, decorations, and gardening supplies), 7% from home products (for example, kitchen supplies, small appliances, and cookware), and 4% from basic apparel. Stores average roughly 7,400 square feet, and about 75% of Dollar General locations are in towns of 20,000 or fewer people. The firm emphasizes value, with most of its items sold at everyday low prices of $5 or less.
Read more on DG →