Applied Materials, Inc. vs Essex Property Trust, Inc. — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $575.97 (market cap $478.36B), while Essex Property Trust, Inc. trades at $293.55 (market cap $18.86B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 25.4× Essex Property Trust, Inc.'s market cap, and Essex Property Trust, Inc. pays the higher dividend (3.53%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | ESS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $478.36B | $18.86B |
Sector | Technology | Real Estate |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $298.33 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $239.61 |
Enterprise Value | $477.39B | $25.59B |
Dividend Yield | 0.35% | 3.53% |
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.
ESS trades at $293.55, up 0.83% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamental performance. The stock exhibits robust profitability with a 30.03% net income margin and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent news highlights include the upcoming Q2 2026 earnings release and the company's addition to the Russell Microcap Index, reflecting positive momentum.
The outlook for ESS is supported by strong West Coast rental demand and AI-driven employment growth, though risks include high debt levels and Seattle market weakness. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $292.89 price target, slightly below the current price, indicating cautious optimism amid valuation concerns.
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 →Essex Property Trust owns a portfolio of 253 apartment communities with over 62,000 units and is developing three additional properties with 571 units. The company focuses on owning large, high-quality properties on the West Coast in the urban and suburban submarkets of Southern California, Northern California, and Seattle.
Read more on ESS →