Applied Materials, Inc. vs Five Below Inc — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $526.68 (market cap $414.54B), while Five Below Inc trades at $234.71 (market cap $13.01B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 31.9× Five Below Inc's market cap, and Applied Materials, Inc. pays a 0.41% dividend while Five Below Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | FIVE | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $414.54B | $13.01B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $247.71 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $131.94 |
Enterprise Value | $413.57B | $13.90B |
Dividend Yield | 0.41% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Applied Materials (AMAT) trades at $539.14, up 2.21% today, showing strong momentum amid bullish technical signals and consistent earnings beats. The stock benefits from robust fundamentals including 29.31% net margins and 39.69% ROE, with revenue growth projected to reach $29B in 2026. Recent news highlights CEO Gary Dickerson's optimistic outlook on AI-driven semiconductor demand, calling this 'the greatest time in the history of our industry' (CNBC, 2026-05-28).
Outlook remains positive with 76.9% analyst buy ratings and $662.82 consensus target, though elevated P/E of 50.72 poses valuation risk. Key opportunities include AI infrastructure expansion and strong operating leverage, while risks involve semiconductor cycle volatility and competitive pressures in chip equipment markets.
Five Below (FIVE) is trading at $244.37, up 5.73% with strong bullish momentum. The stock shows consistent earnings beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.22 exceeding expectations of $1.77. Technical indicators signal bullish sentiment, supported by positive moving averages. Revenue growth remains solid, projected to reach $5.1B in 2026, though net margins have compressed from 9.78% in 2022 to 6.54% in 2025. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with 62% buy ratings and a $252.36 price target.
FIVE presents a compelling growth story with expanding revenue and strong institutional support. However, elevated valuation multiples (P/E 30.79) and compressed profit margins pose risks. The stock's proximity to 52-week highs suggests limited near-term upside without significant catalysts. Execution on store expansion and margin improvement will be critical for sustained outperformance.
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 →Five Below is a value-oriented retailer that operated 1,190 stores in the United States as of the end of fiscal 2021. Catering to teen and preteen consumers, stores feature a wide variety of merchandise, the vast majority of which is priced below $6. The assortment focuses on discretionary items in several categories, particularly leisure (such as sporting goods, toys, and electronics
Read more on FIVE →