Applied Materials, Inc. vs VanEck Gold Miners ETF — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $551.67 (market cap $417.31B), while VanEck Gold Miners ETF trades at $90.73. The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. pays a 0.4% dividend while VanEck Gold Miners ETF pays none, and Applied Materials, Inc. is trading nearer its 52-week high, VanEck Gold Miners ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | GDX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | — |
Sector | Technology | — |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $115.84 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $56.60 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | — |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | — |
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.
GDX, the VanEck Gold Miners ETF, trades at $91.15, up 0.73% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but overbought RSI readings. Recent news highlights institutional repositioning and strong gold price momentum driving miner performance. The ETF provides diversified exposure to gold mining equities amid a seven-week gold rally near $4,300 per ounce.
Outlook is positive given gold's strength, but risks include volatility from Fed policy shifts and miner underperformance versus bullion. Analyst sentiment is mixed, with some advocating for value while others caution on stretched valuations. Upside depends on sustained gold prices and mining operational efficiency.
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 →The fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in common stocks and depositary receipts of companies involved in the gold mining industry. The index is a modified market-capitalization weighted index primarily comprised of publicly traded companies involved in the mining for gold and silver. The fund is non-diversified.
Read more on GDX →