Applied Materials, Inc. vs HCA Health Inc — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $570.37 (market cap $478.36B), while HCA Health Inc trades at $402.09 (market cap $90.20B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 5.3× HCA Health Inc's market cap, and HCA Health Inc pays the higher dividend (0.77%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | HCA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $478.36B | $90.20B |
Sector | Technology | Health |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $545.13 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $334.32 |
Enterprise Value | $477.39B | $139.10B |
Dividend Yield | 0.35% | 0.77% |
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.
HCA Healthcare trades at $406.59, down 0.59% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamental performance. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 EPS expected at $7.37. Revenue growth is robust, reaching $75.60 billion in 2025, while valuation metrics like a P/E of 14.01 and EV/EBITDA of 8.88 suggest relative attractiveness. Recent news highlights capacity expansion and gene therapy advancements.
The outlook for HCA remains positive, supported by earnings momentum and strategic investments, but risks include high debt levels and regulatory pressures. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $486.10 price target, indicating ~20% upside potential from current levels.
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 →HCA Healthcare is a Nashville-based healthcare provider organization operating the largest collection of acute-care hospitals in the U.S. As of December 2021, the firm owned and operated 182 hospitals, 125 freestanding outpatient surgery centers, and a broad network of physician offices, urgent care clinics, and freestanding emergency rooms across nearly 20 states and a small foothold in England.
Read more on HCA →