Applied Materials, Inc. vs HP Inc — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $549.48 (market cap $417.31B), while HP Inc trades at $29.2 (market cap $26.59B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 15.7× HP Inc's market cap, and HP Inc pays the higher dividend (4.13%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | HPQ | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $26.59B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $30.05 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $18.20 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $33.75B |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | 4.13% |
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.
HPQ trades at $28.96, down 2.82% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong earnings beats in recent quarters. Revenue for 2025 reached $55.3 billion, with a net income margin of 4.45%, while valuation metrics like a P/E of 10.77 and P/S of 0.48 suggest potential undervaluation. Recent news highlights AI-driven cost savings and a profitable upgrade cycle, with Q2 FY2026 revenue up 9% year-over-year.
The outlook is mixed; HPQ benefits from solid cash flow and dividend yields near 4%, but faces risks from PC market declines and competitive pressures. Analyst consensus is cautious with a hold-heavy rating, and the stock trades above the consensus price target of $22, indicating limited upside. Investors should weigh steady profitability against industry headwinds and valuation constraints.
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 →HP Incorporated is a leading provider of computers, printers, and printer supplies. The company's mains segments are personal systems and printing. Its personal systems segment contains notebooks, desktops, and workstations. Its printing segment contains supplies, consumer hardware, and commercial hardware. In 2015, Hewlett-Packard was separated into HP Incorporated and Hewlett Packard Enterprise and the Palo Alto, California-based HP Incorporated sells on a global scale.
Read more on HPQ →