Applied Materials, Inc. vs iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $550.87 (market cap $435.21B), while iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF trades at $101.15. The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. pays a 0.39% dividend while iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF pays none, and iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Applied Materials, Inc. nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | IEFA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $435.21B | — |
Sector | Technology | Broad Market / Factor |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $101.09 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $84.72 |
Enterprise Value | $434.24B | — |
Dividend Yield | 0.39% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AMAT trades at $525.61, up 0.67% in the last session, with a neutral technical signal and strong fundamentals. Recent earnings consistently beat expectations, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.86 surpassing the $2.68 estimate. The stock benefits from robust profitability, including a 48.96% gross margin and 29.31% net margin, amid AI-driven semiconductor demand highlighted by CEO Gary Dickerson on CNBC on May 28, 2026.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $662.82, implying 26% upside, supported by 40 buy ratings and no sells. Risks include high valuation multiples like a P/E of 49.45 and cyclical semiconductor exposure, but growth in AI and data center investments offers significant opportunity.
IEFA, the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF, trades at $101.02, up 0.49% today, with a bullish technical signal driven by strong moving average alignment. The ETF focuses on developed international equities outside the U.S. and Canada, offering diversification and a dividend yield of 3.30% (The Motley Fool, 2026-06-17). Recent news highlights its cost efficiency and income appeal compared to peers like EFA and VXUS.
The outlook remains positive due to international diversification benefits and potential Fed rate cuts, but risks include currency fluctuations and geopolitical tensions. Analyst sentiment is favorable, emphasizing lower expense ratios and stable dividend income for long-term investors.
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 →IEFA tracks the MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index, offering broad exposure to large, mid, and small-cap stocks in developed markets across Europe, Australasia, and the Far East. It serves as a low-cost core holding for international diversification, excluding the U.S. and Canada.
Read more on IEFA →