Applied Materials, Inc. vs KKR & Co Inc — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $554.53 (market cap $417.31B), while KKR & Co Inc trades at $110.59 (market cap $99.61B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 4.2× KKR & Co Inc's market cap, and KKR & Co Inc pays the higher dividend (0.7%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | KKR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $99.61B |
Sector | Technology | Financials |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $149.34 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $83.88 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $22.17B |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | 0.7% |
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.
KKR trades at $110.625, up 6.54% today, with strong bullish momentum near its consensus price target of $127.22. Recent earnings beats in Q1 and Q2 2026, alongside a high analyst buy rating of 88.89%, reflect robust operational performance. The company's strategic acquisitions, including Medicover India and Integer Holdings, signal aggressive growth in healthcare and infrastructure sectors.
The outlook for KKR is positive, driven by earnings growth and strategic expansions, but risks include high leverage and market volatility. Upside potential exists if the company maintains its earnings trajectory and executes acquisitions successfully, though investors should monitor debt levels and integration challenges.
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 →KKR is one of the world's largest alternative asset managers, with $490.7 billion in total assets under management, including $384.5 billion in fee-earning AUM, at the end of June 2022. The company has two core segments: asset management (which includes private markets--private equity, credit, infrastructure, energy and real estate--and public markets--primarily credit and hedge/investment fund platforms) and insurance (following the February 2021 purchase of a 61.5% economic stake in Global Atlantic Financial Group, which is engaged in retirement/annuity and life insurance lines as well as reinsurance). On the asset management side, private markets account for 50% of fee-earning AUM and 70% of base management fees, while public markets account for 50% and 30%, respectively.
Read more on KKR →