Applied Materials, Inc. vs KLA Corp. — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $551.3 (market cap $417.31B), while KLA Corp. trades at $208.49 (market cap $261.92B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and KLA Corp. pays the higher dividend (0.46%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | KLAC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $261.92B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $301.71 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $84.39 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $263.17B |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | 0.46% |
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.
KLA Corporation (KLAC) trades at $192.74, down 2.71% on the day, amid a broader semiconductor sector pullback. The stock shows strong fundamentals with revenue growth to $12.16B in 2025 and net income of $4.06B, though valuation ratios remain elevated with a P/E of 54.77. Recent corporate actions include a 1:10 stock split and dividend declarations, while technical indicators signal near-term bearish pressure with key support at $189.
KLAC presents a compelling long-term investment case driven by AI-driven semiconductor equipment demand and consistent earnings beats, but faces risks from high valuation and sector volatility. Analyst consensus remains bullish with a $246.93 price target implying 28% upside, though investors should monitor execution against growth expectations and competitive dynamics in the semiconductor equipment space.
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 →KLA designs and manufactures yield-management and process-monitoring diagnostic and control systems for the semiconductor manufacturing industry. The systems are used to analyze the manufacturing process at various steps in a semiconductor's development. The firm's laser-scanning products are used for wafer qualification, process monitoring, and equipment monitoring. KLA also provides inspection tools and systems for optical metrology and e-beam metrology.
Read more on KLAC →