Applied Materials, Inc. vs Altria Group Inc — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $573 (market cap $478.36B), while Altria Group Inc trades at $71.9 (market cap $119.88B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 4× Altria Group Inc's market cap, and Altria Group Inc pays the higher dividend (5.91%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | MO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $478.36B | $119.88B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $74.55 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $54.72 |
Enterprise Value | $477.39B | $140.95B |
Dividend Yield | 0.35% | 5.91% |
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.
Altria Group (MO) trades at $71.77, up 0.25% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support (16 buy ratings). The stock exhibits robust fundamentals, including a P/E of 14.99, net income margin of 39.52%, and consistent dividend payments, highlighted by a recent $1.06 dividend. Revenue remains stable around $20.1B, though net income dipped to $6.95B in 2025 from $11.3B in 2024. Positive cash flow of $1.33B in 2025 supports financial health, while technical indicators show support at $71 and resistance at $73.
Outlook: MO offers a compelling dividend yield and defensive appeal amid market volatility, but faces risks from declining smoking trends and regulatory pressures. Analyst consensus price target is $71.00, with potential upside to $79.00. Investors should weigh high debt levels and competitive threats against strong cash flow and brand loyalty for long-term income stability.
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 →Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Helix Innovations, and Philip Morris Capital, although the company plans to wind down Philip Morris Capital by the end of 2022. It holds a 10% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria holds the leading position in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in the United States and the number-two spot in machine-made cigars. The company's Marlboro brand is the leading cigarette brand in the U.S. with a 43% share in 2020. Altria holds strategic investments in JUUL Labs (35% economic interest) and Cronos (42%).
Read more on MO →