Applied Materials, Inc. vs Microsoft — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $572.5 (market cap $478.36B), while Microsoft trades at $387.29 (market cap $2.86T). The key difference: Microsoft is far larger — about 6× Applied Materials, Inc.'s market cap, and Microsoft pays the higher dividend (0.95%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | MSFT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $478.36B | $2.86T |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $542.07 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $352.83 |
Enterprise Value | $477.39B | $2.84T |
Dividend Yield | 0.35% | 0.95% |
Volume | — | 36,654,621 |
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.
Microsoft (MSFT) trades at $385.1, up 0.19% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates, with Q1 2026 EPS of $4.27 versus $4.06 expected. Revenue growth is robust, reaching $281.72 billion in 2025, and net income margins are healthy at 39.34%. Analysts maintain a strong buy consensus with an average price target of $548.87, though recent news highlights concerns over capital expenditures and AI competition.
The outlook for MSFT remains positive due to its leadership in AI and cloud computing, supported by solid financials and analyst confidence. Key risks include elevated valuation multiples, increased spending on AI infrastructure, and competitive pressures. Investors should weigh the long-term growth potential against near-term volatility and execution risks in a dynamic tech landscape.
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 →Microsoft Corporation develops, manufactures, licenses, sells, and supports software products. The Company offers operating system software, server application software, business and consumer applications software, software development tools, and Internet and intranet software. Microsoft also develops video game consoles and digital music entertainment devices.
Read more on MSFT →