Applied Materials, Inc. vs Annaly Capital Management, Inc. — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $551.8 (market cap $417.31B), while Annaly Capital Management, Inc. trades at $23.3 (market cap $17.44B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 23.9× Annaly Capital Management, Inc.'s market cap, and Annaly Capital Management, Inc. pays the higher dividend (12.96%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | NLY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $17.44B |
Sector | Technology | Financials |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $24.40 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $20.21 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | — |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | 12.96% |
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.
NLY trades at $23.28, up 1.62% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The stock shows strong fundamentals with a low P/E of 5.59 and a high ROE of 20.66%. Recent quarterly earnings have consistently beaten estimates, and the company maintains a significant dividend yield. Analyst consensus is positive, with a $24.50 price target, supported by recent upgrades and institutional buying activity.
The outlook for NLY is favorable, driven by earnings growth and a high dividend yield, but risks include interest rate sensitivity and high leverage. The stock offers value and income appeal, yet investors should weigh the cyclical nature of the mortgage REIT sector against the strong analyst support and recent financial performance.
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 →Annaly Capital Management Inc is an American mortgage real estate investment trust. The company segments its operations into Residential and Commercial real estate investments. While Annaly's Residential assets are primarily comprised of agency mortgage-backed securities and debentures, it is primarily invested in commercial mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities in its Commercial unit through its subsidiary, Annaly Commercial Real Estate Group. Agency mortgage-backed securities and debentures make up the majority of the company's overall portfolio. Most of the company's counterparties are located in the U.S. Annaly generates nearly all of its revenue from the spread between interest earned on its assets and interest payments made on its borrowings.
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