Applied Materials, Inc. vs Nutrien Ltd — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $549.67 (market cap $417.31B), while Nutrien Ltd trades at $67.28 (market cap $32.05B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 13× Nutrien Ltd's market cap, and Nutrien Ltd pays the higher dividend (3.27%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | NTR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $32.05B |
Sector | Technology | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $83.94 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $53.64 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $43.86B |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | 3.27% |
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.
Nutrien (NTR) trades at $66.85, up 0.81% today, with a bearish technical signal despite neutral oscillators. Recent Q2 2026 earnings missed EPS estimates but beat on revenue, driven by higher potash prices. The company maintains a stable dividend of $0.55 per share and shows improving net income margins, though cash flow trends have weakened. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $76.17 price target, highlighting structural advantages in nitrogen assets.
The outlook is mixed: strong fundamentals and analyst support suggest upside, but technical weakness and volatile earnings pose risks. Key opportunities include exposure to agricultural cycles and cost advantages; risks involve input cost pressures and execution challenges in a competitive fertilizer market.
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 →Created in 2018 as a result of the merger between PotashCorp and Agrium, Nutrien is the world's largest fertilizer producer by capacity. Nutrien produces the three main crop nutrients--nitrogen, potash, and phosphate--although its main focus is potash, where it is the global leader in installed capacity with roughly 20% share. The company is also the largest agricultural retailer in the United States, selling fertilizers, crop chemicals, seeds, and services directly to farm customers through its brick-and-mortar stores and online platforms.
Read more on NTR →