Applied Materials, Inc. vs Novo Nordisk A/S — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $548.9 (market cap $417.31B), while Novo Nordisk A/S trades at $46.33 (market cap $207.85B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 2× Novo Nordisk A/S's market cap, and Novo Nordisk A/S pays the higher dividend (3.81%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | NVO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $207.85B |
Sector | Technology | Health |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $63.98 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $35.29 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $222.55B |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | 3.81% |
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.
Novo Nordisk (NVO) trades at $46.28, down 3.05% today, with technical indicators showing neutral signals. The company maintains strong fundamentals with Q2 2026 EPS beating expectations at $0.96 versus $0.77 estimate, continuing a pattern of earnings outperformance. Revenue growth remains solid with 2025 revenue reaching $309.1B and net income margin of 33.14%. Analyst sentiment remains positive with 57.9% recommending Buy, though recent news highlights competitive pressures from Eli Lilly in the GLP-1 market.
NVO presents a compelling investment case with robust profitability metrics including 59.82% ROE and attractive valuation at 11.62 P/E. However, increasing competition in weight-loss drugs and pricing pressures create headwinds. The stock's current technical neutrality suggests potential consolidation near current levels, with fundamental strength supporting long-term growth prospects despite near-term competitive challenges.
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 →With almost 50% market share by volume of the global insulin market, Novo Nordisk is the leading provider of diabetes-care products in the world. Based in Denmark, the company manufactures and markets a variety of human and modern insulins, injectable diabetes treatments, and oral antidiabetic agents. Novo also has a biopharmaceutical segment (constituting roughly 15% of revenue) that specializes in protein therapies for hemophilia and other disorders.
Read more on NVO →