Applied Materials, Inc. vs Paycom Software Inc — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $570.53 (market cap $478.36B), while Paycom Software Inc trades at $145.42 (market cap $6.48B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 73.8× Paycom Software Inc's market cap, and Paycom Software Inc pays the higher dividend (1.08%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | PAYC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $478.36B | $6.48B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $238.80 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $113.59 |
Enterprise Value | $477.39B | $7.09B |
Dividend Yield | 0.35% | 1.08% |
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.
Paycom Software (PAYC) trades at $139.08, down 0.34% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The stock shows strong profitability with a 22.44% net income margin and 37.15% ROE, though recent Q3 2025 EPS slightly missed expectations. Recent board appointments and industry awards highlight ongoing corporate development. The consensus price target is $151.00, suggesting potential upside from current levels.
The outlook remains balanced with solid fundamentals supporting growth, but risks include competitive pressures and execution challenges. Analyst sentiment is mixed with near-equal buy and hold ratings. Revenue growth stability and margin maintenance are key for sustained investor confidence amid a neutral oscillator signal.
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 →Paycom is a fast-growing provider of payroll and human capital management, or HCM, software primarily targeting clients with 50-10,000 employees in the United States. Paycom was established in 1998 and services about 18,000 clients as of 2021, based on parent company grouping. Alongside its core payroll software, Paycom offers various HCM add-on modules, including time and attendance, talent management, and benefits administration.
Read more on PAYC →