Applied Materials, Inc. vs Packaging Corporation of America — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $526.5 (market cap $414.54B), while Packaging Corporation of America trades at $257.2 (market cap $22.70B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 18.3× Packaging Corporation of America's market cap, and Packaging Corporation of America pays the higher dividend (2.36%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | PKG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $414.54B | $22.70B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $256.04 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $191.68 |
Enterprise Value | $413.57B | $26.51B |
Dividend Yield | 0.41% | 2.36% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Applied Materials (AMAT) trades at $539.14, up 2.21% today, showing strong momentum amid bullish technical signals and consistent earnings beats. The stock benefits from robust fundamentals including 29.31% net margins and 39.69% ROE, with revenue growth projected to reach $29B in 2026. Recent news highlights CEO Gary Dickerson's optimistic outlook on AI-driven semiconductor demand, calling this 'the greatest time in the history of our industry' (CNBC, 2026-05-28).
Outlook remains positive with 76.9% analyst buy ratings and $662.82 consensus target, though elevated P/E of 50.72 poses valuation risk. Key opportunities include AI infrastructure expansion and strong operating leverage, while risks involve semiconductor cycle volatility and competitive pressures in chip equipment markets.
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) trades at $256.04, up 1.3% on the day, with a bullish technical trend supported by moving averages and strong support at $252. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $2.35, beating estimates, driven by record corrugated shipments and contributions from the Greif acquisition, though net income margins face pressure from rising costs. A $1.50 dividend for H1-2026 reflects management's confidence, with a consensus price target of $269.33 suggesting modest upside.
Outlook: PKG benefits from robust demand and strategic acquisitions, but cost headwinds and a high P/E of 33.08 pose valuation risks. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 34.6% buy ratings, indicating cautious optimism amid margin compression and economic uncertainties. Key risks include freight and input cost inflation, competitive pricing pressure, and execution of integration synergies.
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 →Packaging Corporation of America is a leading producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products in North America. The company also produces white papers, which include printing and writing papers. PKG operates as an integrated manufacturer, with a strong focus on high-quality and sustainable packaging solutions for e-commerce, food and beverage, and other industrial and consumer markets.
Read more on PKG →