Applied Materials, Inc. vs ProShares Ultra QQQ ETF — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $548.02 (market cap $417.31B), while ProShares Ultra QQQ ETF trades at $92.27. The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. pays a 0.4% dividend while ProShares Ultra QQQ ETF pays none, and ProShares Ultra QQQ ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Applied Materials, Inc. nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | QLD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | — |
Sector | Technology | Leveraged / Inverse |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $100.53 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $57.16 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | — |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | — |
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.
QLD trades at $92.70, up 1.16% with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The leveraged ETF shows strong momentum with RSI indicating potential overbought conditions near-term. Recent institutional buying by 180 Wealth Advisors and positive media coverage highlight tactical interest in tech-focused leveraged strategies.
As a 2x leveraged Nasdaq-100 ETF, QLD offers amplified exposure to large-cap tech but carries significant volatility risks. The fund has delivered substantial long-term returns but experienced deep drawdowns during market stress. Investors should carefully consider risk tolerance given the daily rebalancing mechanics and concentration in technology sectors.
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 →QLD is a leveraged ETF that seeks daily investment results corresponding to 200% of the daily performance of the NASDAQ-100 Index. It achieves 2x leverage by investing in financial instruments such as swaps and is designed as a tactical trading tool for investors with a bullish (long) view on the NASDAQ-100. Due to the effects of compounding and leverage, the ETF is intended to be held for a single day and is not suitable for long-term investment.
Read more on QLD →