Applied Materials, Inc. vs Rocket Lab USA Inc — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $552.34 (market cap $417.31B), while Rocket Lab USA Inc trades at $80.97 (market cap $50.01B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 8.3× Rocket Lab USA Inc's market cap, and Applied Materials, Inc. pays a 0.4% dividend while Rocket Lab USA Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | RKLB | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $50.01B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $150.23 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $39.48 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $47.84B |
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.
Rocket Lab (RKLB) trades at $81.17, up 1.41% today, showing strong momentum with a bullish technical outlook. The company reported record Q2 2026 revenue of $601.8M but missed EPS expectations, while maintaining a massive $2.36B backlog. Analysts remain overwhelmingly bullish with a $118 consensus target, though valuation metrics appear stretched with a P/S ratio of 60.8.
The stock offers significant upside potential driven by Neutron rocket development and growing space industry demand, but faces execution risks including margin pressures and cash burn. Near-term catalysts include the Neutron launch timeline and Iridium acquisition, though high valuation multiples require flawless execution to justify current levels.
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 →Rocket Lab USA, Inc. is an aerospace manufacturer and small-satellite launch service provider. The company specializes in developing rockets for orbital launch, including its flagship *Electron* vehicle, and is developing the next-generation, reusable *Neutron* rocket. Beyond launch services, Rocket Lab also offers satellite design, manufacturing, and spacecraft component solutions, positioning itself as an end-to-end provider for the space industry.
Read more on RKLB →