Applied Materials, Inc. vs Ross Stores, Inc. — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $551 (market cap $417.31B), while Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $250.51 (market cap $80.78B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 5.2× Ross Stores, Inc.'s market cap, and Ross Stores, Inc. pays the higher dividend (0.71%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | ROST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $80.78B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $255.23 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $144.67 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $81.37B |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | 0.71% |
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.
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $254.83, near its consensus price target of $259.00, with a slight 0.16% decline. The stock shows strong fundamentals, including a 9.74% net income margin and 38.98% ROE for 2025, with recent quarterly earnings consistently beating estimates. Technical indicators are bullish, supported by positive moving averages and recent store expansion news.
The outlook remains positive due to robust earnings growth and analyst buy ratings (63.83% consensus). Key risks include high valuation multiples (P/E of 35.17) and competitive pressures in discount retail. Upside potential exists if Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations, but macroeconomic headwinds could pressure consumer spending.
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 →Ross Stores is a leading American off-price apparel and home fashion retailer, operating over 1,920 stores (at the end of fiscal 2021) across the Ross Dress for Less and dd's Discounts banners. Ross offers a variety of name-brand products and targets undercutting conventional retailers' regular prices by 20%-70%. The company uses an opportunistic, flexible merchandising approach
Read more on ROST →