Applied Materials, Inc. vs Synopsys, Inc. — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $547.71 (market cap $417.31B), while Synopsys, Inc. trades at $414.01 (market cap $78.68B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 5.3× Synopsys, Inc.'s market cap, and Applied Materials, Inc. pays a 0.4% dividend while Synopsys, Inc. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | SNPS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $78.68B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $625.80 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $372.33 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $87.04B |
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.
Synopsys (SNPS) trades at $411.68, down 1.04% on the day, amid a mixed technical and fundamental backdrop. The stock exhibits a bullish overall signal despite recent volatility, with strong analyst support (82.76% buy ratings) and a consensus price target of $551.00. Recent earnings beats and strategic moves like the Ansys acquisition highlight robust growth prospects in the semiconductor design software space, though high valuation multiples and significant cash flow volatility warrant caution.
The outlook for SNPS remains positive driven by AI-driven demand and recurring revenue streams, but investors face risks from elevated valuations, integration challenges from acquisitions, and semiconductor cycle sensitivity. The stock's current price near key support levels offers a potential entry point for long-term growth investors, contingent on sustained execution and market conditions.
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 →Synopsys is a provider of electronic design automation software, intellectual property, and software integrity products. EDA software automates the chip design process, enhancing design accuracy, productivity, and complexity in a full-flow end-to-end solution. The firm's growing SI business allows customers to continuously manage and test the code base for security and quality. Synopsys' comprehensive portfolio is benefiting from a mutual convergence of semiconductor companies moving up-stack toward systems-like companies, and systems companies moving down-stack toward in-house chip design. The resulting expansion in EDA customers alongside secular digitalization of various end markets benefits EDA vendors like Synopsys.
Read more on SNPS →