Applied Materials, Inc. vs Seagate Technology Holdings PLC — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $547.25 (market cap $417.31B), while Seagate Technology Holdings PLC trades at $880.8 (market cap $185.97B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 2.2× Seagate Technology Holdings PLC's market cap, and Applied Materials, Inc. pays the higher dividend (0.4%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | STX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $185.97B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $1.09K |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $154.43 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $188.12B |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | 0.36% |
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.
Seagate Technology (STX) trades at $800.74, down 1.48% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong recent earnings beats driven by AI storage demand. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $5.71, beating expectations of $5.10, with revenue growth and margin expansion supported by its HAMR technology and data center contracts. However, high valuation ratios (P/E 59.03, P/S 15.41) and negative shareholder equity pose fundamental concerns.
The outlook is mixed: AI-driven demand and analyst bullishness (54.91% buy ratings) support upside to the $1,130 consensus target, but elevated valuation, legal settlements, and competitive pressures in the storage market present significant risks. Cash flow volatility and debt levels require monitoring for sustained growth.
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 →Seagate is a leading supplier of hard disk drives for data storage to the enterprise and consumer markets. It forms a practical duopoly in the market with its chief rival, Western Digital
Read more on STX →