Applied Materials, Inc. vs SYSCO Corporation — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $548.99 (market cap $417.31B), while SYSCO Corporation trades at $84.25 (market cap $40.32B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 10.3× SYSCO Corporation's market cap, and SYSCO Corporation pays the higher dividend (2.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | SYY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $40.32B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $91.16 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $69.30 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $53.50B |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | 2.61% |
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.
Sysco (SYY) trades at $84.73, up 1.03% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $88.25. The company reported strong Q4 2026 earnings, beating EPS estimates with $1.53 versus $1.51 expected, driven by U.S. foodservice volume growth and cost efficiencies. Revenue reached $81.37 billion in 2025, with net income of $1.83 billion, though profit margins remain thin at 2.08%. Recent news highlights CEO discussions on CNBC and operational initiatives, including AI-driven efficiencies.
The outlook for SYY is positive, supported by earnings beats, steady cash flow, and analyst optimism, but risks include competitive pressures, supply chain disruptions, and macroeconomic uncertainty. Upside potential exists if the company maintains volume growth and margin improvements, but investors should monitor debt levels and food safety issues highlighted in recent reports.
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 →Sysco is the largest U.S. food-service distributor, boasting 17% market share of the highly fragmented food-service distribution industry. Sysco distributes over 400,000 food and nonfood products to restaurants (63% of revenue), healthcare facilities (8%), education and government buildings (8%), travel and leisure (7%), and other locations (14%) where individuals consume away-from-home meals. In fiscal 2022, 82% of the firm's revenue was U.S.-based, with 7% from Canada, 4% from the U.K., 2% from France, and 4% other.
Read more on SYY →