Applied Materials, Inc. vs Target Corporation — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $548.2 (market cap $417.31B), while Target Corporation trades at $153.94 (market cap $69.17B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 6× Target Corporation's market cap, and Target Corporation pays the higher dividend (3.05%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | TGT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $69.17B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $152.35 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $83.68 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $84.47B |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | 3.05% |
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.
Target Corporation (TGT) trades at $153.50, up 0.93% today, with strong technical momentum and bullish moving averages. Recent earnings beats and the appointment of a Chief AI Officer highlight operational strength. The stock is near its 52-week high, supported by positive analyst sentiment and consistent dividend payments.
Outlook remains positive with solid fundamentals and growth initiatives, though overbought technical indicators and competitive retail pressures pose risks. Revenue stability and margin improvements are key drivers, but investor caution is warranted near resistance 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 →With 1,926 stores (as of the end of fiscal 2021), Target is a leading American general merchandise retailer, offering a variety of products across several categories, including beauty and household essentials (26% of fiscal 2021 sales), food and beverage (19%), home furnishings and décor (19%), hardlines (18%), and apparel and accessories (17%). Most of Target's stores are large, averaging more than 125,000 square feet. The company has a significant e-commerce presence, deriving around 19% of sales from the channel (up from about 9% in fiscal 2019, before the pandemic). In addition to its namesake stores, Target owns Shipt, an online same-day delivery platform. After it exited Canada in 2015, virtually all of Target's revenue is generated from the United States.
Read more on TGT →