Applied Materials, Inc. vs Tractor Supply Co — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $548.44 (market cap $417.31B), while Tractor Supply Co trades at $36.36 (market cap $18.39B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 22.7× Tractor Supply Co's market cap, and Tractor Supply Co pays the higher dividend (2.72%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | TSCO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $18.39B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $62.65 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $29.14 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $24.70B |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | 2.72% |
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.
Tractor Supply (TSCO) trades at $36.24, up 4.68% today, with a mixed technical picture showing bullish moving averages but overbought RSI levels. Fundamentally, the company reported $15.52B in 2025 revenue with a net margin of 6.42%, though recent quarters saw EPS misses. Valuation metrics include a P/E of 18.38 and ROE of 39.51%, indicating strong profitability but high price-to-book at 6.99. Recent news highlights CEO share purchases and dividend declarations amid a 2026 outlook cut due to weak demand.
The stock presents a cautious opportunity with solid fundamentals offset by near-term headwinds. Upside potential exists from digital growth and pet initiatives, but risks include discretionary spending pressure and cost inflation. Analysts are divided, with a $36.29 price target suggesting limited upside from current levels, requiring careful monitoring of holiday sales and margin trends.
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 →Tractor Supply is the largest operator of retail farm and ranch stores in the United States. The company targets recreational farmers and ranchers and has little exposure to commercial and industrial farm operations. Currently, the company operates 2,016 of its namesake banners in 49 states and 178 Petsense stores. Stores are typically located in towns outside of urban areas and in rural communities. In fiscal 2021, revenue consisted primarily of livestock and pet (47%), hardware, tools, and truck (21%), and seasonal gift and toy (21%).
Read more on TSCO →