Price movement over the last 24 hours
Applied Materials, Inc. vs Valero Energy Corporation — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $582.6 (market cap $478.36B), while Valero Energy Corporation trades at $285.18 (market cap $83.35B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 5.7× Valero Energy Corporation's market cap, and Valero Energy Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.71%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | VLO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $478.36B | $83.35B |
Sector | Technology | Energy |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $282.88 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $131.77 |
Enterprise Value | $477.39B | $89.10B |
Dividend Yield | 0.35% | 1.71% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Applied Materials (AMAT) trades at $602.50, up 2.35% today, with strong earnings beats in recent quarters and a consensus analyst price target of $644.33. The stock shows a bullish moving average signal but neutral oscillators, with key resistance at $617 and support at $573. Revenue grew to $28.37B in 2025, with a net income margin of 24.66%, though valuation ratios like P/E of 56.68 are elevated. Recent news highlights CEO Gary Dickerson's optimism on AI-driven semiconductor demand, positioning AMAT for multi-year growth.
The outlook for AMAT is positive, driven by AI infrastructure expansion and consistent earnings outperformance. Risks include high valuation multiples and semiconductor cycle volatility. With 76.9% of analysts rating it a buy and institutional sentiment bullish, the stock offers growth potential but requires monitoring of execution and market conditions.
Valero Energy (VLO) trades at $280.69, down 0.2% on the day, with strong technical momentum as the stock approaches resistance near $285. The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters, with Q2 2026 expected at $10.03 EPS. Fundamentals show solid profitability with 17.72% ROE and improving cash flow projections for 2026. Recent news highlights strong refining margins and Gulf Coast operational advantages supporting the bullish outlook.
VLO presents a compelling investment case with strong earnings momentum and favorable industry dynamics, though investors face risks from energy market volatility and declining revenue trends. The stock trades above the consensus price target of $257.57, suggesting limited near-term upside despite 58% analyst buy ratings. The upcoming dividend payment of $1.20 provides additional shareholder return potential.
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 →Valero Energy is one of the largest independent refiners in the United States. It operates 14 refineries with a total throughput capacity of 3.2 million barrels a day in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Valero also owns 14 ethanol plants with capacity of 1.7 billion gallons of ethanol a year and holds a 50% stake in Diamond Green Diesel, which has capacity to produce 700 million gallons per year of renewable diesel.
Read more on VLO →