Applied Materials, Inc. vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $549.06 (market cap $417.31B), while Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated trades at $529.79 (market cap $134.25B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 3.1× Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's market cap, and Applied Materials, Inc. pays a 0.4% dividend while Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | VRTX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | $134.25B |
Sector | Technology | Health |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $529.65 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $376.62 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | $128.37B |
Dividend Yield | 0.4% | — |
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.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) trades at $523.91, up 5.61% with strong technical momentum and bullish moving averages. The company reported Q2 2026 revenue growth of 12% to $3.3 billion, beating expectations despite an EPS miss, and raised its full-year 2026 revenue guidance. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 30.85 and P/S of 10.78, while maintaining robust profitability with 86% gross margins and 35% net income margins.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus strongly bullish (84% buy ratings) and a $534.25 price target. Key risks include execution on newer product launches and competitive pressures in cystic fibrosis treatments. The stock's current momentum suggests continued upside potential, though RSI levels indicate potential near-term overbought conditions.
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 →Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a global biotechnology company that discovers and develops small-molecule drugs for the treatment of serious diseases. Its key drugs are Kalydeco, Orkambi, Symdeko, and Trikafta/Kaftrio for cystic fibrosis, where Vertex therapies remain the standard of care globally. In addition to its focus on cystic fibrosis, Vertex is diversifying its pipeline through gene-editing therapies such as CTX001 for beta-thalassemia and sickle-cell disease, small-molecule inhibitors targeting acute and chronic pain using non-opioid treatments, and small-molecule inhibitors of APOL1-mediated kidney diseases. Vertex is also investigating cell therapies to deliver a potential functional cure for type 1 diabetes.
Read more on VRTX →