Applied Materials, Inc. vs State Street SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $547.51 (market cap $417.31B), while State Street SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF trades at $108.31. The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. pays a 0.4% dividend while State Street SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF pays none, and Applied Materials, Inc. is trading nearer its 52-week high, State Street SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | XHB | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $417.31B | — |
Sector | Technology | Broad Market / Factor |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $121.36 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $94.86 |
Enterprise Value | $416.34B | — |
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.
XHB trades at $108.71 with a modest 0.43% daily gain, showing bullish technical momentum with strong moving average signals. The ETF benefits from positive housing market developments including new home sales growth and supportive legislation, though mixed economic data creates uncertainty. Technical indicators show overbought conditions with RSI at 71.56, suggesting potential near-term consolidation.
The housing sector outlook remains cautiously optimistic with legislative support and improving builder sentiment offsetting high mortgage rate concerns. Key risks include interest rate sensitivity and inventory constraints, while institutional positioning adjustments reflect strategic portfolio rebalancing rather than sector pessimism.
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 →XHB invests in the U.S. homebuilding industry and related sectors. It provides equal-weighted exposure to homebuilders, building products, and home improvement retailers like Home Depot, Lowe's, and Builders FirstSource.
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