By Mike Schwenk
Publication Date: 2026-10-06 16:00:00
The artificial intelligence spending boom has rewarded chip designers along with the companies that supply equipment to chip factories. Should you favor Applied Materials (AMAT -2.16%) or Nvidia (NVDA +1.10%) today?
Applied Materials provides the equipment and software used to manufacture semiconductors, and Nvidia designs the high-performance processors that power data centers and AI models.
Both benefit from AI spending, but they sit at different points in the supply chain, making for a useful investment comparison.
AMAT & NVDA: Performance Comparison
Key Financial Metrics
AMAT – Applied Materials
$530.55
–2.16% (–$11.74)
NVDA – Nvidia
$241.53
+1.10% (+$2.63)
Market Cap
$430B
52wk Range
$203.40 – $739.67
Gross Margin
49.40%
P/E Ratio
46.76
EPS (TTM)
$11.60
Dividend & Yield
$1.98 (0.37%)
Market Cap
$5.8T
52wk Range
$164.27 – $243.37
Gross Margin
74.67%
P/E Ratio
30.20
EPS (TTM)
$7.91
Dividend & Yield
$0.52 (0.22%)
AMAT – Applied Materials
$530.55
–2.16% (–$11.74)
Market Cap
$430B
52wk Range
$203.40 – $739.67
Gross Margin
49.40%
P/E Ratio
46.76
EPS (TTM)
$11.60
Dividend & Yield
$1.98 (0.37%)
NVDA – Nvidia
$241.53
+1.10% (+$2.63)
Market Cap
$5.8T
52wk Range
$164.27 – $243.37
Gross Margin
74.67%
P/E Ratio
30.20
EPS (TTM)
$7.91
Dividend & Yield
$0.52 (0.22%)
The case for Applied Materials
Applied Materials serves as a vital provider of equipment and software for the global semiconductor industry. Two customers accounted for about 19% and 15% of net revenue in fiscal 2025. This level of customer concentration adds a…
