Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: AMATAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

AMAT AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) is a semiconductor equipment, services, and software provider with a market capitalization of $324.81B. Over the trailing twelve months, the company generated $30.84B in revenue with an operating margin of 33.7% and diluted EPS of $11.59. The stock has delivered an 80.7% return over the past year and trades at a forward P/E of 23.4x.

Market cap
$324.81B
Revenue (TTM)
$30.84B
P/E
35.3x
fwd 23.4x
1Y return
80.7%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$627.83
53.4% vs last close

Bull case

  • In the latest quarter ended July 31, 2026, quarterly earnings grew 42.8% year-over-year on quarterly revenue growth of 24.8%.
  • The stock trades at a forward P/E of 23.4x, below the median of its Nasdaq-100 Technology peers of 25.7x, with a PEG ratio of 0.83.
  • Analysts project next fiscal year revenue to expand 35.2% to $46.31B alongside 44.4% EPS growth to $18.46.

Bear case

  • Although recent quarterly growth accelerated, revenue growth was modest in prior years, coming in at 2.8% in FY2023, 2.5% in FY2024, and 4.4% in FY2025.
  • At $409.29, the share price trades 6.6% below its 200-day moving average and well below its 52-week high of $739.67.
  • Free cash flow decreased from $7.49B in FY2024 to $5.70B in FY2025, while capital expenditures rose to $2.26B.

What Applied Materials does

Applied Materials, Inc. provides manufacturing equipment, services, and software for the semiconductor, display, and related industries. The company operates through three segments: Semiconductor Systems, Applied Global Services, and Display and Adjacent Markets. Semiconductor Systems develops equipment for fabricating semiconductor chips, including epitaxy, ion implantation, rapid thermal processing, chemical vapor deposition, and metrology tools. Applied Global Services provides spares, upgrades, remanufactured equipment, and factory automation software to enhance factory performance. Display and Adjacent Markets delivers manufacturing solutions for liquid crystal displays and organic light-emitting diodes used in consumer electronics.

Growth and profitability

Revenue increased from $23.06B in FY2021 to $28.37B in FY2025, representing a 5-year revenue CAGR of 10.5%. Annual net income moved from $5.89B in FY2021 to $7.00B in FY2025, while gross margin expanded from 47.3% to 48.7%. Operating margin was 29.2% in FY2025, compared to 29.9% in FY2021. For the trailing twelve months, revenue reached $30.84B with a profit margin of 30.0% and an operating margin of 33.7%. In the latest quarter ended July 31, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 24.8% year-over-year, and quarterly earnings grew 42.8% year-over-year.

AMAT income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of July 31, 2026, Applied Materials held $9.23B in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $7.35B, resulting in net cash of $1.89B. The company reported shareholders' equity of $25.63B and total assets of $43.52B, alongside a current ratio of 2.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. In FY2025, operating cash flow stood at $7.96B and free cash flow was $5.70B. Cash capital allocation in FY2025 included $2.26B in capital expenditures, $4.89B in share buybacks, and $1.38B in dividends paid.

AMAT balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

At a share price of $409.29, Applied Materials trades at a trailing P/E of 35.3x and a forward P/E of 23.4x, compared to 43.3x and 25.7x for the median of its Nasdaq-100 Technology peers. The company's price-to-sales ratio is 10.5x, below the peer median of 12.4x, and its EV/EBITDA is 28.6x, below the peer median of 32.8x. Its PEG ratio is 0.83. Over the past year, AMAT generated a return of 80.7%, outpacing the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%. Over five years, the stock returned 224.2% versus 83.0% for the S&P 500.

AMAT key metrics →

AMAT dividend

Applied Materials pays a quarterly dividend with an annual forward dividend of $2.12 per share, representing a dividend yield of 0.52%. The payout ratio is 18.1%, and dividends have been paid for 22 consecutive years. Over the past 5 years, dividend growth has annualized at 15.4%. The company's last ex-dividend date is November 19, 2026.

AMAT dividend history →

What analysts expect

Among covering analysts, 29 rate the stock a Strong Buy, 4 rate it a Buy, and 7 rate it a Hold, with 0 Sell or Strong Sell ratings. The mean price target is $627.83, which is 53.4% above the last close of $409.29. For the current fiscal year ending October 31, 2026, consensus estimates project revenue of $34.26B and EPS of $12.79, reflecting 35.7% EPS growth. Applied Materials has beaten EPS estimates in each of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings date is November 12, 2026.

AMAT forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • The stock carries a beta of 1.59, indicating higher price volatility relative to the broader market.
  • Net income decreased from $7.18B in FY2024 to $7.00B in FY2025, reflecting potential variability in annual profitability.
  • The company faces debt obligations totaling $7.35B, though offset by $9.23B in cash and short-term investments.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this AMAT AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: AMAT income statement, AMAT balance sheet, AMAT key metrics, AMAT analyst forecast, AMAT chart. See the AMAT stock overview for the latest quote and news.

AMAT AI stock analysis FAQ

What is Applied Materials' dividend yield and payout history?

Applied Materials offers an annual forward dividend of $2.12 per share, yielding 0.52% with a payout ratio of 18.1%. The company has paid dividends for 22 consecutive years and achieved a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 15.4%.

When does Applied Materials report earnings?

The company's next earnings date is November 12, 2026. Applied Materials has beaten consensus EPS estimates in each of the last 4 quarters.

How do AMAT valuation multiples compare to peer medians?

AMAT has a forward P/E of 23.4x and an EV/EBITDA of 28.6x, compared to 25.7x and 32.8x for the median of its Nasdaq-100 Technology peers. Its price-to-sales ratio of 10.5x is also lower than the peer median of 12.4x.

How has AMAT performed against the S&P 500?

Over the past year, AMAT returned 80.7% compared to 16.8% for the S&P 500 (SPY). Over a 5-year period, AMAT gained 224.2% while the S&P 500 gained 83.0%.

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