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AMAT vs ASML
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. ASML Holding (ASML) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- AMAT has outperformed ASML with approximately 70% YTD gains compared to ASML's 49%, driven by robust semiconductor demand.
- Both stocks pulled back amid recent semiconductor sector volatility, but AMAT shows stronger relative momentum and lower valuation at a P/E of 45 versus ASML's 52.
- ASML maintains a near-monopoly in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, supporting high margins around 53%, while AMAT offers diversified exposure across etching, deposition, and inspection.
- Recent quarters highlight resilience: AMAT Q1 revenue at $7.01B with EPS beat, ASML Q1 sales €8.8B and raised 2026 guidance to €36-40B.
- Analyst sentiment is bullish for both, with AMAT targets up to $517 and ASML averaging $1,678, reflecting AI chip demand.
- Tickeron's AI favors AMAT for superior trend consistency and value in current market positioning.
Introduction
Applied Materials (AMAT) and ASML Holding (ASML) are leading providers of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, critical to the production of advanced chips powering AI, data centers, and consumer electronics. This comparison analyzes their business models, recent stock performance, and market dynamics in the context of surging demand for AI infrastructure. Traders seeking short-term momentum and investors eyeing long-term growth in the semiconductor sector will find value in understanding their relative strengths, valuations, and exposure to industry catalysts like high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography.
AMAT Overview and Recent Performance
Applied Materials (AMAT) specializes in materials engineering solutions for semiconductor fabrication, including equipment for deposition, etching, inspection, and advanced packaging. Operating through Semiconductor Systems and Applied Global Services segments, it serves major chipmakers globally. In recent market activity, AMAT shares have demonstrated resilience, posting YTD gains of about 70% and 182% over the past year, outpacing the S&P 500. Q1 2026 revenue reached $7.01 billion, slightly down year-over-year, but non-GAAP EPS of $2.38 beat estimates, supported by gross margins near 49% and record DRAM revenue. Sentiment has been influenced by AI-driven capital spending and analyst upgrades, with price targets up to $517, though sector sell-offs tied to U.S. export restrictions on China have caused pullbacks from 52-week highs around $438.
ASML Overview and Recent Performance
ASML Holding (ASML), based in the Netherlands, dominates the lithography equipment market, particularly with its proprietary EUV systems essential for producing cutting-edge chips at advanced nodes. It also offers metrology, inspection, and software solutions to global foundries. Recent weeks have seen ASML deliver solid YTD returns of 49% and 127% over the past year, though trailing broader peers amid regulatory headwinds. Q1 2026 net sales hit €8.8 billion with €2.8 billion net income, leading to an upward revision of full-year 2026 sales guidance to €36-40 billion on strong EUV bookings. Performance reflects robust demand but has been pressured by tightening export controls to China and competition concerns, resulting in dips from peaks near $1,595, with analysts maintaining buy ratings and targets around $1,678.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
AMAT and ASML both thrive on semiconductor capex growth but differ in focus: AMAT's diversified portfolio spans multiple fabrication steps like deposition and etch, reducing reliance on single technologies, while ASML's EUV monopoly drives superior margins (53% vs. 49%) but exposes it to geopolitical risks from China export curbs. Growth drivers include AI/HBM for AMAT and advanced nodes for ASML, with recent momentum favoring AMAT's 70% YTD vs. ASML's 49%. Risk factors: AMAT faces cyclical demand swings; ASML contends with regulatory scrutiny and higher debt-adjusted leverage. Sector exposure is aligned in electronic production equipment, but AMAT's lower P/E (45 vs. 52), higher ROE (49% vs. 38%), and market cap ($346B vs. $614B) suggest better value and stability. Market sentiment leans bullish for both amid AI tailwinds, though AMAT shows tighter correlation (76%) and stronger short-term technicals.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors AMAT over ASML, based on superior YTD relative performance, consistent upward trends, attractive valuation, and diversified positioning amid ongoing AI catalysts. While ASML benefits from EUV leadership, AMAT's stability and momentum indicate higher probability of near-term outperformance in volatile semiconductor markets.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full Disclaimers and Limitations.
ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) and Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) are technology companies which serve the needs of semiconductor chip manufacturers with specialized equipment and diagnostic tools. ASML is based in the Netherlands while AMAT is based in California, but both maintain a significant global presence. ASML is the larger of the two, with an enterprise value of $353B compared to AMAT’s EV of $121B. ASML’s core products are lithography and metrology equipment designed for chip manufacturers. AMAT offers a wide array of products and services to chip manufacturers, and also has a displays segment which creates products for use in the manufacture of LED and OLED display screens for telephones, computers, and televisions. AMAT’s ROE appears stronger as of this writing, at 49%, against ASML’s 38%. AMAT also just experienced a quarterly earnings growth (yoy) over 100%, but ASML’s is also commendable at 38%.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
AMAT’s FA Score shows that 4 FA rating(s) are green whileASML’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- AMAT’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
- ASML’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
AMAT’s TA Score shows that 2 TA indicator(s) are bullish while ASML’s TA Score has 3 bullish TA indicator(s).
- AMAT’s TA Score: 2 bullish, 4 bearish.
- ASML’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
AMAT (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а -6.16% price change this week, while ASML (@Electronic Production Equipment) price change was -2.53% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was -5.88%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -0.04%, and the average quarterly price growth was +111.24%.
Reported Earning Dates
AMAT is expected to report earnings on Aug 13, 2026.
ASML is expected to report earnings on Jul 15, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Production Equipment (-5.88% weekly)The electronic production equipment industry makes equipment used to produce semiconductors. Such equipment includes wafer fabrication, plasma etching and photo-resist processing equipment. The industry also makes chemical vapor deposition processing systems and photomasks, which are high-purity quartz plates that contain patterns to define integrated circuits layouts. Applied Materials, Inc., Lam Research Corporation, and KLA-Tencor Corporation are examples of electronic production equipment manufacturing companies.
| AMAT | ASML | AMAT / ASML | |
| Capitalization | 479B | 717B | 67% |
| EBITDA | 11.1B | 11.9B | 93% |
| Gain YTD | 144.524 | 68.556 | 211% |
| P/E Ratio | 60.22 | 65.04 | 93% |
| Revenue | 29B | 33.7B | 86% |
| Total Cash | 8.24B | 8.38B | 98% |
| Total Debt | 7.27B | 2.71B | 269% |
AMAT | ASML | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 50 | 50 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 78 Overvalued | 85 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 5 | 19 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 24 | 19 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 2 | 37 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 5 | 9 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 85 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
AMAT's Valuation (78) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as ASML (85). This means that AMAT’s stock grew similarly to ASML’s over the last 12 months.
AMAT's Profit vs Risk Rating (5) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as ASML (19). This means that AMAT’s stock grew similarly to ASML’s over the last 12 months.
ASML's SMR Rating (19) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as AMAT (24). This means that ASML’s stock grew similarly to AMAT’s over the last 12 months.
AMAT's Price Growth Rating (2) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is somewhat better than the same rating for ASML (37). This means that AMAT’s stock grew somewhat faster than ASML’s over the last 12 months.
AMAT's P/E Growth Rating (5) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as ASML (9). This means that AMAT’s stock grew similarly to ASML’s over the last 12 months.
| AMAT | ASML | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 60% | 3 days ago 73% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 66% | 3 days ago 69% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | N/A | 3 days ago 75% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 78% | 3 days ago 70% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 64% | 3 days ago 70% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 77% | 3 days ago 75% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 10 days ago 77% | 17 days ago 73% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | N/A | 11 days ago 66% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 60% | 3 days ago 62% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 75% | 3 days ago 75% |
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