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AMAT or ASML or QCOM
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. ASML Holding (ASML) vs. QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- AMAT leads YTD performance with approximately 70% gains, driven by AI semiconductor equipment demand, outperforming ASML (around 50%) and QCOM (about 28%).
- ASML benefits from its monopoly in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems essential for advanced chips, though recent export restrictions to China have introduced volatility.
- QCOM shows strong short-term momentum with over 70% monthly gains from AI edge computing and partnerships, but lags in longer-term relative performance amid handset market challenges.
- All three stocks exhibit premium valuations tied to AI growth, with AMAT at a forward P/E (price-to-earnings ratio) around 40x, ASML higher at 50x, and QCOM lower near 24x.
- Semiconductor equipment firms AMAT and ASML show greater stability in recent weeks compared to QCOM's higher volatility.
- AI-driven catalysts position AMAT favorably for sustained upside in foundry expansions.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines AMAT, ASML, and QCOM, key players in the semiconductor ecosystem benefiting from artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure buildout. AMAT and ASML supply critical manufacturing equipment to chip foundries, while QCOM designs processors and connectivity solutions for end devices. Traders seeking exposure to AI-driven growth and investors tracking relative performance in recent market activity will find value in analyzing their business models, momentum, and sector positioning. Amid surging demand for advanced chips, these stocks highlight trade-offs in equipment versus design exposure.
AMAT Overview and Recent Performance
Applied Materials (AMAT) is a leading provider of materials engineering solutions, including equipment for deposition, etching, and inspection used in semiconductor manufacturing. The company serves major foundries producing chips for AI applications. In recent market activity, AMAT shares have surged around 70% year-to-date and over 160% in the past year, reflecting strong demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and logic chips. Sentiment has been boosted by fiscal Q1 2026 earnings that exceeded expectations, with management forecasting more than 20% growth in semiconductor systems revenue amid AI spending. Analyst price targets have risen to as high as $517, though shares experienced intraday volatility tied to broader sector rotations and U.S. export restrictions impacting China sales, which represent 25-30% of revenue.
ASML Overview and Recent Performance
ASML Holding (ASML) specializes in photolithography systems, particularly extreme ultraviolet (EUV) machines critical for producing the world's most advanced semiconductors. As the sole supplier of EUV technology, it holds a monopoly position in enabling sub-3nm chip nodes. Recent weeks have seen ASML shares rise about 50% year-to-date and over 110% annually, supported by robust bookings and AI-related demand. Q1 2026 results beat expectations, with raised 2026 sales guidance, though shares dipped on tightening U.S. export curbs to China, which accounted for around 33% of systems sales previously. Momentum persists from Low-NA EUV adoption and strong memory chip cycles, with analysts noting benefits from increasing chip layer counts.
QCOM Overview and Recent Performance
QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) designs semiconductors for wireless connectivity, including Snapdragon processors for mobile, automotive, and edge AI applications, complemented by a key intellectual property (IP) licensing business. Recent market activity shows explosive short-term gains, with shares up over 70% in the past month and 28% year-to-date, fueled by AI data center optimism, partnerships with hyperscalers, and a $20 billion buyback. However, performance has been volatile due to softer handset demand and prior declines tied to memory constraints. Diversification into automotive and on-device AI supports recovery, though competition in mobile chips tempers sentiment.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
AMAT and ASML focus on capital equipment for chip fabrication—AMAT via broad materials engineering tools and ASML through specialized lithography—tying their growth to foundry capex cycles fueled by AI. QCOM contrasts as a fabless designer emphasizing end-device chips and IP royalties, offering diversification but higher exposure to consumer cycles. Recent momentum favors AMAT's stability (70% YTD) over ASML (50%) and QCOM (28%), though QCOM leads monthly surges. Risk factors include U.S.-China export curbs hitting all three (China ~25-33% revenue), with ASML most sensitive due to EUV restrictions. Valuation sensitivity shows AMAT and ASML at premium P/E multiples (40-50x) versus QCOM's 24x, reflecting equipment scarcity. Market sentiment tilts bullish on AI catalysts, but trade-offs favor equipment purity for growth versus QCOM's dividends.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors AMAT among the three, based on superior trend consistency, leading YTD relative performance, and strong positioning in AI foundry expansions with over 20% growth forecasts. While ASML offers unmatched EUV catalysts and QCOM short-term momentum, AMAT's balanced valuation and stability suggest higher probability of outperformance in the current semiconductor upcycle.
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 disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
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), and QCOM’s FA Score reflects 2 green FA rating(s).
- AMAT’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
- ASML’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- QCOM’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 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 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while ASML’s TA Score has 2 bullish TA indicator(s), and QCOM’s TA Score reflects 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- AMAT’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 3 bearish.
- ASML’s TA Score: 2 bullish, 6 bearish.
- QCOM’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
AMAT (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а -0.67% price change this week, while ASML (@Electronic Production Equipment) price change was -5.62% , and QCOM (@Semiconductors) price fluctuated -7.31% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was -3.46%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +6.34%, and the average quarterly price growth was +121.99%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Semiconductors industry was -2.02%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -4.29%, and the average quarterly price growth was +88.34%.
Reported Earning Dates
AMAT is expected to report earnings on Aug 13, 2026.
ASML is expected to report earnings on Jul 15, 2026.
QCOM is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Production Equipment (-3.46% 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.
@Semiconductors (-2.02% weekly)The semiconductor industry manufacturers all chip-related products, including research and development. These chips are used in innumerable electronic devices, including computers, cell phones, smartphones, and GPSs. Intel Corporation, NVIDIA Corp., and Broadcomm are some of the prominent players in this industry. Semiconductor companies usually tend to do well during periods of healthy economic growth, thereby inducing further research and development in the industry – which in turn augurs well for productivity and growth in the economy. In the near future, demand for semiconductor products (and possibly innovation within the segment) should only expand further, with the proliferation of 5G, autonomous vehicles, IoT, and various AI-driven electronics set to herald a new, advanced chapter in the technology-driven world as we know it. With burgeoning prospects comes great competition. In 2015, SIA estimated that U.S. semiconductor industry ranks as the second most competitive U.S. industry out of 2882 U.S. industries designated manufacturers by the U.S. Census Bureau.
| AMAT | ASML | QCOM | |
| Capitalization | 468B | 687B | 208B |
| EBITDA | 11.1B | 11.9B | 14B |
| Gain YTD | 129.751 | 65.564 | 16.581 |
| P/E Ratio | 60.22 | 65.04 | 23.86 |
| Revenue | 29B | 33.7B | 44.5B |
| Total Cash | 8.24B | 8.38B | 9.8B |
| Total Debt | 7.27B | 2.71B | 15.3B |
AMAT | ASML | QCOM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 44 | 26 | 76 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 78 Overvalued | 84 Overvalued | 48 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 7 | 19 | 55 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 24 | 19 | 27 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 2 | 37 | 43 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 5 | 9 | 18 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 75 | 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.
QCOM's Valuation (48) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is in the same range as AMAT (78) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for ASML (84) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that QCOM's stock grew similarly to AMAT’s and somewhat faster than ASML’s over the last 12 months.
AMAT's Profit vs Risk Rating (7) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as ASML (19) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for QCOM (55) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that AMAT's stock grew similarly to ASML’s and somewhat faster than QCOM’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) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is in the same range as QCOM (27) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that ASML's stock grew similarly to AMAT’s and similarly to QCOM’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) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for QCOM (43) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that AMAT's stock grew somewhat faster than ASML’s and somewhat faster than QCOM’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) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is in the same range as QCOM (18) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that AMAT's stock grew similarly to ASML’s and similarly to QCOM’s over the last 12 months.
| AMAT | ASML | QCOM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 70% | 1 day ago 62% | 1 day ago 79% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 72% | 1 day ago 73% | 1 day ago 63% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 81% | 1 day ago 74% | 1 day ago 78% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 73% | 1 day ago 82% | 1 day ago 73% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 77% | 1 day ago 69% | 1 day ago 69% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 77% | 1 day ago 75% | 1 day ago 70% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 76% | 8 days ago 73% | 11 days ago 65% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | N/A | 1 day ago 66% | 1 day ago 72% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 63% | 1 day ago 58% | 1 day ago 78% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 75% | 1 day ago 75% | 1 day ago 60% |
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AMAT and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, AMAT has been closely correlated with LRCX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 88% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if AMAT jumps, then LRCX could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To AMAT | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMAT | 100% | +0.53% | ||
| LRCX - AMAT | 88% Closely correlated | +0.93% | ||
| KLAC - AMAT | 85% Closely correlated | -1.64% | ||
| NVMI - AMAT | 78% Closely correlated | -1.13% | ||
| ASML - AMAT | 77% Closely correlated | -0.88% | ||
| ONTO - AMAT | 76% Closely correlated | +2.01% | ||
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