AMAT vs. MU: Applied Materials vs. Micron Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Applied Materials (AMAT) and Micron (MU) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Applied Materials (AMAT) and Micron (MU) both belong to the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, though AMAT is classified under Semiconductor Materials & Equipment while MU falls under Semiconductors.

Company profile comparison for Applied Materials (AMAT) and Micron (MU)
Profile Item	AMAT	MU
Name	Applied Materials Inc.	Micron Technology Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Industry	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-Industry	Semiconductor Materials & Equipment	Semiconductors
Market Capitalization	264.04 billion USD	780.68 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	June 1, 1984
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AMAT

GSPC

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. Micron (MU), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Applied Materials (AMAT) and Micron (MU). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Applied Materials (AMAT) and Micron (MU). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Applied Materials (AMAT) and Micron (MU)
Metric	AMAT	MU
Total Return (1Y)	62.12%	208.53%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	38.42%	115.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	19.86%	58.28%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AMAT

GSPC

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. Micron (MU), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Applied Materials (AMAT) and Micron (MU). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Applied Materials (AMAT) and Micron (MU)
Metric	AMAT	MU
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	63.72%	83.85%
Beta (5Y)	1.68	2.44
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-55.80%	-57.63%
Avg. Volume (3M)	7.16M	27.63M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AMAT and MU are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Applied Materials (AMAT) and Micron (MU)
Metric	AMAT	MU
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.91	2.44
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.35	3.87

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Micron (MU) at 88.26% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Applied Materials (AMAT) at 41.07% also sits in the top quartile.

AMAT

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

41.07%

Max: 52.82%
AMAT: 41.07%
Q3: 22.26%
Median: 10.58%
Q1: 1.29%
Min: -16.89%

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

88.26%

MU: 88.26%
Max: 52.82%
Q3: 22.26%
Median: 10.58%
Q1: 1.29%
Min: -16.89%

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their ROE against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Applied Materials (AMAT) at 30.05% and Micron (MU) at 63.80% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

AMAT

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

30.05%

Max: 63.80%
AMAT: 30.05%
Q3: 28.36%
Median: 11.44%
Q1: 0.90%
Min: -37.77%

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

63.80%

MU: 63.80%
Max: 63.80%
Q3: 28.36%
Median: 11.44%
Q1: 0.90%
Min: -37.77%

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their net margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Micron (MU) at 80.68% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Applied Materials (AMAT) at 33.74% also operates in the top quartile.

AMAT

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

33.74%

Max: 58.66%
AMAT: 33.74%
Q3: 30.23%
Median: 15.91%
Q1: 7.54%
Min: -25.74%

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

80.68%

MU: 80.68%
Max: 58.66%
Q3: 30.23%
Median: 15.91%
Q1: 7.54%
Min: -25.74%

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their operating margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Applied Materials (AMAT) and Micron (MU)
Metric	AMAT	MU
ROE (TTM)	41.07%	88.26%
ROA (TTM)	15.48%	44.56%
Net Margin (TTM)	30.05%	63.80%
Operating Margin (TTM)	33.74%	80.68%
Gross Margin (TTM)	49.40%	80.72%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Micron (MU) at 256.33% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Applied Materials (AMAT) at 4.39%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Micron (MU) at 879.31% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Applied Materials (AMAT) at 0.58%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Applied Materials (AMAT) and Micron (MU)
Metric	AMAT	MU
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.39%	256.33%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.23%	104.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)	0.58%	879.31%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.19%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Applied Materials (AMAT) at 2.42 and Micron (MU) at 3.31 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AMAT

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.42

Max: 10.33
Q3: 5.62
Median: 3.33
AMAT: 2.42
Q1: 2.35
Min: 1.03

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

3.31

Max: 10.33
Q3: 5.62
Median: 3.33
MU: 3.31
Q1: 2.35
Min: 1.03

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their current ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Micron (MU) at 0.04 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Applied Materials (AMAT) at 0.29 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

AMAT

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.29

Max: 1.46
Q3: 0.65
AMAT: 0.29
Median: 0.27
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.00

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.04

Max: 1.46
Q3: 0.65
Median: 0.27
Q1: 0.04
MU: 0.04
Min: 0.00

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Applied Materials (AMAT) and Micron (MU)
Metric	AMAT	MU
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.42	3.31
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.29	0.04
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.19	-0.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Applied Materials (AMAT) at 0.62% and Micron (MU) at 0.09% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

AMAT

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.62%

Max: 1.37%
Q3: 0.65%
AMAT: 0.62%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.09%

Max: 1.37%
Q3: 0.65%
MU: 0.09%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Applied Materials (AMAT) at 16.48% and Micron (MU) at 0.71% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

AMAT

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

16.48%

Max: 49.64%
Q3: 21.71%
AMAT: 16.48%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.71%

Max: 49.64%
Q3: 21.71%
MU: 0.71%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Applied Materials (AMAT) and Micron (MU)
Metric	AMAT	MU
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.62%	0.09%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	16.48%	0.71%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Micron (MU) at 9.28 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Applied Materials (AMAT) at 28.71 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for MU, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

AMAT

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

28.71

Max: 110.34
Q3: 66.81
Median: 37.02
AMAT: 28.71
Q1: 23.96
Min: 8.12

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

9.28

Max: 110.34
Q3: 66.81
Median: 37.02
Q1: 23.96
MU: 9.28
Min: 8.12

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Applied Materials (AMAT) at 8.56 and Micron (MU) at 5.86 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

AMAT

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

8.56

Max: 21.42
Q3: 12.27
AMAT: 8.56
Median: 5.76
Q1: 2.73
Min: 0.00

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

5.86

Max: 21.42
Q3: 12.27
MU: 5.86
Median: 5.76
Q1: 2.73
Min: 0.00

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Micron (MU) at 5.64 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Applied Materials (AMAT) at 10.30 carries an above-peer premium to book — AMAT is pricier on assets.

AMAT

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

10.30

Max: 14.06
AMAT: 10.30
Q3: 7.44
Median: 4.29
Q1: 2.30
Min: 0.20

MU

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

5.64

Max: 14.06
Q3: 7.44
MU: 5.64
Median: 4.29
Q1: 2.30
Min: 0.20

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. Micron (MU): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Applied Materials (AMAT) and Micron (MU)
Metric	AMAT	MU
P/E Ratio (TTM)	28.71	9.28
P/S Ratio (TTM)	8.56	5.86
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	10.30	5.64
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.16%	3.73%