AMAT vs. UMC: Applied Materials vs. United Microelectronics Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Applied Materials (AMAT) and United Microelectronics (UMC) 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 United Microelectronics (UMC) both belong to the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, though AMAT is classified under Semiconductor Materials & Equipment while UMC falls under Semiconductors.

Applied Materials (AMAT) trades as ordinary local shares, while United Microelectronics (UMC) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Applied Materials (AMAT) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Profile Item	AMAT	UMC
Name	Applied Materials Inc.	United Microelectronics Corp. ADR
Country/Region	United States	Taiwan
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	34.73 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	September 19, 2000
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AMAT

UMC

GSPC

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC), 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 United Microelectronics (UMC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Applied Materials (AMAT) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Metric	AMAT	UMC
Total Return (1Y)	62.12%	102.63%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	38.42%	31.57%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	19.86%	11.51%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AMAT

UMC

GSPC

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC), 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 United Microelectronics (UMC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Applied Materials (AMAT) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Metric	AMAT	UMC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	63.72%	67.94%
Beta (5Y)	1.68	1.77
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-55.80%	-54.30%
Avg. Volume (3M)	7.16M	11.82M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AMAT and UMC 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 United Microelectronics (UMC)
Metric	AMAT	UMC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.91	1.45
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.35	2.35

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Applied Materials (AMAT) at 41.07% sits in the top ROE quartile, while United Microelectronics (UMC) at 20.37% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AMAT.

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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

20.37%

Max: 52.82%
Q3: 22.26%
UMC: 20.37%
Median: 10.58%
Q1: 1.29%
Min: -16.89%

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): 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 United Microelectronics (UMC) at 31.95% 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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

31.95%

Max: 63.80%
UMC: 31.95%
Q3: 28.36%
Median: 11.44%
Q1: 0.90%
Min: -37.77%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Applied Materials (AMAT) at 33.74% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of United Microelectronics (UMC) at 25.09%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

25.09%

Max: 58.66%
Q3: 30.23%
UMC: 25.09%
Median: 15.91%
Q1: 7.54%
Min: -25.74%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Applied Materials (AMAT) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Metric	AMAT	UMC
ROE (TTM)	41.07%	20.37%
ROA (TTM)	15.48%	5.79%
Net Margin (TTM)	30.05%	31.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)	33.74%	25.09%
Gross Margin (TTM)	49.40%	31.72%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Applied Materials (AMAT) at 4.39% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 2.26% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Applied Materials (AMAT) at 0.58% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at -12.57% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Applied Materials (AMAT) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Metric	AMAT	UMC
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.39%	2.26%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.23%	-5.19%
EPS Growth (YoY)	0.58%	-12.57%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.19%	-21.92%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Applied Materials (AMAT) at 2.42 and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 3.27 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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

3.27

Max: 10.33
Q3: 5.62
Median: 3.33
UMC: 3.27
Q1: 2.35
Min: 1.03

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Applied Materials (AMAT) at 0.29 and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 0.17 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.17

Max: 1.46
Q3: 0.65
Median: 0.27
UMC: 0.17
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.00

Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): 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 United Microelectronics (UMC)
Metric	AMAT	UMC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.42	3.27
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.29	0.17
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.19	-0.60

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Applied Materials (AMAT) at 0.62% pays an industry-typical yield; United Microelectronics (UMC) at 19.43% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

19.43%

UMC: 19.43%
Max: 1.37%
Q3: 0.65%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Applied Materials (AMAT) at 16.48% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while United Microelectronics (UMC) at 37.46% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

37.46%

Max: 49.64%
UMC: 37.46%
Q3: 21.71%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Applied Materials (AMAT) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Metric	AMAT	UMC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.62%	19.43%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	16.48%	37.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 13.07 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 UMC, 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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

13.07

Max: 110.34
Q3: 66.81
Median: 37.02
Q1: 23.96
UMC: 13.07
Min: 8.12

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 0.13 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Applied Materials (AMAT) at 8.56 prices around its industry’s middle — UMC costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.13

Max: 21.42
Q3: 12.27
Median: 5.76
Q1: 2.73
UMC: 0.13
Min: 0.00

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 2.39 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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.39

Max: 14.06
Q3: 7.44
Median: 4.29
UMC: 2.39
Q1: 2.30
Min: 0.20

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Applied Materials (AMAT) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Metric	AMAT	UMC
P/E Ratio (TTM)	28.71	13.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)	8.56	0.13
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	10.30	2.39
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.16%	129.43%