Astera Labs (ALAB) vs Applied Materials (AMAT)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Applied Materials (AMAT) has outperformed Astera Labs (ALAB) over the past year, gaining 134.3% versus a gain of 58.2%. Applied Materials is the larger company by market cap ($404.39 billion vs $60.21 billion), about 6.7 times the size, while Astera Labs is growing revenue faster (+115.1% vs +4.4%). On valuation, Applied Materials trades at a lower forward P/E (27.6x vs 54.3x for Astera Labs).
Applied Materials pays a dividend yielding 0.39%, while Astera Labs does not currently pay one. Astera Labs converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 25.7% versus 24.7%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ALAB | AMAT |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $347.05 | $509.57 |
| Market cap | $60.21B | $404.39B |
| 1-day change | -9.21% | -2.13% |
| YTD return | +108.61% | +98.28% |
| 1-year return | +58.21% | +134.27% |
| 5-year return | — | +287.24% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 170.96 | 43.97 |
| Forward P/E | 54.28 | 27.58 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.03 | $11.59 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.39% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $1.98 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $852.52M | $28.37B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +115.13% | +4.39% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $219.13M | $7.00B |
| Gross margin | 75.69% | 48.67% |
| Operating margin | 20.34% | 29.22% |
| Net margin | 25.70% | 24.67% |
| 52-week high | $499.48 | $739.67 |
| 52-week low | $97.89 | $203.40 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -30.52% | -31.11% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +12.36% | +25.39% |
| Average volume | 4.17M | 7.05M |
| Shares outstanding | 173.49M | 793.60M |
| Employees | 756 | 38,900 |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | Semiconductors | Semiconductors |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Applied Materials is about 6.7 times larger than Astera Labs by market value ($404.39B vs $60.21B).
- AMAT has outperformed ALAB by 76.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Astera Labs trades at a higher earnings multiple (171.0x vs 44.0x trailing P/E).
- Astera Labs grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+115.13% vs +4.39%).
About Astera Labs
ALAB stock →Astera Labs, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells semiconductor-based connectivity solutions for cloud and AI infrastructure in Taiwan and the United States.
Technology · Semiconductors · 756 employees
About Applied Materials
AMAT stock →Applied Materials, Inc. provides materials engineering solutions, equipment, services, and software to the semiconductor and related industries in the United States, China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, and internationally.
Technology · Semiconductors · 38,900 employees
ALAB vs AMAT FAQ
Which is bigger, Astera Labs or Applied Materials?
Applied Materials (AMAT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $404.39B compared with $60.21B for Astera Labs (ALAB).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ALAB or AMAT?
AMAT returned +134.27% over the past 12 months, compared with +58.21% for ALAB (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ALAB or AMAT?
AMAT has the lower trailing P/E at 44.0, versus 171.0 for ALAB. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Astera Labs or Applied Materials?
Applied Materials pays a dividend yielding 0.39%, while Astera Labs does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Astera Labs and Applied Materials in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Semiconductors industry within the Technology sector.