Quick verdict: AMAT vs INTU in 2026

Overall, Intuit (INTU) appears to have a slight edge in this amat vs intu stock comparison 2026, leading in key growth and valuation metrics. INTU is the clear growth leader with substantially higher revenue growth and significantly more implied upside from analyst price targets and DCF. While Applied Materials (AMAT) demonstrates superior operational efficiency with higher net and EBITDA margins, INTU also presents itself as the value leader with more attractive P/E and P/B ratios. Analysts show a strong consensus Buy rating for both, though AMAT has a marginally higher percentage of Buy ratings, while INTU offers the most upside. This is not investment advice.

AMAT vs INTU: key metrics side by side

Full side-by-side comparison of AMAT and INTU across valuation, profitability, growth and analyst sentiment. Data updated 2026-04-01.

AMAT vs INTU valuation comparison

When considering AMAT vs INTU valuation, Intuit (INTU) presents a more compelling case for investors seeking a reasonably priced growth stock. INTU trades at a P/E ratio of 27.8x, significantly lower than Applied Materials (AMAT) at 34.58x. This suggests that the market values INTU’s earnings more conservatively, or sees greater growth potential justifying its current price relative to its profitability. Furthermore, the Price-to-Book (P/B) ratio reinforces this perspective, with INTU at 6.33x compared to AMAT’s higher 12.48x. On these traditional valuation multiples, INTU appears to be the cheaper stock.

Digging deeper into the intrinsic value, the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) models provide starkly different pictures. AMAT shows a negative DCF upside of -211.0%, implying that its current stock price is significantly overvalued based on its projected future cash flows. In contrast, INTU’s DCF upside is -17.0%, which, while still suggesting some overvaluation, is a far less severe discrepancy compared to AMAT. This further solidifies INTU’s position as the more attractively valued option when assessing amat vs intu fundamentals and valuation, especially for long-term investors sensitive to intrinsic value estimates.

AMAT vs INTU growth comparison

In terms of growth, Intuit (INTU) clearly demonstrates stronger momentum, making it a standout choice for growth-oriented investors in this amat vs intu stock comparison 2026. INTU reported an impressive revenue growth of +15.6% year-over-year, significantly outperforming Applied Materials (AMAT), which posted a more modest revenue growth of +4.4%. This substantial difference highlights INTU’s ability to expand its top-line revenue at a much faster pace, indicative of robust demand for its software and services in the financial technology sector.

While both companies operate in the broader technology sector, INTU’s focus on essential financial management software for consumers and small businesses appears to provide a more consistent and higher growth trajectory. This stronger revenue growth often translates into greater opportunities for future earnings expansion, directly impacting amat vs intu earnings growth comparison. Although AMAT’s 4.4% growth is respectable, particularly in the cyclical semiconductor equipment industry, INTU’s double-digit expansion underscores its position as the growth leader, suggesting a more dynamic business model with stronger forward estimates for sustained expansion.

AMAT vs INTU profitability

When examining AMAT vs INTU profitability, Applied Materials (AMAT) exhibits superior operational margins, while Intuit (INTU) generates a healthier free cash flow yield. AMAT boasts a net margin of 27.78%, which is considerably higher than INTU’s 21.57%. Similarly, AMAT’s EBITDA margin stands at an impressive 35.04%, surpassing INTU’s 32.71%. These figures indicate that AMAT is more efficient at converting its revenue into operating and net income, showcasing stronger control over its costs and a potentially more favorable pricing environment for its products and services in the semiconductor industry.

However, the Free Cash Flow (FCF) yield tells a different story regarding cash generation and provides valuable insight into the amat vs intu dividend and margins analysis. INTU demonstrates a robust FCF yield of 5.68%, significantly higher than AMAT’s 2.28%. This suggests that INTU is generating more cash relative to its market capitalization, which is a crucial indicator of a company’s ability to fund operations, pay down debt, and potentially return capital to shareholders. Unfortunately, the Return on Equity (ROE) for both companies is listed as N/A%, preventing a direct comparison of their efficiency in generating profits from shareholder equity. Despite AMAT’s superior margins, INTU’s stronger FCF yield points to its effectiveness in translating earnings into actual cash.

Analyst ratings: AMAT vs INTU

The analyst community holds a positive outlook on both Applied Materials (AMAT) and Intuit (INTU), with both stocks garnering a consensus “Buy” rating. However, there are nuances in their respective recommendations that are important to consider in an amat vs intu stock comparison 2026. AMAT has a higher percentage of Buy ratings, with 79.3% of the 53 analysts covering the stock recommending a Buy. Their collective price target for AMAT is $420.83, implying a respectable upside of +23.1% from its current price of $341.79. This indicates a strong, albeit more conservative, confidence in AMAT’s future performance.

On the other hand, INTU, while having a slightly lower percentage of Buy ratings at 74.4% from 43 analysts, offers a significantly more aggressive upside potential. The consensus price target for INTU is $666.75, representing a substantial +54.2% increase from its current price of $432.38. This suggests that while fewer analysts might be on board compared to AMAT, those covering INTU foresee a much greater appreciation in its stock value. Therefore, while AMAT might be the “analyst favourite” in terms of sheer buy percentage for amat vs intu analyst ratings and recommendations, INTU is clearly favored for its higher growth potential and target price upside in the amat vs intu target price comparison 2026.

Should I buy AMAT or INTU stock in 2026?

For growth investors in 2026, the data strongly points towards Intuit (INTU) as the more attractive option. Its impressive revenue growth of +15.6% year-over-year significantly outpaces Applied Materials’ (AMAT) +4.4%. Furthermore, INTU boasts a much higher analyst price target upside of +54.2% compared to AMAT’s +23.1%. This suggests that experts foresee greater capital appreciation potential for INTU, making it a compelling choice for those prioritizing rapid expansion and future stock price appreciation. When considering should i buy amat or intu stock 2026, growth-focused portfolios would likely find INTU more aligned with their objectives.

From a value investment perspective, INTU also appears to hold an advantage, based on amat vs intu fundamentals and valuation. Trading at a lower P/E ratio of 27.8x compared to AMAT’s 34.58x, and a P/B ratio of 6.33x versus AMAT’s 12.48x, INTU offers a more appealing entry point relative to its earnings and book value. The DCF analysis further reinforces this, with INTU’s -17.0% downside being far less concerning than AMAT’s -211.0%. This indicates that INTU is less overvalued by intrinsic value models, making it a better pick for investors seeking a quality company at a more reasonable price.

Regarding income, neither AMAT nor INTU stands out as a strong dividend play for 2026, as both companies offer a minimal dividend yield of 0.01%. Therefore, investors primarily focused on generating regular income from their stock holdings would likely need to look elsewhere. However, for investors weighing amat vs intu for total returns and the amat vs intu long-term investment outlook 2026, INTU’s superior growth prospects and more favorable valuation metrics suggest it might offer a better balance of risk and reward for capital gains. This is not investment advice; always conduct your own thorough research.

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