MTRN vs AMAT

For growth investors, Materion Corporation (MTRN) is the stronger pick with 6.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 4% for Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT). Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) offers the better valuation at 49. 5x trailing P/E (38. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Materion Corporation (MTRN) a "Buy" — based on 10 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Applied Materials, Inc.

(AMAT) is the cheapest at 49. 5x versus Materion Corporation at 54. 9x. On forward P/E, Materion Corporation is actually cheaper at 30. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Materion Corporation wins at 0. 84x versus Applied Materials, Inc. 's 2. 25x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Applied Materials, Inc.

(AMAT) delivered a total return of +230. 5%, compared to +159. 4% for Materion Corporation (MTRN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AMAT returned +21. 1% versus MTRN's +669. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Materion Corporation (MTRN) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

62β versus Applied Materials, Inc. 's 2. 14β — meaning AMAT is approximately 32% more volatile than MTRN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 64% for Materion Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Materion Corporation (MTRN) is pulling ahead at 6.

0% versus 4. 4% for Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Materion Corporation grew EPS 1179% year-over-year, compared to 0. 6% for Applied Materials, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AMAT leads at 3. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Applied Materials, Inc.

(AMAT) is the more profitable company, earning 24. 7% net margin versus 4. 2% for Materion Corporation — meaning it keeps 24. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AMAT leads at 29. 2% versus 6. 5% for MTRN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AMAT leads at 48. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Materion Corporation (MTRN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 84x versus Applied Materials, Inc. 's 2. 25x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Materion Corporation (MTRN) trades at 30. 8x forward P/E versus 38. 7x for Applied Materials, Inc. — 7. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AMAT: -0. 5% to $426. 39.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) offers the highest yield at 0. 4%, versus 0. 3% for Materion Corporation (MTRN).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Materion Corporation (MTRN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+669.

3% 10Y return). Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) carries a higher beta of 2. 14 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MTRN: +669. 3%, AMAT: +21. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (MTRN (Basic Materials) and AMAT (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.