Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) vs Walmart Inc. (WMT)

Applied Materials Inc. is the world’s largest manufacturer of semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, with a broad portfolio covering nearly every segment of the WFE ecosystem. The company holds a leading market share in deposition technologies, which involve adding new material layers to semiconductor wafers. Applied Materials has greater exposure to general-purpose logic chips produced by integrated device manufacturers and foundries. Its customer base includes some of the world’s largest chipmakers, such as TSMC, Intel, and Samsung.

Founded in 1962, Walmart Inc. has grown into the world’s largest retailer, operating more than 10,700 stores worldwide, including about 4,600 Walmart locations in the United States and roughly 600 Sam’s Club warehouses, while continuing to expand its e-commerce business. The company serves around 270 million customers each week and generated over $680 billion in fiscal 2025 revenue. Walmart’s operations are organized into three reporting segments: Walmart U.S., which accounted for 68% of fiscal 2025 sales, Walmart International at 18%, and Sam’s Club at 14%. In the U.S., nearly 60% of Walmart’s $465 billion in fiscal 2025 revenue came from grocery sales, with about one-quarter generated by general merchandise. Internationally, the company’s business is primarily concentrated in Mexico, with additional emerging exposure to India.