Applied Materials vs. AMD: Which AI Semiconductor Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

Applied Materials and AMD offer different exposure to AI semiconductor demand. Applied Materials supplies chip manufacturing equipment with a lower valuation (P/E 23.4x) and improving growth trajectory, while AMD designs processors with faster 2025 revenue growth (34.3%) but faces potential shareholder dilution from OpenAI and Meta warrants covering ~20% of shares outstanding. The author recommends Applied Materials as the better buy, though both stocks have merit for long-term diversified portfolios.