Applied Materials vs. Micron Technology: Which Technology Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

Key Points Applied Materials is a leading provider of the equipment and software essential for manufacturing advanced semiconductors. Micron Technology is a major producer of memory and storage solutions seeing significant growth from data center demand. Which semiconductor stock deserves a spot in your portfolio? 10 stocks we like better than Applied Materials › Choosing between an equipment powerhouse and a memory giant requires understanding how the next phase of chip demand will unfold. Should you favor Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ:AMAT) or Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MU) ? Applied Materials provides the tools needed to build advanced chips, while Micron focuses on the memory and storage components those chips require.