ACLS
Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
Semiconductors
Market Cap$5.54B
5Y Perf.+536.9%
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Stock Comparison
ACLS vs MKSI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MKSI
MKS Inc.
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$19.78B
5Y Perf.+178.1%
ACLS vs MKSI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ACLS | MKSI |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Semiconductors | Hardware, Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $5.54B | $19.78B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $839M | $3.93B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $120M | $295M |
| Gross Margin | 44.9% | 45.2% |
| Operating Margin | 14.2% | 13.7% |
| Forward P/E | 46.9x | 29.7x |
| Total Debt | $42M | $4.69B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $145M | $675M |
ACLS vs MKSI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ACLS
MKSI
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axcelis Technologie… (ACLS) | 100 | 636.9 | +536.9% |
| MKS Inc. (MKSI) | 100 | 278.1 | +178.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ACLS vs MKSI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: MKSI leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Axcelis Technologies, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ACLS
Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
The Income Pick
ACLS is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 2.00
- 16.1% 10Y total return vs MKSI's 7.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 2.00, Low D/E 4.1%, current ratio 4.77x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
MKSI
MKS Inc.
The Growth Play
MKSI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 9.6%, EPS growth 55.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.5%
- 9.6% revenue growth vs ACLS's -17.6%
- Lower P/E (29.7x vs 46.9x)
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | MKSI | 9.6% revenue growth vs ACLS's -17.6% |
| Value | MKSI | Lower P/E (29.7x vs 46.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | ACLS | 14.3% margin vs MKSI's 7.5% |
| Stability / Safety | ACLS | Beta 2.00 vs MKSI's 2.64, lower leverage |
| Dividends | MKSI | 0.3% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | MKSI | +305.5% vs ACLS's +212.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ACLS | 8.8% ROA vs MKSI's 3.4%, ROIC 9.6% vs 6.5% |
ACLS vs MKSI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
ACLS vs MKSI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLACLSLAGGINGMKSI
MKSIMKS Inc.
1leads
ACLSAxcelis Technologies,…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs MKSIMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
MKSI4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ACLS8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
ACLS2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — ACLS and MKSI each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MKSI is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.9B annually — 4.7x ACLS's $839M. ACLS is the more profitable business, keeping 14.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to MKSI's 7.5%. On growth, MKSI holds the edge at +10.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ACLSAxcelis Technolog… | MKSIMKS Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $839M | $3.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $137M | $883M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $120M | $295M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $107M | $496M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +44.9% | +45.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.2% | +13.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +14.3% | +7.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.8% | +12.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -5.6% | +10.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -28.6% | +18.8% |
Evenly matched — ACLS and MKSI each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
MKSI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 45.0x trailing earnings, ACLS trades at a 33% valuation discount to MKSI's 67.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, MKSI's 26.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ACLS's 39.7x.
| Metric | ACLSAxcelis Technolog… | MKSIMKS Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.5B | $19.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.4B | $23.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 45.00x | 67.22x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 46.87x | 29.65x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.13x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 39.71x | 26.18x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 6.60x | 5.03x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 5.23x | 7.31x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 51.77x | 39.79x |
MKSI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ACLS leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ACLS delivers a 11.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $12 for MKSI. ACLS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.04x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MKSI's 1.73x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MKSI scores 6/9 vs ACLS's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ACLSAxcelis Technolog… | MKSIMKS Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.6% | +11.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +8.8% | +3.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.6% | +6.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.4% | +7.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.04x | 1.73x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$103M | $4.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $145M | $675M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $42M | $4.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 33.79x | 2.48x |
ACLS leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — ACLS and MKSI each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ACLS five years ago would be worth $42,463 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $16,608 for MKSI. Over the past 12 months, MKSI leads with a +305.5% total return vs ACLS's +212.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MKSI at 52.9% vs ACLS's 12.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ACLSAxcelis Technolog… | MKSIMKS Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +98.6% | +74.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +212.7% | +305.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +42.5% | +257.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +324.6% | +66.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1610.0% | +737.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.5% | +52.9% |
Evenly matched — ACLS and MKSI each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ACLS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ACLS is the less volatile stock with a 2.00 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MKSI's 2.64 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ACLSAxcelis Technolog… | MKSIMKS Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.00x | 2.64x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $171.60 | $298.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $52.55 | $71.49 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.7% | +98.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 71.7 | 62.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 717K | 1.2M |
ACLS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ACLS as "Buy" and MKSI as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -7.1% upside for MKSI (target: $273) vs -25.1% for ACLS (target: $128). MKSI is the only dividend payer here at 0.30% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ACLSAxcelis Technolog… | MKSIMKS Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $128.00 | $272.86 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.87 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.2% | +0.2% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
ACLS leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Risk & Volatility). MKSI leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallAxcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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ACLS vs MKSI: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ACLS or MKSI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, MKS Inc.
(MKSI) is the stronger pick with 9. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -17. 6% for Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS). Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS) offers the better valuation at 45. 0x trailing P/E (46. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS) a "Buy" — based on 12 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.
02Which has the better valuation — ACLS or MKSI?
On trailing P/E, Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
(ACLS) is the cheapest at 45. 0x versus MKS Inc. at 67. 2x. On forward P/E, MKS Inc. is actually cheaper at 29. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ACLS or MKSI?
Over the past 5 years, Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
(ACLS) delivered a total return of +324. 6%, compared to +66. 1% for MKS Inc. (MKSI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACLS returned +1610% versus MKSI's +737. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ACLS or MKSI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
(ACLS) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 00β versus MKS Inc. 's 2. 64β — meaning MKSI is approximately 32% more volatile than ACLS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 173% for MKS Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ACLS or MKSI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), MKS Inc.
(MKSI) is pulling ahead at 9. 6% versus -17. 6% for Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MKS Inc. grew EPS 55. 5% year-over-year, compared to -38. 2% for Axcelis Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MKSI leads at 3. 5% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — ACLS or MKSI?
Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
(ACLS) is the more profitable company, earning 14. 3% net margin versus 7. 5% for MKS Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MKSI leads at 14. 4% versus 14. 2% for ACLS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACLS leads at 44. 9%, 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.
07Is ACLS or MKSI more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, MKS Inc.
(MKSI) trades at 29. 7x forward P/E versus 46. 9x for Axcelis Technologies, Inc. — 17. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MKSI: -7. 1% to $272. 86.
08Which pays a better dividend — ACLS or MKSI?
In this comparison, MKSI (0.
3% yield) pays a dividend. ACLS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is ACLS or MKSI better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
(ACLS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1610% 10Y return). MKS Inc. (MKSI) carries a higher beta of 2. 64 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ACLS: +1610%, MKSI: +737. 5%), 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.
10What are the main differences between ACLS and MKSI?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(ACLS: -5.6% · MKSI: 10.6%)Net Margin>
%
(ACLS: 14.3% · MKSI: 7.5%)P/E Ratio<
x
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