ATS vs NOVT

For growth investors, Novanta Inc.

(NOVT) is the stronger pick with 3. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -16. 5% for ATS Corporation (ATS). Novanta Inc. (NOVT) offers the better valuation at 92. 7x trailing P/E (38. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Novanta Inc. (NOVT) a "Buy" — based on 3 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 forward P/E, ATS Corporation is actually cheaper at 27.

2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, ATS Corporation (ATS) delivered a total return of +46.

3%, compared to +5. 7% for Novanta Inc. (NOVT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NOVT returned +853. 7% versus ATS's +282. 7%. 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), ATS Corporation (ATS) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

87β versus Novanta Inc. 's 2. 02β — meaning NOVT is approximately 8% more volatile than ATS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Novanta Inc. (NOVT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 26% versus 99% for ATS Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Novanta Inc.

(NOVT) is pulling ahead at 3. 3% versus -16. 5% for ATS Corporation (ATS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Novanta Inc. grew EPS -16. 9% year-over-year, compared to -114. 7% for ATS Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, ATS leads at 5. 1% 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.

Novanta Inc.

(NOVT) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 5% net margin versus -1. 1% for ATS Corporation — meaning it keeps 5. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NOVT leads at 11. 9% versus 0. 4% for ATS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NOVT leads at 44. 4%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, ATS Corporation (ATS) trades at 27.

2x forward P/E versus 38. 2x for Novanta Inc. — 11. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NOVT: 10. 1% to $150. 00.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Novanta Inc.

(NOVT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+853. 7% 10Y return). ATS Corporation (ATS) carries a higher beta of 1. 87 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NOVT: +853. 7%, ATS: +282. 7%), 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 (ATS (Industrials) and NOVT (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.