Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS) vs ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ACMR | 40.2% revenue growth vs ACLS's -17.6% |
| Value | ACLS | Lower P/E (22.6x vs 25.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | ACLS | 14.3% net margin vs ACMR's 13.3% |
| Stability / Safety | ACLS | Beta 1.62 vs ACMR's 1.90, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ACMR | 0.2% yield; 2-year raise streak; ACLS pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ACMR | +114.6% vs ACLS's +50.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ACLS | 8.8% ROA vs ACMR's 4.2%, ROIC 9.6% vs 13.2% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Axcelis Technologies designs and manufactures ion implantation equipment used in semiconductor chip fabrication. It generates revenue primarily from selling its implanters — high energy, high current, and medium current models — with aftermarket services like spare parts and maintenance contributing a significant portion. The company's moat lies in its specialized expertise in ion implantation technology and its established relationships with major semiconductor manufacturers.
ACM Research develops and manufactures single-wafer wet cleaning equipment used in semiconductor manufacturing to improve chip yield and performance. It generates revenue primarily from equipment sales—including its Ultra C brand tools for cleaning, plating, and other wafer processing steps—with service and support contracts providing recurring income. The company's competitive advantage lies in its proprietary cleaning technologies—like space alternated phase shift and timely energized bubble oscillation—which offer superior performance for advanced semiconductor nodes while reducing chemical consumption.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
ACMR leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Total Returns). ACLS leads in 3 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
ACMR and ACLS operate at a comparable scale, with $880M and $839M in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 14.3% (ACLS) to 13.3% (ACMR). On growth, ACMR holds the edge at +32.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ACLSAxcelis Technolog… | ACMRACM Research, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $839M | $880M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $137M | $144M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $120M | $117M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $107M | -$12M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +44.9% | +46.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.2% | +14.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +14.3% | +13.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.8% | -1.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -5.6% | +32.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -28.6% | +15.6% |
Valuation Metrics
At 21.7x trailing earnings, ACLS trades at a 40% valuation discount to ACMR's 36.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), ACMR offers better value at 1.01x vs ACLS's 1.03x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ACLSAxcelis Technolog… | ACMRACM Research, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.7B | $3.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.6B | $3.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 21.74x | 36.39x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.64x | 25.19x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.03x | 1.01x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 18.79x | 19.35x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.19x | 4.26x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.53x | 3.37x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 25.01x | 47.62x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ACLS delivers a 11.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $6 for ACMR. ACLS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.04x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ACMR's 0.17x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ACMR scores 6/9 vs ACLS's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ACLSAxcelis Technolog… | ACMRACM Research, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.6% | +6.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +8.8% | +4.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.6% | +13.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.4% | +13.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.04x | 0.17x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$103M | -$219M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $145M | $407M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $42M | $189M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 33.79x | 27.72x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ACLS five years ago would be worth $20,803 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,510 for ACMR. Over the past 12 months, ACMR leads with a +114.6% total return vs ACLS's +50.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ACMR at 75.1% vs ACLS's -13.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ACLSAxcelis Technolog… | ACMRACM Research, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -4.1% | +24.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +50.8% | +114.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -35.7% | +436.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +108.0% | +55.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +726.1% | +2877.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -13.7% | +75.1% |
Risk & Volatility
ACLS is the less volatile stock with a 1.62 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ACMR's 1.90 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ACLSAxcelis Technolog… | ACMRACM Research, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.62x | 1.90x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $102.93 | $71.65 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $40.40 | $16.82 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +80.3% | +77.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 46.7 | 45.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 597K | 1.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ACLS as "Buy" and ACMR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 33.2% upside for ACLS (target: $110) vs -28.2% for ACMR (target: $40). ACMR is the only dividend payer here at 0.19% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ACLSAxcelis Technolog… | ACMRACM Research, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $110.00 | $40.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 10 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.10 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.5% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axcelis Technologie… (ACLS) | 100 | 370.81 | +270.8% |
| ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) | 100 | 500.16 | +400.2% |
Axcelis Technologie… (ACLS) returned +108% over 5 years vs ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR)'s +55%. A $10,000 investment in ACLS 5 years ago would be worth $20,803 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axcelis Technologie… (ACLS) | $267M | $839M | +214.3% |
| ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) | $27M | $782M | +2757.5% |
Axcelis Technologies, Inc.'s revenue grew from $267M (2016) to $839M (2025) — a 13.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axcelis Technologie… (ACLS) | 4.1% | 14.3% | +247.8% |
| ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) | 3.8% | 13.2% | +251.7% |
Axcelis Technologies, Inc.'s net margin went from 4% (2016) to 14% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axcelis Technologie… (ACLS) | 7.6 | 21.1 | +177.6% |
| ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) | 30.3 | 9.9 | -67.3% |
Axcelis Technologies, Inc. has traded in a 8x–48x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~22x. ACM Research, Inc. has traded in a 10x–90x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~36x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axcelis Technologie… (ACLS) | 0.36 | 3.8 | +955.6% |
| ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) | 0.04 | 1.53 | +3409.2% |
Axcelis Technologies, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.36 (2016) to $3.80 (2025) — a 30% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Axcelis Technologies, Inc. generated $107M FCF in 2025 (-24% vs 2021). ACM Research, Inc. generated $70M FCF in 2024 (+241% vs 2021).
ACLS vs ACMR: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ACLS or ACMR a better buy right now?
Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS) offers the better valuation at 21.7x trailing P/E (22.6x 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 ACMR?
On trailing P/E, Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS) is the cheapest at 21.7x versus ACM Research, Inc. at 36.4x. On forward P/E, Axcelis Technologies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 22.6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: ACM Research, Inc. wins at 0.70x versus Axcelis Technologies, Inc.'s 1.07x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ACLS or ACMR?
Over the past 5 years, Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS) delivered a total return of +108.0%, compared to +55.1% for ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR). A $10,000 investment in ACLS five years ago would be worth approximately $21K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACMR returned +28.8% versus ACLS's +726.1%. 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 ACMR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS) is the lower-risk stock at 1.62β versus ACM Research, Inc.'s 1.90β — meaning ACMR is approximately 17% 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 17% for ACM Research, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ACLS or ACMR?
Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS) is the more profitable company, earning 14.3% net margin versus 13.2% for ACM Research, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACMR leads at 19.3% versus 14.2% for ACLS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACMR leads at 50.1%, 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.
06Is ACLS or ACMR more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.70x versus Axcelis Technologies, Inc.'s 1.07x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS) trades at 22.6x forward P/E versus 25.2x for ACM Research, Inc. — 2.6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACLS: 33.2% to $110.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — ACLS or ACMR?
In this comparison, ACMR (0.2% yield) pays a dividend. ACLS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is ACLS or ACMR 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 (+726.1% 10Y return). ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) carries a higher beta of 1.90 — 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: +726.1%, ACMR: +28.8%), 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.
09What are the main differences between ACLS and ACMR?
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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