ACMR vs ONTO

For growth investors, ACM Research, Inc.

(ACMR) is the stronger pick with 15. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 8% for Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO). ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) offers the better valuation at 40. 4x trailing P/E (27. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) a "Buy" — based on 10 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 trailing P/E, ACM Research, Inc.

(ACMR) is the cheapest at 40. 4x versus Onto Innovation Inc. at 105. 8x. On forward P/E, ACM Research, Inc. is actually cheaper at 27. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: ACM Research, Inc. wins at 0. 78x versus Onto Innovation Inc. 's 1. 20x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Onto Innovation Inc.

(ONTO) delivered a total return of +359. 0%, compared to +120. 6% for ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACMR returned +28. 6% versus ONTO's +1558%. 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), Onto Innovation Inc.

(ONTO) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 66β versus ACM Research, Inc. 's 3. 24β — meaning ACMR is approximately 22% more volatile than ONTO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 16% for ACM Research, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), ACM Research, Inc.

(ACMR) is pulling ahead at 15. 2% versus 1. 8% for Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ACM Research, Inc. grew EPS -10. 5% year-over-year, compared to -31. 5% for Onto Innovation Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ACMR leads at 32. 3% 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.

Onto Innovation Inc.

(ONTO) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 6% net margin versus 10. 4% for ACM Research, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ONTO leads at 13. 2% versus 12. 1% for ACMR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ONTO leads at 49. 7%, 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.

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. 78x versus Onto Innovation Inc. 's 1. 20x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) trades at 27. 8x forward P/E versus 41. 6x for Onto Innovation Inc. — 13. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ONTO: 4. 9% to $308. 33.

In this comparison, ACMR (0.

2% yield) pays a dividend. ONTO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Onto Innovation Inc.

(ONTO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1558% 10Y return). ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) carries a higher beta of 3. 24 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ONTO: +1558%, ACMR: +28. 6%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: ACMR is a small-cap high-growth stock; ONTO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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.