Compare ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) vs Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) Stock

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) offers the better valuation at 35.1x trailing P/E (0.8x 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, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is the cheapest at 35.1x versus ACM Research, Inc. at 36.4x. On forward P/E, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited is actually cheaper at 0.8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited wins at 0.03x versus ACM Research, Inc.'s 0.70x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) delivered a total return of +196.8%, compared to +55.1% for ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR). A $10,000 investment in TSM five years ago would be worth approximately $30K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACMR returned +28.8% versus TSM's +1552%. 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), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is the lower-risk stock at 1.44β versus ACM Research, Inc.'s 1.90β — meaning ACMR is approximately 31% more volatile than TSM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 18% for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is the more profitable company, earning 45.1% net margin versus 13.2% for ACM Research, Inc. — meaning it keeps 45.1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TSM leads at 50.8% versus 19.3% for ACMR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TSM leads at 59.9%, 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.

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, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.03x versus ACM Research, Inc.'s 0.70x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) trades at 0.8x forward P/E versus 25.2x for ACM Research, Inc. — 24.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TSM: 8.9% to $408.00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) offers the highest yield at 0.8%, versus 0.2% for ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0.8% yield, +1552% 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 (TSM: +1552%, 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.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. TSM pays a dividend while ACMR does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.