AEIS vs ITRI vs MKSI vs REZI vs AMAT

For growth investors, Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.

(AEIS) is the stronger pick with 21. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 0% for Itron, Inc. (ITRI). Itron, Inc. (ITRI) offers the better valuation at 12. 5x trailing P/E (13. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (AEIS) a "Buy" — based on 24 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, Itron, Inc.

(ITRI) is the cheapest at 12. 5x versus Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. at 91. 7x. On forward P/E, Resideo Technologies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Applied Materials, Inc. wins at 2. 16x versus Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. 's 21. 57x.

Over the past 5 years, Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.

(AEIS) delivered a total return of +292. 7%, compared to -7. 2% for Itron, Inc. (ITRI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AMAT returned +20. 1% versus REZI's +38. 9%. 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), Itron, Inc.

(ITRI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 53β versus MKS Inc. 's 2. 64β — meaning MKSI is approximately 73% more volatile than ITRI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 173% for MKS Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.

(AEIS) is pulling ahead at 21. 4% versus -3. 0% for Itron, Inc. (ITRI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. grew EPS 168. 5% year-over-year, compared to -718. 0% for Resideo Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ITRI leads at 9. 7% 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.

Applied Materials, Inc.

(AMAT) is the more profitable company, earning 24. 7% net margin versus -7. 1% for Resideo Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 24. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AMAT leads at 29. 2% versus 8. 1% for REZI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AMAT leads at 48. 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, Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 16x versus Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. 's 21. 57x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Resideo Technologies, Inc. (REZI) trades at 13. 1x forward P/E versus 40. 4x for Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. — 27. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ITRI: 68. 8% to $137. 00.

In this comparison, REZI (0.

6% yield), AMAT (0. 4% yield), MKSI (0. 3% yield), AEIS (0. 1% yield) pay a dividend. ITRI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.

(AEIS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+928. 9% 10Y return). Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) carries a higher beta of 2. 14 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AEIS: +928. 9%, AMAT: +20. 1%), 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 (AEIS (Industrials) and ITRI (Technology) and MKSI (Technology) and REZI (Industrials) and AMAT (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: AEIS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; ITRI is a small-cap deep-value stock; MKSI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; REZI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AMAT is a large-cap quality compounder stock. REZI pays a dividend while AEIS, ITRI, MKSI, AMAT do 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.