AEIS vs MKSI vs ITRI vs NOVT vs GTLS

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 Chart Industries, Inc. at 628. 5x. On forward P/E, Itron, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Novanta Inc. wins at 11. 61x 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: AEIS returned +928. 9% versus ITRI's +94. 4%. 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), Chart Industries, Inc.

(GTLS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 56β versus MKS Inc. 's 2. 64β — meaning MKSI is approximately 373% more volatile than GTLS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Novanta Inc. (NOVT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 26% 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 -92. 0% for Chart Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GTLS leads at 38. 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.

Itron, Inc.

(ITRI) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 7% net margin versus 1. 0% for Chart Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GTLS leads at 15. 2% versus 10. 9% for AEIS. 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.

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, Novanta Inc. (NOVT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 11. 61x 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, Itron, Inc. (ITRI) trades at 13. 5x forward P/E versus 40. 4x for Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. — 26. 9x 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, MKSI (0.

3% yield), GTLS (0. 3% yield), AEIS (0. 1% yield) pay a dividend. ITRI, NOVT do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Chart Industries, Inc.

(GTLS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 56), +772. 5% 10Y return). Itron, Inc. (ITRI) carries a higher beta of 1. 53 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (GTLS: +772. 5%, ITRI: +94. 4%), 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 MKSI (Technology) and ITRI (Technology) and NOVT (Technology) and GTLS (Industrials)), 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; MKSI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ITRI is a small-cap deep-value stock; NOVT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GTLS is a small-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.