ALGN
Align Technology, Inc.
Medical - Devices
Market Cap$12.46B
5Y Perf.-31.4%
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Stock Comparison
ALGN vs HOLX
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
HOLX
Hologic, Inc.
Medical - Instruments & Supplies
Market Cap$16.97B
5Y Perf.+42.6%
ALGN vs HOLX — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ALGN | HOLX |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Devices | Medical - Instruments & Supplies |
| Market Cap | $12.46B | $16.97B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.10B | $4.13B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $430M | $544M |
| Gross Margin | 67.7% | 52.8% |
| Operating Margin | 14.4% | 17.5% |
| Forward P/E | 14.9x | 17.2x |
| Total Debt | $114M | $2.63B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.08B | $1.96B |
ALGN vs HOLX — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ALGN
HOLX
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Align Technology, I… (ALGN) | 100 | 68.6 | -31.4% |
| Hologic, Inc. (HOLX) | 100 | 142.6 | +42.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ALGN vs HOLX
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: HOLX leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Align Technology, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and operational efficiency and capital deployment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ALGN
Align Technology, Inc.
The Growth Play
ALGN is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 0.9%, EPS growth 0.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 2.6%
- 132.9% 10Y total return vs HOLX's 125.4%
- Lower P/E (14.9x vs 17.2x)
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
HOLX
Hologic, Inc.
The Income Pick
HOLX carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 0.41
- Lower volatility, beta 0.41, Low D/E 52.0%, current ratio 3.75x
- Beta 0.41, current ratio 3.75x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | HOLX | 1.7% revenue growth vs ALGN's 0.9% |
| Value | ALGN | Lower P/E (14.9x vs 17.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | HOLX | 13.2% margin vs ALGN's 10.5% |
| Stability / Safety | HOLX | Beta 0.41 vs ALGN's 1.66 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | HOLX | +43.1% vs ALGN's +0.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ALGN | 6.9% ROA vs HOLX's 5.9%, ROIC 15.4% vs 9.4% |
ALGN vs HOLX — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
ALGN vs HOLX — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLALGNLAGGINGHOLX
HOLXHologic, Inc.
2leads
ALGNAlign Technology, Inc.
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs HOLXMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ALGN4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ALGN8/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
HOLX4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
HOLX2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — ALGN and HOLX each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HOLX and ALGN operate at a comparable scale, with $4.1B and $4.1B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 13.2% (HOLX) to 10.5% (ALGN). On growth, ALGN holds the edge at +6.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ALGNAlign Technology,… | HOLXHologic, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.1B | $4.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $790M | $974M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $430M | $544M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $717M | $1000M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +67.7% | +52.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.4% | +17.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.5% | +13.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +17.5% | +24.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.2% | +2.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +23.6% | -9.2% |
Evenly matched — ALGN and HOLX each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ALGN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 30.5x trailing earnings, HOLX trades at a 1% valuation discount to ALGN's 30.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ALGN's 14.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than HOLX's 17.4x.
| Metric | ALGNAlign Technology,… | HOLXHologic, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $12.5B | $17.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $11.5B | $17.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 30.79x | 30.53x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.85x | 17.21x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.42x | 17.39x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.09x | 4.14x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.12x | 3.43x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 25.38x | 18.44x |
ALGN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ALGN leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ALGN delivers a 10.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $10 for HOLX. ALGN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to HOLX's 0.52x.
| Metric | ALGNAlign Technology,… | HOLXHologic, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.7% | +10.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.9% | +5.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +15.4% | +9.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +14.5% | +8.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | 0.52x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$965M | $667M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.1B | $2.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $114M | $2.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 389.13x | 8.00x |
ALGN leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
HOLX leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in HOLX five years ago would be worth $11,665 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,975 for ALGN. Over the past 12 months, HOLX leads with a +43.1% total return vs ALGN's +0.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HOLX at -2.9% vs ALGN's -17.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ALGNAlign Technology,… | HOLXHologic, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.5% | +1.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +0.5% | +43.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -43.2% | -8.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -70.3% | +16.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +132.9% | +125.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -17.2% | -2.9% |
HOLX leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HOLX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HOLX is the less volatile stock with a 0.41 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ALGN's 1.66 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HOLX currently trades 100.0% from its 52-week high vs ALGN's 83.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ALGNAlign Technology,… | HOLXHologic, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.66x | 0.41x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $208.31 | $76.04 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $122.00 | $51.90 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.5% | +100.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 38.5 | 69.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.1M | 9.7M |
HOLX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ALGN as "Buy" and HOLX as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 17.1% upside for ALGN (target: $204) vs 3.9% for HOLX (target: $79).
| Metric | ALGNAlign Technology,… | HOLXHologic, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $203.60 | $79.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 33 | 42 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.7% | +4.4% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
ALGN leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). HOLX leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Best OverallAlign Technology, Inc. (ALGN)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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ALGN vs HOLX: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ALGN or HOLX a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Hologic, Inc.
(HOLX) is the stronger pick with 1. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 9% for Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN). Hologic, Inc. (HOLX) offers the better valuation at 30. 5x trailing P/E (17. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN) a "Buy" — based on 33 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 — ALGN or HOLX?
On trailing P/E, Hologic, Inc.
(HOLX) is the cheapest at 30. 5x versus Align Technology, Inc. at 30. 8x. On forward P/E, Align Technology, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ALGN or HOLX?
Over the past 5 years, Hologic, Inc.
(HOLX) delivered a total return of +16. 7%, compared to -70. 3% for Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HOLX returned +124. 3% versus ALGN's +122. 8%. 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 — ALGN or HOLX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Hologic, Inc.
(HOLX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 41β versus Align Technology, Inc. 's 1. 66β — meaning ALGN is approximately 304% more volatile than HOLX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 52% for Hologic, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ALGN or HOLX?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hologic, Inc.
(HOLX) is pulling ahead at 1. 7% versus 0. 9% for Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Align Technology, Inc. grew EPS 0. 5% year-over-year, compared to -25. 0% for Hologic, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ALGN leads at 2. 6% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — ALGN or HOLX?
Hologic, Inc.
(HOLX) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 8% net margin versus 10. 2% for Align Technology, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HOLX leads at 17. 4% versus 15. 3% for ALGN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALGN leads at 68. 3%, 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.
07Is ALGN or HOLX more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Align Technology, Inc.
(ALGN) trades at 14. 9x forward P/E versus 17. 2x for Hologic, Inc. — 2. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ALGN: 17. 1% to $203. 60.
08Which pays a better dividend — ALGN or HOLX?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
09Is ALGN or HOLX better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Hologic, Inc.
(HOLX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 41), +124. 3% 10Y return). Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN) carries a higher beta of 1. 66 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HOLX: +124. 3%, ALGN: +122. 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.
10What are the main differences between ALGN and HOLX?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(ALGN: 6.2% · HOLX: 2.5%)Net Margin>
%
(ALGN: 10.5% · HOLX: 13.2%)P/E Ratio<
x
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