APYX vs SSKN vs ARAY vs ISRG vs LNTH

For growth investors, Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

(ISRG) is the stronger pick with 20. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 5% for Lantheus Holdings, Inc. (LNTH). Lantheus Holdings, Inc. (LNTH) offers the better valuation at 26. 7x trailing P/E (17. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Apyx Medical Corporation (APYX) a "Buy" — based on 9 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, Lantheus Holdings, Inc.

(LNTH) is the cheapest at 26. 7x versus Intuitive Surgical, Inc. at 57. 6x. On forward P/E, Lantheus Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 5x.

Over the past 5 years, Lantheus Holdings, Inc.

(LNTH) delivered a total return of +314. 2%, compared to -98. 9% for STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc. (SSKN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LNTH returned +41. 9% versus SSKN's -99. 6%. 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), STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc.

(SSKN) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 24β versus Accuray Incorporated's 2. 42β — meaning ARAY is approximately -1092% more volatile than SSKN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Lantheus Holdings, Inc. (LNTH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 3% for STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

(ISRG) is pulling ahead at 20. 5% versus 0. 5% for Lantheus Holdings, Inc. (LNTH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Accuray Incorporated grew EPS 90. 3% year-over-year, compared to -21. 8% for Lantheus Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LNTH leads at 18. 1% 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.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

(ISRG) is the more profitable company, earning 28. 4% net margin versus -30. 1% for STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc. — meaning it keeps 28. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ISRG leads at 29. 3% versus -27. 6% for SSKN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ISRG leads at 66. 0%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Lantheus Holdings, Inc.

(LNTH) trades at 17. 5x forward P/E versus 43. 8x for Intuitive Surgical, Inc. — 26. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for APYX: 68. 5% to $6. 00.

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.

For long-horizon retirement investors, STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc.

(SSKN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 24)). Accuray Incorporated (ARAY) carries a higher beta of 2. 42 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SSKN: -99. 6%, ARAY: -94. 5%), 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 Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: APYX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SSKN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ARAY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ISRG is a mid-cap high-growth stock; LNTH 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.