Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) vs ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ACMR | 40.2% revenue growth vs ASML's 11.0% |
| Value | ACMR | Lower P/E (25.2x vs 41.3x), PEG 0.70 vs 1.68 |
| Quality / Margins | ASML | 29.4% net margin vs ACMR's 13.3% |
| Stability / Safety | ASML | Beta 1.45 vs ACMR's 1.90, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ASML | 0.5% yield, vs ACMR's 0.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ACMR | +114.6% vs ASML's +105.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ASML | 18.3% ROA vs ACMR's 4.2%, ROIC 80.9% vs 13.2% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
ASML is the world's only manufacturer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines — the most advanced equipment needed to produce cutting-edge semiconductors. It generates revenue primarily from selling these multi-million-dollar systems (over 80% of sales) and related services like maintenance and upgrades. Its monopoly on EUV technology — which took decades and billions to develop — creates an insurmountable moat, as no competitor can realistically replicate its complex ecosystem.
ACM Research develops and manufactures single-wafer wet cleaning equipment used in semiconductor manufacturing to improve chip yield and performance. It generates revenue primarily from equipment sales—including its Ultra C brand tools for cleaning, plating, and other wafer processing steps—with service and support contracts providing recurring income. The company's competitive advantage lies in its proprietary cleaning technologies—like space alternated phase shift and timely energized bubble oscillation—which offer superior performance for advanced semiconductor nodes while reducing chemical consumption.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
ASML leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ACMR leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
ASML is the larger business by revenue, generating $31.4B annually — 35.6x ACMR's $880M. ASML is the more profitable business, keeping 29.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ACMR's 13.3%. On growth, ACMR holds the edge at +32.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ASMLASML Holding N.V. | ACMRACM Research, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $31.4B | $880M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $11.8B | $144M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $9.2B | $117M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $10.7B | -$12M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +52.8% | +46.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +34.6% | +14.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +29.4% | +13.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +34.2% | -1.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.0% | +32.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.8% | +15.6% |
Valuation Metrics
At 36.4x trailing earnings, ACMR trades at a 30% valuation discount to ASML's 51.8x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), ACMR offers better value at 1.01x vs ASML's 2.10x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ASMLASML Holding N.V. | ACMRACM Research, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $563.0B | $3.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $551.0B | $3.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 51.82x | 36.39x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 41.31x | 25.19x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.10x | 1.01x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 39.45x | 19.35x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 15.21x | 4.26x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 24.40x | 3.37x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 44.83x | 47.62x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ASML delivers a 47.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $47 in annual profit, vs $6 for ACMR. ASML carries lower financial leverage with a 0.14x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ACMR's 0.17x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ASML scores 8/9 vs ACMR's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ASMLASML Holding N.V. | ACMRACM Research, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +47.1% | +6.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +18.3% | +4.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +80.9% | +13.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +39.6% | +13.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.14x | 0.17x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$10.2B | -$219M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $12.9B | $407M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.7B | $189M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 27.72x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ASML five years ago would be worth $25,413 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,510 for ACMR. Over the past 12 months, ACMR leads with a +114.6% total return vs ASML's +105.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ACMR at 75.1% vs ASML's 33.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ASMLASML Holding N.V. | ACMRACM Research, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +24.8% | +24.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +105.6% | +114.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +138.1% | +436.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +154.1% | +55.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1540.9% | +2877.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +33.5% | +75.1% |
Risk & Volatility
ASML is the less volatile stock with a 1.45 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ACMR's 1.90 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ASML currently trades 93.8% from its 52-week high vs ACMR's 77.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ASMLASML Holding N.V. | ACMRACM Research, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.45x | 1.90x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $1547.22 | $71.65 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $578.51 | $16.82 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.8% | +77.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.7 | 45.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.5M | 1.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ASML as "Buy" and ACMR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 0.5% upside for ASML (target: $1459) vs -28.2% for ACMR (target: $40). For income investors, ASML offers the higher dividend yield at 0.51% vs ACMR's 0.19%.
| Metric | ASMLASML Holding N.V. | ACMRACM Research, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $1458.50 | $40.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 44 | 10 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.5% | +0.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $6.30 | $0.10 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.2% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) | 100 | 501.37 | +401.4% |
| ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) | 100 | 500.16 | +400.2% |
ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) returned +154% over 5 years vs ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR)'s +55%. A $10,000 investment in ASML 5 years ago would be worth $25,413 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) | $6.9B | $31.4B | +356.4% |
| ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) | $27M | $782M | +2757.5% |
ASML Holding N.V.'s revenue grew from $6.9B (2016) to $31.4B (2025) — a 18.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) | 22.7% | 29.4% | +29.8% |
| ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) | 3.8% | 13.2% | +251.7% |
ASML Holding N.V.'s net margin went from 23% (2016) to 29% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) | 37.7 | 45.1 | +19.6% |
| ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) | 30.3 | 9.9 | -67.3% |
ASML Holding N.V. has traded in a 25x–62x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~52x. ACM Research, Inc. has traded in a 10x–90x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~36x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) | 3.63 | 23.73 | +553.7% |
| ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) | 0.04 | 1.53 | +3409.2% |
ASML Holding N.V.'s EPS grew from $3.63 (2016) to $23.73 (2025) — a 23% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
ASML Holding N.V. generated $11B FCF in 2025 (+3% vs 2021). ACM Research, Inc. generated $70M FCF in 2024 (+241% vs 2021).
ASML vs ACMR: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ASML or ACMR a better buy right now?
ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) offers the better valuation at 36.4x trailing P/E (25.2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) a "Buy" — based on 44 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 — ASML or ACMR?
On trailing P/E, ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) is the cheapest at 36.4x versus ASML Holding N.V. at 51.8x. On forward P/E, ACM Research, Inc. is actually cheaper at 25.2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: ACM Research, Inc. wins at 0.70x versus ASML Holding N.V.'s 1.68x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ASML or ACMR?
Over the past 5 years, ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) delivered a total return of +154.1%, compared to +55.1% for ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR). A $10,000 investment in ASML five years ago would be worth approximately $25K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACMR returned +28.8% versus ASML's +1541%. 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 — ASML or ACMR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) is the lower-risk stock at 1.45β versus ACM Research, Inc.'s 1.90β — meaning ACMR is approximately 31% more volatile than ASML relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 14% versus 17% for ACM Research, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ASML or ACMR?
ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) is the more profitable company, earning 29.4% net margin versus 13.2% for ACM Research, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ASML leads at 34.6% versus 19.3% for ACMR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ASML leads at 52.8%, 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.
06Is ASML or ACMR more undervalued right now?
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, ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.70x versus ASML Holding N.V.'s 1.68x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) trades at 25.2x forward P/E versus 41.3x for ASML Holding N.V. — 16.1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ASML: 0.5% to $1458.50.
07Which pays a better dividend — ASML or ACMR?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) offers the highest yield at 0.5%, versus 0.2% for ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR).
08Is ASML or ACMR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0.5% yield, +1541% 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 (ASML: +1541%, 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.
09What are the main differences between ASML and ACMR?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. ASML 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.
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