ATS vs TRMB

For growth investors, Trimble Inc.

(TRMB) is the stronger pick with -2. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -16. 5% for ATS Corporation (ATS). Trimble Inc. (TRMB) offers the better valuation at 35. 3x trailing P/E (20. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Trimble Inc. (TRMB) a "Buy" — based on 28 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 forward P/E, Trimble Inc.

is actually cheaper at 20. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, ATS Corporation (ATS) delivered a total return of +46.

3%, compared to -22. 0% for Trimble Inc. (TRMB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ATS returned +282. 7% versus TRMB's +166. 8%. 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), Trimble Inc.

(TRMB) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 46β versus ATS Corporation's 1. 87β — meaning ATS is approximately 28% more volatile than TRMB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Trimble Inc. (TRMB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 99% for ATS Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Trimble Inc.

(TRMB) is pulling ahead at -2. 6% versus -16. 5% for ATS Corporation (ATS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Trimble Inc. grew EPS -71. 3% year-over-year, compared to -114. 7% for ATS Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, ATS leads at 5. 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.

Trimble Inc.

(TRMB) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 8% net margin versus -1. 1% for ATS Corporation — meaning it keeps 11. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TRMB leads at 16. 9% versus 0. 4% for ATS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TRMB 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.

On forward earnings alone, Trimble Inc.

(TRMB) trades at 20. 0x forward P/E versus 27. 2x for ATS Corporation — 7. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TRMB: 53. 6% to $95. 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, Trimble Inc.

(TRMB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+166. 8% 10Y return). ATS Corporation (ATS) carries a higher beta of 1. 87 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (TRMB: +166. 8%, ATS: +282. 7%), 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 (ATS (Industrials) and TRMB (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.