ATS vs TRMB vs KEYS vs NOVT vs MKSI

For growth investors, MKS Inc.

(MKSI) is the stronger pick with 9. 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 trailing P/E, Trimble Inc.

(TRMB) is the cheapest at 35. 3x versus Novanta Inc. at 92. 7x. On forward P/E, Trimble Inc. is actually cheaper at 20. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Keysight Technologies, Inc. wins at 4. 97x versus Novanta Inc. 's 11. 61x.

Over the past 5 years, Keysight Technologies, Inc.

(KEYS) delivered a total return of +147. 4%, compared to -22. 0% for Trimble Inc. (TRMB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KEYS returned +1279% 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 MKS Inc. 's 2. 64β — meaning MKSI is approximately 80% 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 173% for MKS Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(MKSI) is pulling ahead at 9. 6% versus -16. 5% for ATS Corporation (ATS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MKS Inc. grew EPS 55. 5% 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.

Keysight Technologies, Inc.

(KEYS) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 7% net margin versus -1. 1% for ATS Corporation — meaning it keeps 15. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KEYS leads at 17. 6% 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.

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, Keysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 4. 97x versus Novanta Inc. 's 11. 61x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Trimble Inc. (TRMB) trades at 20. 0x forward P/E versus 39. 8x for Keysight Technologies, Inc. — 19. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TRMB: 53. 6% to $95. 00.

In this comparison, MKSI (0.

3% yield) pays a dividend. ATS, TRMB, KEYS, NOVT do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Keysight Technologies, Inc.

(KEYS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1279% 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 (KEYS: +1279%, 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) and KEYS (Technology) and NOVT (Technology) and MKSI (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.